DURBAN (South Africa), Aug 21: The Africa XI and the Asia XI shared the inaugural Afro-Asia Cup when the third and final match was abandoned because of rain at Kingsmead on Sunday.

The Asians were struggling at eight for two in reply to the Africa XI’s modest 106 all out when rain stopped play.

Asia XI opening bowlers Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan and India’s Zaheer Khan exploited helpful conditions to wreck the African batting.

In a match reduced to 48 overs a side after a late start because of rain, the African innings lasted only 32.5 overs. The two sides had won once each in the first two matches, the first inter-continental clashes to be granted official One-day International status.

Shoaib, bowling at express pace in gloomy light, took two for 11 in an opening spell of seven overs, while Man-of-the-Series Zaheer took three for 21, bowling all his 10 overs in a single spell.

It was the Indian left-armer’s third successive three-wicket haul. He took three for 37 and three for 43 in the first two matches.

The Africa XI were 26 for five and 54 for seven before Shaun Pollock (44 not out) and Heath Streak (14) added 51 for the eighth wicket before the last three wickets fell for one run.

Graeme Smith, the South African captain, returned to international cricket as captain of the Africa XI after completing a four-match ban for a slow over rate. It was an inauspicious comeback.

Smith decided to bat after winning the toss half an hour before the scheduled start. But rain fell soon afterwards and the start was delayed by one hour 45 minutes. When play did get under way, the light was gloomy and the pitch lively.

Smith lasted just six balls before being trapped leg before wicket by a fast delivery from Shoaib which swung into him.

Boeta Dippenaar and Jacques Kallis, who returned after missing the second match with a sore back, survived for five overs before Zaheer had Dippenaar caught at third slip.

Kallis and Jacques Rudolph tried to repair the damage before three further wickets fell with the total on 26. Rudolph was run out by a direct hit from Abdul Razzaq at cover, Kallis was leg before to Zaheer and Ashwell Prince cut Shoaib to backward point.

Pollock scored his 44 not out off 35 balls with six fours to give the Africa XI some hope but when Streak was leg before to a Shahid Afridi googly he quickly ran out of partners.

Conditions remained difficult for batting when the Asia XI started their innings. Virender Sehwag hit a boundary off Pollock but in the next over was bowled by a fast, full-length delivery from Dale Steyn, which straightened off the pitch and hit his off stump.

Shahid Afridi skied a catch to mid-wicket off Pollock and an interesting finish seemed possible, especially as the Asians had substituted one of their batsmen, Mohammad Ashraful, so they could get bowler Ashish Nehra into the action.

Mahela Jayawardene joined Kumar Sangakkara but five balls later the rain returned.

The series was played in the South African winter and did not attract big crowds. After attendances of 3800 and 5380 at the first two matches, there were fewer than 3000 for the decider, although it was hardly surprising because the weather was always threatening.

Jagmohan Dalmiya, chairman of Afro Asia Cricket Cooperation, said a three-year sponsorship had been secured for the Afro Asia Cup.

The next tournament will be played in Asia. Profits will go to cricket development in the two countries, apart from a 10 percent share which will go to sight-related charities.

Scoreboard

AFRICA XI:

G.C. Smith lbw b Shoaib 0

H.H. Dippenaar c Jayawardene b Zaheer 7

J.H. Kallis lbw b Zaheer 4

J.A. Rudolph run out 7

A.G. Prince c Muralitharan b Shoaib 0

J.M. Kemp lbw b Zaheer 8

T. Taibu c Sehwag b Razzaq 10

S.M. Pollock not out 44

H.H. Streak lbw b Afridi 14

D.W. Steyn lbw b Muralitharan 1

M. Zondeki run out 0

EXTRAS (LB-8, W-3) 11

TOTAL (32.5 overs) 106

FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-16, 3-26, 4-26, 5-26, 6-35, 7-54, 8-105, 9-106.

BOWLING: Shoaib Akhtar 8-3-16-2 (1w); Zaheer Khan 10-2-21-3 (2w); Nehra 6-1-30-0, Abdul Razzaq 2-0-18-1; Muralitharan 4-1-8-1; Shahid Afridi 2.5-1-5-1.

SUBSITITUTE: T.M. Odoyo (did not bat).

ASIA XI:

V. Sehwag b Steyn 5

Shahid Afridi c Streak b Pollock 0

K.C. Sangakkara not out 1

D.P.M.D. Jayawardene not out 0

EXTRAS (W-1, NB-1) 2

TOTAL (for two wkts, 3 overs) 8

FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-7.

DID NOT BAT: Yousuf Youhana, Inzamamul Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Zaheer Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, M. Muralitharan, A. Nehra.

SUBSTITUTED: Mohammad Ashraful by A. Nehra.

BOWLING: Pollock 2-0-6-1; Steyn 1-0-2-1 (1nb, 1w).

RESULT: Match abandoned (rain), series shared 1-1.

UMPIRES: S.J. Davis (Australia) and B. Doctrove (West Indies).

TV UMPIRE: I.L. Howell (South Africa).

MATCH REFEREE: C.H. Lloyd (West Indies).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shoaib Akhtar (Asia XI).

MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Zaheer Khan (Asia XI).

FIRST MATCH: Centurion, Africa XI won by two runs.

SECOND MATCH: Durban, Asia XI won by 17 runs.—Agencies