Trescothick and Elahi hit centuries: Karachi, Oct 20:Discarded Salim Elahi strengthened his claims for a recall with ablazing century against England but his efforts were not enough toprevent Governor’s Eleven crash to a 81-run defeat in the day
Samiul Hasan21-Oct-2000Trescothick and Elahi hit centuries: Karachi, Oct 20:Discarded Salim Elahi strengthened his claims for a recall with ablazing century against England but his efforts were not enough toprevent Governor’s Eleven crash to a 81-run defeat in the day andnight match at the National Stadium here on Friday.Governor’s Eleven, chasing a mammoth England score of 323 for seven in50 overs, were bundled out for 242 in 46.4 overs after losing theirlast nine wickets for 73 runs. The home team were on course to givethe tourists run for their money when they reached 169 for one by the27th over with Salim and Asim Kamal (43) adding 168 runs for thesecond wicket.But the cheap dismissal of Asim, caught at short fine leg off a fulltoss from Graeme Hick, started Governor Eleven’s slide. Only a lateassault by Shoaib Malik (23) brought some respectability to theirscore.Salim, named in a 15-man squad for Tuesday’s first one-dayinternational, scored a superb 120 off 103 balls that contained 16scorching boundaries and a towering six. Salim batted with admirableconfidence against an England bowling attack which is most likely totest the Pakistan team on Tuesday.Salim was in a punishing mood reaching his half century off just 40balls with nine boundaries. His next 50 runs came off 48 balls withsix hits to the fence.While Salim held the Englishmen by the scruff of their necks, Asimbatted with great patience and calculation. He nudged the pushed theball around to give his more experienced and in-form batsman thestrike.Barring Salim and Asim, the Governor’s Eleven scoreboard gave a dismallook. The three internationals – Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan and FaisalIqbal – shared just four runs between them.Darren Gough, expensive in his first spell, came back to effectivelyuse the old ball by finishing with five for 32, including threewickets in 19 balls that virtually broke the back of home team’sbatting. Graeme Hick also picked up two cheap wickets of Asim andSalim, bowled while trying to play an inside out shot, conceding 26runs.Earlier, Somerset’s Marcus Trescothick scored a blazing century andWorecestershire’s Hick blasted a 60-ball 82 to propel England to amatch-winning 323 for seven that included 97 runs off the last 10overs.Trescothick and Hick reduced the all-international Governor’s Elevenbowling attack to pedestrian by making the ball disappear to all partsof the park. Trescothick belted 12 boundaries and three huge sixes off93 balls. The left-hander was particularly severe on Shabbir Ahmadhitting him for four boundaries in an over, three off consecutiveballs of the bowler’s second over.Shabbir suffered further whipping when Hick scored 18 off his eighthand last over. Hick struck nine exquisite boundaries and two sweetlytimed sixes.Skipper Nasser Hussain also had a good opening game to the 57-day tourof Pakistan by scoring 44 off 64 balls with five boundaries. But therewas disappointment for opener Alec Stewart, who was caught at gully,Graham Thorpe, caught at short fine-leg, and Andrew Flintoff, caughtby Rashid Latif off a top edge.England play their second warm up match on Sunday before facingPakistan in first of the three one-day internationals on Tuesday.