da poker： Karachi, July 25: Sri Lanka, displaying brilliant all-roundperformance, outplayed Pakistan by 57 runs to clinch the inauguralUnder-17 Asia Cup Cricket Tournament at the National Stadium here onTuesday
Khalid H. Khan26-Jul-2000Karachi, July 25: Sri Lanka, displaying brilliant all-roundperformance, outplayed Pakistan by 57 runs to clinch the inauguralUnder-17 Asia Cup Cricket Tournament at the National Stadium here onTuesday.The islanders, after winning the toss and electing to bat first on aplacid pitch, rattled up 230 in 44.3 overs.The hosts, in reply, were bowled out for a disappointing 173 in 40overs.Sri Lankan captain Jehan Jayasuriya received the glittering winnerstrophy from the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Lt Gen TauqirZia, who was the chief guest at the final. The visiting team were alsoawarded a cash award of Rs25,000, put up by Habib Oil Mills, who werepart sponsors of the 11-day tournament.Pakistan skipper Salman Butt had to be content with the runners-uptrophy and received a cash prize of Rs15,000.Openers Haresh Ratnayake and wicket-keeper Ishan Mutalip laid thefoundation with a magnificent partnership of 149 in 29 overs.Both batsmen capitalized on shoddy Pakistan fielding. The left-handedRatnayake was given two `lives’ on 36 and 51 as Suleman Qadir (caughtand bowled) and substitute Mian Adnan (at square-leg) floored simplecatches.Mutalip, the right-hander, was let off when he had made just eight inthe fourth over of the innings. Munir Ansari was the culprit atsquare-leg as Mutalip spooned the ball high while attempting to pullleft-arm pacer Najaf Shah.To add to the woes, Pakistani fielders missed several run outopportunities as time and again they either fumbled or over ran theball.However, despite their shortcomings in the field, Pakistan staged adramatic but belated fight back with all Sri Lankan wickets going downfor 81 runs once the opening stand was broken at the start of the 30thover.Mutalip was the first to go for a 97-ball 72 which was studded withsix fours and a six when he charged at part-time off-spinner FaisalKhan and was stumped by Adnan Akmal.Ratnayake followed shortly afterwards for making 80 off 102deliveries. His sparkling knock was laced with six fours and a six.Off-spinner Munir Ansari, who has modelled his action on Sri Lankanspin maestro Muttiah Muralitharan, claimed four wickets for 54 runs totake his tally to 19 in the tournament – a feat which earned him thebest bowler award.But the pick of the bowlers were Faisal Khan, who took three for 33 in8.3 overs and off-spinner Suleman Qadir, son of former leg-spin Testgreat Abdul Qadir. Suleman, though failed to take a wicket, concededonly 27 runs in his quota of nine overs.Pakistan emulated the Sri Lankan openers as Salman Butt and KhalidLatif played some lovely drives and cuts during their partnership of86 in 17 overs.Ratnayake took a fine, well-judged catch on the deep square-leg fencewhen Khalid mistimed a pull off off-spinner Jayasuriya. The openerscored 39 off 48 balls with four fours and a six.Wickets then fell at regular intervals as the Sri Lankan spinnersbowled to a tight line and length. Slow left-armer Ishara Dilshan, whowas later adjudged Man-of-the-Match, claimed three for 25.Salman Butt played a lone hand for a gallant 73 off 101 balls beforehe was run out by a superb direct hit by a a diving Jeewan Mendis,racing in from short cover.Salman, who was fifth out, stroked nine boundaries.Jayasuriya, leading with example, took two excellent catches but hewas upstaged by Eashan Abeysinghe’s stunning effort at mid-wicket toget rid of Adnan Akmal.Jeewan Mendis was declared the Player-of-the-Tournament whileBangladesh’s Mohammad Ashraful was named the best batsman for scoringthe competition’s only century.