CHENNAI, June 9: An innings of 88 by Saurav Ganguly helped Asia XI amass 337 for seven against Africa XI in the second Afro-Asia Cup match on Saturday.

India opener Virender Sehwag lashed 52 off 38 balls and Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf (51) hit his second consecutive fifty after skipper Mahela Jayawardene chose to bat first after winning the toss.

Jayawardene chipped in with 45 while Indian left-hander Yuvraj Singh plundered 30 not out from 13 deliveries at the end.

South African brothers Morne and Albie Morkel shared three wickets but the fielding side wilted in the heat and humidity of the day/night fixture.

Indian Ganguly was dropped on 30 and 67 during a 112-ball knock which contained nine fours and a six. He added 80 for the fourth wicket with Jayawardene and 84 for the next with the fluent Yousuf.

Sri Lanka skipper Jayawardene lashed four fours and a six before being run out following a mix-up with Ganguly.

Morne Morkel bowled tightly to return two for 48 in 10 overs.

Asia XI can claim the three-match series, having won the first game in Bangalore on Wednesday by 34 runs. The final match will be played at the same venue on Sunday.

Scoreboard

ASIA XI:

V. Sehwag c M. Morkel b Chigumbura 52

S.T. Jayasuriya c Dippenaar b Odoyo 11

S.C. Ganguly c sub b Chigumbura 88

M.S. Dhoni c A. Morkel 33

D.P.M.D. Jayawardene run out 45

Mohammad Yousuf c Boucher b M. Morkel 51

Yuvraj Singh not out 30

Mohammad Rafique c de Villiers b M. Morkel 1

Zaheer Khan not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-8, W-14, NB-4) 26

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 337

FALL OF WKTS: 1-37, 2-77, 3-134, 4-214, 5-298, 6-331, 7-333.

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Asif, C.R.D. Fernando.

BOWLING: J.A. Morkel 6-0-49-1 (1nb, 3w); M. Morkel 10-1-48-2 (1nb, 1w); Odoyo 8-0-60-1 (3w); Chigumbura 10-0-84-2 (1nb, 1w); Botha 10-1-51-0 (1nb, 3w); Sibanda 6-1-37-0 (3w).

AFRICA XI: A.B. de Villiers, V. Sibanda, H.H. Dippenaar, K.M. Kemp, M.V. Boucher, S.M. Pollock, T.M. Odoyo, J.A,. Morkel, E. Chigumbura, M. Morkel, J. Botha.

UMPIRES: A.L. Hill (New Zealand) and P.D. Parker (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: S.L. Shastri (India).

MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England).—Agencies

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...