AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Rawalpindi, November 04, 2012 (PPI-OT): Pakistan Army cricket team XI defeated UK Army cricket team in the first T20 match played at Rawalpindi Club Cricket Ground. Pakistan Army XI defeated UK Army cricket team by 9 wickets.
Attired in Green kit Pakistan Army cricket team totally out their rivals. UK XI were all out in 20th over after scoring 85 runs. Only two players could reach to double score. Pakistani bowlers and fielders displayed a highly professional quality cricket. Pakistani bowler Nasir, Shoaib and Shafiqur Rehman each got 2 wickets, while Khadim got 1 wicket. Pakistani batsmen chased score in 11th over and won the match by 9 wickets.
UK Army team won the toss and elected to bat. In first 6 over UK team could only made 16 scores at the loss of 3 wickets. Score just crawled up after the first over. By end of 7th over UK Army cricket team had scored only 23 runs. Pakistan Army spinner Nasir made a major dent by claiming 2 wickets in first 6 overs of the UK innings. At the half stage of their innings after 10thover UK team were 35 for 4 wickets. Pakistan army team displayed an excellent exhibition of fielding and got 5th wicket, when UK Army batsman was run out without scoring. Major Babar Nawaz captain of Pakistan Army XI did a marvelous job by rotating his bowlers and placing fielders at the right place which did not allow the British players to play their shots openly.
UK players continued loosing their wickets at regular intervals and their was no worth while partnership. UK team first 50 runs came in 15th over. By the time British players reached 57 runs, they had lost 7 wickets. 9th wicket went down in the last over when Dearden was run out after scoring 23 and he was highest scorer from UK side. The whole British Army cricket team was all out a ball spare by scoring 85 runs.
A large number of people from all walks of life, representative from British Embassy and other cricket lovers enthusiastically watched the match. Match played on a fine sunny day was main attraction in twin cities on Sunday. It was first match of the 3 T20 match series between UK and Pak Army cricket teams. UK Army cricket team will also play a one day match. Match was played in a highly festive mood. Music played on the tunes of army band added flavor to the match.
Chasing easy target Pakistani openers started with confidence. Major Babar Nawaz and Naik Mir Azam Khan opened innings for the Pakistan. Ist six of the match came in the very first over of the Pakistani innings, when Naik Mir Azam threw the ball outside the boundary line.
Pakistani Army Team openers scored 15 runs in the first 2 overs. In the third over 4 boundaries by Pakistani batsmen made the job easy and scored raced to 34 without loosing a wicket. Naik Mir Azam Khan played an aggressive innings and hit all around to the thunderous applause of the audience. Naik Mir Azam, who is also a wicket keeper for Pakistan Army did very well while keeping the wickets as well.
Lieutenant General Naweed Zaman, Military Secretary, Who was the chief guest at the occasion, awarded the Man of the Match award to Naik Mir Azam. He also scored 40 runs while batting.
For more information, contact:
Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR)
Hilal Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Tel: +9251 927 1605
Fax: +9251 927 1601
Email: ispr@ispr.gov.pk