KARACHI, July 3: Misbahul Haq smashed a rapid-fire century but that failed to prevent Rest of Pakistan from a 14-run defeat at the hands of Pakistan XI in the Rashid Khan Benefit Twenty20 match under floodlights at National Stadium on Saturday night.

Choosing to bat first, Pakistan XI mustered 187 for six in 20 overs. Rest of Pakistan in reply managed 173 for nine in 19.4 overs when skipper Moin Khan conceded the match with two balls still to be bowled.

Misbah looked in punishing mood as he thrilled a 7,000-crowd with his powerful hitting. The right-hander blasted 10 fours and five massive sixes while facing a mere 61 deliveries.

However, the rest of the team could contribute just 61 runs between them in sharp contrast to Misbah, who was in full flow in the first-ever Twenty20 match in the city.

Test off-spinner Arshad Khan picked up four wickets for 40 runs in 4.4 overs.

Earlier when Pakistan XI batted, opener Yasir Hameed cracked 44 with four boundaries and two sixes and Yousuf Youhana struck 43 off 22 balls with four fours and three sixes. Shoaib Malik hit one six and four fours in his 36.

The match was also watched by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, who in his capacity as chief guest announced Rs500,000 for beneficiary Rashid, the ex-Pakistan Test pace bowler.

Speaking on the occasion, the governor said Karachi was conducive for staging international sporting activities and urged the authorities to ensure England play a Test in the city during their winter tour of Pakistan.

“We are keen to stage a Test match against England in Karachi and the government would provide all necessary security to the visiting team,” he declared.

The governor remarked that India successfully played a One-day International here last year without any problem and the England cricketers must not fear about playing in Karachi.

He commended the services of Rashid for earning a good name for the country as a player and bringing glory to it.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN XI:

Salman Butt c Amin b Khalid 6

Yasir Hameed st Amin b Tahir 44

Shahid Afridi c Misbah b Hasan 19

Shoaib Malik st Amin b Tahir 36

Yousuf Youhana c Tahir b Moin 43

Younis Khan not out 10

Kamran Akmal c Moin b Amin 11

Bazid Khan not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-3, w-13) 16

TOTAL (for six wkts, 20 overs) 187

FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-49, 3-107, 4-120, 5-169, 6-182.

DID NOT BAT: Inzamamul Haq, Arshad Khan, Umar Gul.

BOWLING: Saeed Khan 4-0-35-1; Khalid Latif 2-0-17-1; Naumanullah 4-0-36-0; Hasan Raza 4-0-41-1; Tahir Khan 4-0-40-2; Moin Khan 2-0-15-1.

REST OF PAKISTAN:

Imran Nazir b Afridi 5

Shadab Kabir c Kamran b Shoaib 13

Hasan Raza c Kamran b Afridi 12

Misbahul Haq c Yasir b Arshad 112

Naumanullah c Inzamam b Arshad 4

Faisal Iqbal c Afridi b Arshad 1

Faisal Athar b Umar 0

Khalid Latif b Umar 1

Moin Khan c Salman b Arshad 3

Aminur Rehman not out 1

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-6, W-10, NB-4) 21

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 19.4 overs) 173

FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-25, 3-74, 4-88, 5-106, 6-147, 7-160, 8-171, 9-173.

DID NOT BAT: Tahir Khan.

BOWLING: Umar Gul 5-0-32-2; Shahid Afridi 5-0-21-2; Arshad Khan 4.4-0-40-4; Shoaib Malik 3-0-37-1; Yasir Hameed 1-0-22-0; Bazid Khan 1-0-14-0.

RESULT: Rest of Pakistan won by 14 runs.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Misbahul Haq.

UMPIRES: Salim Badar and Riazuddin.

MATCH REFEREE: Anwar Khan.—APP