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Butt, Yousuf prop up Pakistan

By admin | June 9, 2008

Salman Butt and Mohammad Yousuf cracked brisk half-centuries to help Pakistan post a competitive 233 against Bangladesh in the opening match of a triangular one-day series here on Sunday.

Left-handed opener Butt made 70 and Yousuf 59 after Pakistan had been put in to bat in a match reduced to 40-overs-a-side due to rain.

Butt put on 75 for the opening wicket Kamran Akmal, dominating new-ball bowlers Shahadat Hossain and Mashrafe Mortaza with attractive strokes. He raced to his half-century off just 47 balls.

Debutant seamer Dolar Mahmud provided the breakthrough in the 12th over when he had Akmal (25) caught by wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim, who dived to his right to bring off a low catch.

Younus Khan was run out in the next over, but Butt and Yousuf propped up the innings with a 65-run stand for the third wicket.

Butt struck 10 fours in his 84-ball knock and Yousuf seven boundaries in his 56-ball innings. It was Butt’s eighth half-century and Yousuf’s 62nd.

Misbah-ul-Haq then built on the efforts of Butt and Yousuf, smashing two sixes and three fours in a 22-ball 39.

Leg-spinner Alok Kapali dismissed Shahid Afridi (20) and Yousuf in the same over to finish with 3-49, his best in 56 one-day internationals.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak finished with 3-35, including two wickets in the last over of the innings.

India are the third team in the fray.

Topics: Cricket News |