Asia bt Africa, clinch three match series

Chennai, June 9 (UNI) Medium pacer Dilhara Fernando picked up four wickets to help Asia XI score a facile 31-run win over Africa XI and clinch the three-match Afro-Asia ODI series at the M A Chidambaram stadium here tonight.

Chasing Asia's 337 for 7, which was possible largely due to fine half centuries by Virender Sehwag (52), Saurav Ganguly (88), Md Yousuf (51), Africans were in the hunt.

Till the 36th over, before Fernando broke the back with a four wicket haul to complete a fine win. The Africans collapsed from 217 for four in 36.1 overs to 263 for nine in 44.1 overs before they were bowled out for 306 in 49.5 overs.

Left arm spinner Mohd Rafique and Mohd Asif provided admirable support claiming two wickets apiece, while Sehwag and Yuvraj shared one wicket each.

Asia leads the series 2-0, after winning the first match by 34 runs at Bangalore on June six. The series-clinching win in the second match here today has reduced tomorrow's final match to mere academic interest.

After the early exit of De Villers (13), V Sibanda (35, 39 balls, 4x4) and Boeta Dippenaar (67, 72 balls, 9x4) steered the innings with a 60-run second wicket stand in 62 balls.

The twin strike by medium pacer Dilhara Fernando, who got rid of Sibanda and skipper Justin Kemp (0) in a space of three balls pegged the Africans back.

Notwithstanding the double blow, Dippenaar and Boucher (73, 71 balls, 2x6, 4x4) kept them in the hunt with a calculated assault on the bowlers adding 79 in 84 balls for the fourth wicket.

After the exit of Dippenaar, Boucher then added another 58 in 51 balls with last match centurion Shaun Pollock (35, 39 balls, 4x4).

But both fell trying to up the run rate, hitting to Asif at long on off Fernando and Sehwag respectively.

Amid mounting run rate, their exit virtually ended the hopes of the Africans, who threw in the towel and fell short by 31 runs.

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