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Record stand propels Asia to series sweep

Asia XI cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, left, plays a shot as Africa XI wicketkeeper Mark Boucher watches during the third One Day International match of the Afro-Asia cup in Chennai on Sunday. PHOTO: AFP

Mahendra Dhoni and Mahela Jayawardene hammered centuries in a record stand to set up Asia's 13-run win over Africa in the third and final match of the Afro-Asia one-day series on Sunday.

Dhoni (139 not out) and Jayawardene (107) put on 218 for the sixth wicket as Asia posted a challenging 331-8 before restricting Africa to 318-7 in an exciting day-night match to complete a 3-0 sweep.

The previous best for the sixth wicket in one-day internationals was 165.

Skipper Justin Kemp posed the main threat to Asia's total with a blazing 76-ball 86 including seven sixes, but his team's hopes virtually ended when he was bowled by left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique (4-65) in the 46th over.

Africa were struggling at 159-5 before Kemp added 122 for the sixth wicket with Shaun Pollock, who remained unbeaten with 58 off 49 balls.

Africa began the chase on an impressive note as AB de Villiers and Vusi Sibanda added 117 for the opening wicket before faltering against Asian spinners Rafique and Harbhajan Singh (3-48).

South African De Villiers hit three sixes and seven fours in his 63-ball 70 before becoming Bangladeshi Rafique's first victim and Boeta Dippenaar lasted just one ball before falling in the same over.

Africa slipped to 138-3 when the well-set Zimbabwean Sibanda (45) was stumped by Dhoni while attempting a big shot off Rafique.

Man-of-the-match Dhoni brought off two more stumpings to account for Steve Tikolo and Mark Boucher, this time off Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh before Kemp and Pollock gave Asia a scare.

Asia were earlier reeling at 72-5 following Kenyan Peter Ongondo's triple strike, but Sri Lankan Jayawardene and Indian Dhoni came to their team's rescue with robust knocks.

Jayawardene hit two sixes and nine fours in a 106-ball knock before falling in the closing overs.

Dhoni gave a superb exhibition of power hitting as he struck five sixes and 15 fours in a 97-ball innings.

Asia were in trouble in the initial overs against disciplined African bowling and fielding before Jayawardene and Dhoni altered the course of the innings.

Seamers Ongondo (3-35) and Morne Morkel (3-50) were brilliantly backed by their fielders, with Kemp and De Villiers taking spectacular catches to keep pressure on the Asian side.

But Dhoni and Jayawardene put paid to Africa's hopes of restricting Asia to a modest total with their exciting strokeplay. They helped their side plunder 108 in the closing 10 overs.
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