Pakistan lift O40s World Cup title in classic style

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

Adnan Akmal and Jawad Mansoor struck superb half-centuries to lead a remarkable Pakistan recovery and help their team edge Australia by one wicket to win the International Masters Cricket Over-40s World Cup in a thrilling final on Saturday.

With Pakistan struggling at 103 for five, the pair shared a 115-run partnership that propelled their side to 282 for nine with one ball to spare in response to Australia’s 281 for six.

After electing to bat first at the Guyana National Stadium, Australia posted a competitive total behind an impressive century from Greg Hunt.

Hunt made 103 off 102 balls, including six sixes and four fours, and received strong support from captain Steve Paulsen, who scored 70 off 76 deliveries.

The pair added 128 runs for the third wicket to lift Australia to a commanding 194 for two in the 36th over.

After Paulsen was dismissed by Waseem Ali, Hunt shared a 62-run partnership with Steven Spoljaric for the fifth wicket to help Australia reach their eventual total.

Syed Fariduddin was Pakistan’s best bowler with 4-40, while Ali claimed 2-64.

Australian pacer Jamie Panelli then ripped through Pakistan’s top order, removing openers Fahad Jabbar for one, Tofeeq Umer for 11 and Imran Khan for three to reduce them to 27 for three in the ninth over.

When Sheharyar Ghani was bowled by Brenton Edwards in the following over, Pakistan were in serious trouble at 36 for four.

However, Akmal and Tariq Mahmood revived the innings with a 67-run partnership that carried Pakistan into three figures.

The contest appeared all but over when Paulsen returned to have Mahmood caught behind for 41, leaving Pakistan tottering at 103 for five in the 21st over.

But Akmal and Mansoor’s partnership breathed new life into the run chase and swung the momentum back in Pakistan’s favour.

Australia regained the upper hand when both batters fell in quick succession. Edwards had Akmal caught for 83 off 84 balls, including 10 fours and a six, while Panelli removed Mansoor for 62 off 57 deliveries, an innings that featured seven fours and a six, leaving Pakistan on 236 for seven in the 42nd over.

Fariduddin, who blasted two sixes in an unbeaten 24 off 16 balls, and Waseem Ali, who scored a brisk 22 off 17 deliveries, appeared to have put Pakistan on course for victory during a 42-run partnership that came from just 21 balls.

However, Ali was run out unnecessarily and Muhammad Khalil also lost his wicket in a run-out, setting up a tense finish with Pakistan on 280 for nine and three balls remaining.

Fariduddin then scrambled a single before last man Junaid Nainitalwala drove Panelli through the covers for the winning run off the penultimate ball of the match, sparking wild celebrations among the Pakistan camp.

Meanwhile, West Indies finished fifth in the tournament after defeating India by 45 runs.

Opener Randy Thomas smashed 105 off 115 balls, Larry Farnum made 59 and Jason Mohamed scored 51 as the home side posted a formidable 309 for six at the Georgetown Cricket Club.

Despite half-centuries from Bhupender Yadav and Jatin Saxena, India were bowled out for 264 in 44.4 overs, well short of their target.

Yadav made 79 off 95 balls and Saxena scored 55 off 53 deliveries, but India were undermined by Mohamed’s 3-36, Chris Mittelholzer’s 3-53 and Imran Khan’s 2-46.