Batting burst not enough for PM XI - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Batting burst not enough for PM XI

By Darrin Barnett 25/01/2005 07:40:00 PM Comments (0)

A 40 run burst off just 13 balls from opening batsman Luke Ronchi wasn't enough to propel the Prime Ministers XI to victory in their tour match with Pakistan at Manuka Oval.

After being sent into bat, Ronchi turned on an awesome display of power hitting - including two sixes and six fours - to leave the home side at 0-51 at the end of the fourth over.

The 23 year-old right hander, who has been playing in the Western Australian one-day side this season put his first ball onto the roof of the Menzies stand, probably the equivalent of the second row of the great southern stadium, the MCG.

But after he was out caught, on the square leg boundary of opening bowler Azhar Mahmood, things went steadily down hill for the PM's XI.

Tight bowling from Mahmood, spinner Mohammad Hafeez and all-rounder Shoaib Malik rained in the home side with only Chris Rogers and Stewart Heaney making significant contributions in the latter part of the innings.

The stage was set for a captains knock from Michael Bevan, but the local hero failed to make a substantial impact, dragging a ball back onto his stumps off the bowling of Hafeez for seven in the 44th over.

With their last four wickets falling for just seven runs, the target of 192 never looked enough to defend on what turned out to be a benign batting pitch.

Pakistan were never really troubled in their run chase, cruising to five wicket history with 7.1 overs to spare.

Test regulars Yousuf Youhana and Younis Khan both made half centuries, with stand in captain Youhana looking the more comfortable of the two before he was run out for 50.

Man of the match, Khan, was also in fine touch, hitting five boundaries on his way to an unbeaten 62.

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