September 08, 2007	Saturday	Sha'aban 25, 1428

LAHORE, Sept 7: A hurricane century by Test-discard Taufiq Umar and half-centuries by Khalid Latif and Skipper Faisal Iqbal helped Pakistan ‘A’ register another convincing seven-wicket victory over Australia ‘A’ in the second one-day match at the Sheikhupura Stadium on Friday.

Pakistan ‘A’ now lead by an unbeatable 2-0 in the three-match series.

Taufiq, who only scored nine in the first match played at Lahore, slammed a 113 not out as the home team achieved its challenging target of 268 runs in the rain-hit, shortened 40-overs-each match. Pakistan was 271-3 with five balls to spare.

At the time when their team had an asking rate of almost 7.5 an over, Taufiq and Khalid Latif provided a perfect opening stand of 107. Khalid was out first after scoring 54 that comprised seven fours and one six off 64 balls. With the addition of one run in the total score, the centurion of the Lahore match Yasir Hameed went out for a duck after being given a leg before wicket off pace man James Hopes. But Taufiq found his captain, Faisal Iqbal, to be the perfect partner. Their partnership took the total to 226 in the 35th when Faisal was removed by Test-discard Jason Gillespie. Faisal’s innings included three sixes and as many fours off 48 balls.

Navid Latif, the next man in, contributed a quick fire 28 runs off 19 balls. His two sixes and one four had Pakistan cross the target to win the match.

The match, which started late, at 11.25am, due to rains throughout the night, also included fine batting by opener Phil Jaques (72 off 62 balls, including seven fours and three sixes) and David Hussey (82 off 70 balls, including eight fours and two sixes). Pakistan ‘A’ team’s medium-pacer Sohail Tanvir claimed four wickets for 47 runs while off-spinner Atif Maqbool took two for 54. The third and final one-day will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA ‘A’:

Phil Jaques st Sarfraz b Atif 72

Luke Ronchi c Khalid b Sohail 5

David Hussey b Sohail 82

Adam Voges b Tahir 31

Cameron White b Sohail 35

Chris Rogers c Najaf b Atif Maqbool 12

James Hopes b Sohail Tanvir 1

Ashley Noffke run out 0

Jason Gillespie not out 6

Dan Cullen st Sarfraz b Mansoor 1

D Bollinger not out 7

Extras: (LB-4, W-9, NB-2) 15

Total: (for nine wkts, 40 overs) 267

Fall of wkts: 1-8, 2-139, 3-193, 4-219, 5-242, 6-244, 7- 245, 8-256, 9-260.

Bowling: Najaf Shah 6-1-39-0 (w1); Sohail Tanvir 7-0-47-4 (nb2, w3); Tahir Khan 8-0-58-1 (w1); Atif Maqbool 8-0-54-2 (w4); Mansoor Amjad 8-0-34-1; Taufiq Umer 3-0-31-0.

PAKISTAN ‘A’:

Khalid Latif c Noffke b Cullen 54

Taufiq Umar not out 113

Yasir Hameed lbw Hopes 0

Faisal Iqbal c White b Gillespie 56

Navid Latif not out 28

Extras: ( B-2, LB-11, W-4, NB-3) 20

Total: (for three wkts, 39.1 overs) 271

Fall of wkts: 1-107, 2- 108, 3-226.

Bowling: Jason Gillespie 7-0-48-1 (nb1); Doug Bollinger 8-0-39-0; Ashley Noffke 8-0-45-0 (nb2); James Hopes 6.1-0-56-1 (w1); Dan Cullen 5-0-22-1; Cameron White 4-0-32 (w3); Adam Voges 1-0-16-0.

Umpires: Mian Mohammad Aslam, Kokub Butt.

Referee: Arshad Pervaiz.