Mumbai, April 11, 2008: The third match of the ICL 20s World Series featured the ICL India team take on the formidable ICL Pakistani at the magnificent ICL facility, Lal Bahadur Stadium, Hyderabad. A highly anticipated encounter was in store expecting to revive the great "Indo-Pak" cricket rivalry on the vibrant ICL platform.Inzamam won the toss and elected to bat. The Pakistanis opened with their flamboyant combination of Razzaq & Nazir. Razzaq got into the act right away taking 22runs off a wayward Vignesh over. At the end of 3 overs the Pakistani side was off to a flier, placed handsomely at 36 for no loss. Sathish brought on Thiru Kumaran in the 4th over who responded immediately with the first breakthrough in form of Razzaq's wicket. The introduction of Ali Murtaza in the seventh over paid dividends immediately in form of Imran Farhat's wicket. At the end of the 7th over the Pakistanis were placed at 57/2.
Sathish introduced spin from both ends in form of Murtaza & Syed which resulted in drying of runs from the Pakistani bats. At the half way stage of their innings the Pakistanis were comfortably placed at 79/2.
Nazir was gong great guns in the middle overs keeping the momentum of the Pakistani innings going. Chennai lad Syed was troubling the great Inzy with his slow left arm spin and finally got his prized scalp when Inzy nicked one to the keeper in the 15th over. With 5 overs to go the Pakistani side was all set for the onslaught, placed handsomely at 113/4.
Kumaran came for his second spell in the 16th over & got the wicket of the dangerous Nazir for a well made 56. Some disciplined bowling from Murtaza and Kumaran in the final overs, assisted by some sharp fielding saw the Pakistani side restricted 152/8 in their allotted 20overs.
Brief scores: ICL Pakistani 152/8 in 20overs (Nazir56, Razzaq 17, Kumaran 2/20)