Paine and Christian power Prime Minister’s XI to 254
On a brilliant batting wicket at the Manuka Oval, the Prime Minister’s eleven (PM XI) piled up a competitive total against England in a rain-hit One-day match. In doing so, the home side racked up 254 runs for the loss of nine wickets, after the match was
reduced to 43 overs a side due to rain.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard tossed the coin for the match. PM XI won the toss and they had no hesitation in batting first on a batsmen friendly pitch. After the toss, the match was delayed due to the a strong downpour.
However, when the match did eventually get underway, the home team cruised to 53 runs in the nine mandatory power-play overs. Openers Tim Paine and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729 put up a brilliant 75-run opening partnership in 12.3 overs.
Paine batted superbly and played his shots all-around the park; he was severe on anything that was pitched short of length. His timing and placement were the key components of his batting. In his marvellous 50-run knock, Paine struck five crisp boundaries
and a towering six.
Khawaja, who impressed on his Test debut, continued to make a mark and provided valuable support to his opening partner. Usman scored 22 runs off just 26 balls, striking a four and a huge six off a remarkable pull-shot.
The England bowlers made a comeback in the middle overs by scalping quick wickets. The hosts lost three wickets in space of just 33 runs and the scorecard read 108 for three after 22 overs. A rescue was needed in order to bring PM eleven out of danger. Dan
Christian and Callum Ferguson responded to the situation by putting together a resilient 59-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Ferguson played a sheet anchors role in the middle of the PM eleven’s innings, and in doing so he steered his team to 167 runs. He picked up ones and twos on a consistent basis and scored 39 runs off 50 balls.
Christian batting was easy on the eyes and he played one of his most fluent innings. The right-hander’s leg-side play was a delight to watch, as he collected most of his runs, playing on the on-side. He mustered a run- a-ball 53 runs, smashing four scintillating
boundaries and an effortless six.
The home team lost a couple a quick wickets just before the end of their innings. In 38 overs, the scoreboard read 204 for three. Then came Brett Lee, who was playing his first limited overs game after almost a year. He smashed a quick fire 26 runs off just
18 balls, and powered his team to a total of 254 runs.
It was hard work for the English bowlers, as couple of them had spent their time sitting in the dressing room during the entire Ashes series, while others were playing their first game after a long lay-off.
However, Michael Yardy was the pick of the bowlers for England, picking up brilliant figures of three for 33 from nine incisive overs. Yardy troubled the opposition batsmen with his flight and guile. His control over his line and length was immaculate, and
an economy-rate of 3.66 is testament to that fact.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajmal-Shahzad-c42489 looked rusty in his first spell, delivering four wides. In addition, Shahzad went for plenty in his nine overs, conceding 63 runs. Nevertheless, the right-arm bowler gathered a bit of momentum in his second spell and grabbed three wickets
in the middle overs.
Chris Woakes, who played for the first time in England colours, struggled to control his line and direction with the new Kookaburra. He gave away 61 runs in his quota of nine overs. Apart from that, Woakes grabbed two wickets at the end of the innings.
Tags: