Only Twenty20 - Asia XI vs Africa XI at Bangalore

Ljp86

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Only Twenty20 - Asia XI vs Africa XI at Bangalore

This game promised to be a good one until we found out that only one side was taking the game seriously. Having a look at the African line-up, you could say that they may find themselves on a hiding to nothing.

The African squad has only one regular international player, that player being South African opener Loots Bosman. The Morkel brothers from South Africa are the other two names you'd recgonize on the team sheet with the rest coming from Kenya and Zimbabwe. It's a shame that we won't get to see some of the African big guns in this match, players like Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher and Steve Tikolo. If you were to make a full-strength African side, most of the players would reside from South Africa, such is the strength of their line-up and their prescence in the region.

The Asian team boasts a whole range of stars including Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Mashrafe Mortaza. It seems they are here to play with their African counterparts taking the game as nothing more than a hit and giggle contest.

Continental pride is up for grabs, which continent will end up being superior?

Asia XI: Abdul Razzaq, TM Dilshan, Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal+, MF Maharoof, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Ashraful, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik*, S Sreesanth, Tamim Iqbal

Africa XII: GH Bodi, LL Bosman, KM Dabengwa, F Kasteni, T Mishra*, JA Morkel, M Morkel, T Mupariwa, A Obanda, N Odhiambo, MA Ouma+, T Tshabalala

Umpires: AV Jayaprakash and VN Kulkarni
3rd Umpire: SK Tarapore

Weather:

(All Temperatures in Degrees Celcius)

Rain, Minimum of 18 degrees.



Game starts at 10pm AWST (7:30pm local time, 2pm GMT).
 
Re: Only Twenty20 - Asia XI vs Africa XI at Bangalore

Game going as I predicted so far. Africa are hopelessly out of their depth and sit at 6/101 in the 19th over.

Loots Bosman is 52 not out but it has taken him 54 balls. He's been the mainstay of the innings and he also opened for the Africans. Not much else of siginificance for the Africans, Bodi made 12 and is the only other player to reach double figures.

The Asian bowling has been superb, so much so that Mortaza and Sreesanth were able to bowl a maiden each which in unheard of in Twenty20 cricket. Mortaza is the pick of the bowlers with 2/17.
 
Re: Only Twenty20 - Asia XI vs Africa XI at Bangalore

Hahaha, you're joking!!!

Last ball of the innings, Morne Morkel faces up to Shahid Afridi who drives but fails to connect. Kamran Akmal, the keeper, takes the ball and whips off the bails. They refer the decision to the 3rd umpire, Morkel has overbalanced and is clearly out of his crease but bizarrely the 3rd umpire gives it not out!!! Unbelievable!!!

Anyway, Africa finishes on 8/109 from their 20 overs. Bosman top scored with 52 and that was pretty much it for the Africans. Mortaza and Sreesanth finish with two wickets each with Maharoof, Razzaq and Afridi one apiece.

Africa will struggle to defend that total, they'll have to bowl really well but with the attack they have, I can't see it happening.
 
Re: Only Twenty20 - Asia XI vs Africa XI at Bangalore

wow, had no idea this match was planned. Asia cruised to a six wicket win, btw.

as you stated, i would not call that an 'all star' team for Africa.
 
Re: Only Twenty20 - Asia XI vs Africa XI at Bangalore

BigJeff;163433 said:
wow, had no idea this match was planned. Asia cruised to a six wicket win, btw.

as you stated, i would not call that an 'all star' team for Africa.

They had them in trouble early, but the African line-up lacked any stars to pull out a win from nowhere.

They were easily beaten in the end as the Asian side won by 6 wickets with 25 balls remaining. Dilshan held the side together as he scored an unbeaten 47. Tamim Iqbal made 30 at the top of the order.

For the Africans, Morne Morkel and Odhiambo bowled well with the latter picking up two wickets.

Looking forward to the first ODI between the sides, the Africans are expected to play a much stronger line-up.
 
Re: Only Twenty20 - Asia XI vs Africa XI at Bangalore

4,6,1,2,9,8,2,1 is what the bottom nine of the Dark Continent dudes
made. Gotta be on cheap Jamaican cricket to believe a team of Yank
pro baseballers couldn't do better.
 
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