Botswana outclass Pakistan
Dumisani Ncube | Monday October 20, 2014 14:37
Botswana won the toss and elected to field batsmen Zain Abbassi and Azhar Malek. The home team started the game with a high tempo and James Moses bowled out Abbassi for a duck in the first over. Ali Mirra came to partner Malek, and the two batsmen tried to maintain a solid partnership and troubled Botswana for a while but the home team proved to be strong.
The Pakistan ship started sinking when spinner Mmoloki Mooketsi broke the Mirra and Malek partnership in the sixth over bowling out Mirra who walked out with 14 runs. He was followed by Mateen Khan who was also dismissed for a duck by Karabo Modise.
Pakistan’s run rate decreased as Botswana fielders tightened their play with the batting team loosing more wickets and failing to score more runs. The second innings resumed after a delay of 45 minutes due to a technical fault with regard to the flood lights.
Botswana opening batsman, Saad Mohyudin, opened the first over in style as he hit two boundary runs in a row. Mohyudin and his partner Karabo Mothlanka played a hit and run game taking a run from every delivery they received.
Botswana lost its first wicket in the third over when Mohyudin was bowled out by Nadeem Ahmed walking out with 18 runs from 12 deliveries. Hard hitting batsman Karabo Modise came in and managed to form a 37 run partnership with Motlhanka who was dismissed in the 18th over for 17 runs from 17 balls. Naseem Tajbaay succeeded Motlhanka and formed another solid 57 run partnership with Modise. The home team outclassed Pakistan and closed on 122 runs surpassing their opponents by two runs winning the match by eight wickets. Botswana will be facing Sri Lanka this Thursday.