Alfalah Cup. Tri-series. SL/Pak/NZ

Donny · Posted: Sat May 10, 2003 5:18 pm

In the first Bank Alfalah Cup match, Pakistan is 3/100 after 32 overs against Sri Lanka with Hafeez on 34 and Khan, 20.

Donny · Posted: Sat May 10, 2003 5:23 pm

ICC One Day International Championship Preview: Bank Alfalah Cup
ICC Media Release - 9 May 2003
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Sri Lanka will be looking to avenge its recent Sharjah defeat to Pakistan in the opening match of the Bank Alfalah Cup in Dambulla, Sri Lanka from 10th May 2003.

The outcome of the seven match tournament - which also includes New Zealand - could have a significant impact on the ICC One Day International Championship table.

Sri Lanka and New Zealand both have an opportunity to improve their ranking while Pakistan needs to perform creditably to hold on to third position.

After a disappointing ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, Pakistan bounced back with victory in the four-nation Cherry Blossom Cup in Sharjah in April and new captain Rashid Latif will be hoping to build on that triumph in Sri Lanka.

In spite of reaching the semi-final of the ICC CWC 2003, defeats to Kenya in that tournament and in Sharjah to Zimbabwe have caused Sri Lankas rating to slide. Sanath Jayasuriya has been replaced by Marvan Atapattu as captain for this series and the new man will need to guide Sri Lanka to more wins than defeats on home soil to prevent it slipping below India to fifth.

New Zealand is the team that will benefit most from a successful tournament. Stephen Flemings side currently has the same rating as England with West Indies only one point ahead. Success in Sri Lanka will enable New Zealand to pull clear of these rivals and close in on the top five.

Team Matches Points Rating

Australia 46 6269 136
South Africa 57 6972 122
Pakistan 49 5471 112
Sri Lanka 60 6351 106
India 58 6047 104
West Indies 35 3463 99
New Zealand 45 4431 98
England 34 3337 98
Zimbabwe 44 2844 65
Kenya 25 704 28
Bangladesh 23 101 4

Gundappa Viswanath from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees will officiate in all of the matches which take place in Dambulla and Colombo. Simon Taufel and Daryl Harper from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires will stand in alternate matches.

Donny · Posted: Sat May 10, 2003 8:18 pm

Pakistan made 8/199. Murali took 3/38 from his 10 overs. Hafeez made 53.

SL lost Jayasuriya for a duck - caught Khan, bowled Akhtar. They are 1/40 after 13.

Donny · Posted: Sat May 10, 2003 9:58 pm

SL are 6/110 with 15 overs to come.

Pakistan would be favourites at this stage. SL needs 5.8 r.p.o.

HAL · Posted: Sat May 10, 2003 10:00 pm

Ummm. . . all of them?

Donny · Posted: Sun May 11, 2003 1:41 am

All out 120. Easy win to Pakistan.

Donny · Posted: Sun May 11, 2003 5:35 pm

NZ won the toss and sent the Pakis in. It paid off as the Pakis found themselves on 7/51.

Latif (26 and Akhtar (20) are fighting back. Bond has 2/7 from 5 overs.

Donny · Posted: Sun May 11, 2003 7:50 pm

All out 116. 5 Black Caps took 2 wickets each.

NZ are 0/21 after 7 overs.

Donny · Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 7:30 pm

NZ won easily.

In the next match, NZ were bundled out for 139 by Sri Lanka. Lou Vincent scored 32 and Murali took 3/16.

HAL · Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 7:33 pm

That was a long time ago.

Donny · Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 10:20 pm

Well, HAL, a week IS a long time in cricket.

Sri Lanka is cruising to victory at 3/116 with 12 overs to go. Kaluwitharana made a solid 48 and Oram has 3/11.

HAL · Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 10:22 pm

Interesting. Am I a week IS a long time in cricket? Yes.

Donny · Posted: Sun May 18, 2003 3:23 pm

In today's game, Pakistan won the toss and decided to field.

After 3 overs, Sri Lanka are 1/13 with Jayasuriya falling to Sami for 6.

Donny · Posted: Sun May 18, 2003 4:47 pm

SL find themselves in a BIG hole with all their best batsmen gone.

They are 5/54 from 19 overs and that total includes 20 extras !

Donny · Posted: Sun May 18, 2003 5:26 pm

SL have recovered, marginally. They are now on 5/80 after 28 overs.

A young pace bowler, Shabbir Ahmed, playing in only his 6th. ODI has been right in the action. He has a catch, a wicket and a run out to his credit.

He has bowled a tight spell with only 13 runs coming from his 8 overs and 7 of them were wides !