Asia completed a clean sweep as they won the series 3-0.
The Asian captain won the toss and elected to bat first. But things didn’t go right for the Asians at first. Africa was obviously on top of the game as Asia kept loosing wickets at regular intervals. The scoreboard read 5/72 when the Sri Lankan skipper
Mahela Jayawardene and Indian Wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni came to the team’s rescue. Elegant centuries from both batsmen ensured another successive 300+ total for them. The two right-handers rebuilt the innings in a record breaking 218-run stand for the sixth wicket. Jayawardene recorded his 10th century in a 106-ball-107 hitting 9 fours and two sixes while Dhoni was much quicker with 15 fours and 5 sixes in his unbeaten 97-ball-138, his third ODI century.
African openers AB de Villiers(70) and Vusi Sibanda(45) gave their side a promising start. At one point they were 0/117, but Mohammed Rafique quickly removed AB de Villiers and Boeta Dippenaar in successive balls. He was joined by Harbajan Singh’s spin to reduce the African side to 5/159. Then, captain Justin Kemp revitalized the game with his sixes. His 76-ball-86 in a 122-run stand with Shaun Pollock included 7 sixes and 3 boundaries. But, his dismissal marked the downfall of their side, as they could manage only 318, just 13 runs short of the required target. Rafique was relatively expensive but lead the bowling attack today as he picked up 4-65. Of the other bowlers, Harbajan was somewhat economical with 3-48 in his 10 overs. Pollock remained unbeaten on 58 in a 49 ball knock as the innings wrapped up at the 50 over mark, with Asia winning the series 3-nil.
* Mahendra Singh Dhoni was adjudjed Man-of-the-Match for his swashbuckling hundred in just 81 balls.
* Consistent performance together with his brilliant captaincy skills were rewarded when Mahela Jayawardene was declared Man-of-the-Series.
Most people who lost interest in this year’s Afro-Asia Cup even before it began because most of the star players pulled out, may now regret for having missed out three exiting games. In all three matches, the team batting first went pass 300 on a good batting pitch and most notably the team chasing also went very close to the winning mark recording an aggregate of 600+ scores in all of them. When looking at the winning margins 34, 31 and 13… it is evident that both teams have given a good fight, despite the loss of star players in the tournament. It is good to see players of different nations get together this way every year. They speak different languages, have different approaches,etc, but none of these really matter- because they are all well aware of the global language of cricket. Perhaps, then it is right to say that the slogan for the Afro-Asia Cup 2007 is ideal – “Cricket for unity.” Let us hope Cricket would be able to go a step further by striving to improve harmony across nations and boundaries.
Jayawardene and Mohammad Yousuf to carry on the attack against the African bowlers. Mahendra Singh Dhoni contributed with a useful 33 followed by the skipper Jayawardene. Then, a miscommunication between Ganguly and Jayawardene, led the skipper to fall just five runs short of a well-deserved half century. Despite Mahela’s dismissal, Ganguly sticked to his attack, to play a patient knock of 88. Afterwards, Yousuf continued his excellent form to record his second consecutive half century in the series. The innings was later accelerated to post a huge total of 338-7 by a 13-ball-30 from Yuvraj Singh.
In the bowling department, it was Dilhara Fernando who shone with a career best of 4-36 bagging his second consecutive Man of the Match Award. Apart from him, paceman Mohammed Asif and spinner Mohammed Rafique both picked up two wickets each while Yuvraj and Sehwag got one each.
The Asian team were struggling at 34-3 before Dilshan came to rescue in surpassing their opponents’ modest total of 109-8 with more than four overs to spare in the day-night game on a seamer-friendly pitch.
In reply the Africans collapsed at 6/77 and 7/87, but it was not all over for them. South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock then added 67 for the eighth wicket with Elton Chigumbura who made 40 in 37 balls, followed by a 103-run stand with No.10 batsmen Thomas Odoya before he fell for a well-made 39. Pollock’s innings was the most impressive. Smashing the Asian bowlers all around the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, he recorded his maiden century in only the fortieth over.
It didn’t stop there, he went on to make 130 off only 110 deliveries before being caught by Yousuf off Mortaza’s bowling as the Asians triumphed leading the series 1-0. His absolutely wonderful knock contained 19 fours and a six. It was undoubtedly Pollock at his best; despite his trying hard he could not take his side to victory. Mohammed Asif’s spell was just right from the beginning as he picked up 3 wickets in his 10 overs.
== Sri Lanka Cricket == 