Dhoni, Jayawardene star in Asian XI win

CHENNAI, June 10: Mahendra Singh Dhoni's (139 not out) record sixth-wicket stand with Asian XI captain Mahela Jayawardene (107) helped the side to beat Africa XI by 13 runs and complete a whitewash in their third and final tie of the Afro-Asia Cup tournament on Sunday.
In reply to the Asian XI total of 331 for eight wickets, the African side fell 13-run short, finishing at 318 for seven in their allotted 50 overs.
Scorecard
Like in the earlier two matches, the Africans neared the target, but could not surpass it. They failed to capitalise on a 117-run opening stand, though the sixth wicket pair of captain Justin Kemp (86, 76b, 3x4, 7x6) and Shaun Pollock (58 not out) came up with a superlative display, adding 122 runs in just 88 balls.
Coming in at 159 for five after four quick wickets fell for the addition of 42 runs, these two South Africans turned the tide and kept the bowlers at bay with their quick-fire display.
But once Kemp was clean bowled by Mohammed Rafique of Bangladesh in the 46th over, Pollock, the mainstay of the Africans, and Johan Botha were forced to take the back seat.
The Africans required 22 runs in the last over but could muster just nine and surrendered the initiative.
Besides Dhoni, who was adjudged man of the match, spinners Mohamed Rafique (4/65) and Harbhajan Singh (3/48) stole the limelight for the Asian XI.
Facing an imposing asking run rate of 6.62, the Africans began on a solid note with openers AB de Villiers (70 off 63 balls, 7x4, 3x6) and Vusi Sibanda (45) getting into business straightaway. Villiers was more on strike and raced to his 50 off 48 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes.
After the first wicket partnership between Villiers and Sibanda yielded 117 runs off 80 balls, Rafique provided the much-needed breakthrough and in fact was on the verge of a hat-trick.
Rafique scalped Villiers and Boeta Dippenaar off successive deliveries in his third over but was denied the honours by Steve Tikolo, promoted in the order.
Sibanda was the next to go, going for a big shot. He ended up being stumped by Dhoni off Rafique in the 23rd over as the African XI were down to 138/3.
Earlier, coming in with his side struggling at 72 for five, Dhoni got into the groove and along with captain Jayawardene, launched a solid counter-attack and took little time to take control of the situation.
Showing an insatiable hunger for runs, the Jharkhand player scored his third hundred in the shorter version and Jayawardene his 10th, thereby doing the bulk of the team score.