Asia storm back to thrash Africa

Asia 105 for 9 (Naik 31, Kilowan 3-16) v Africa 45 (Dhar 4-8, Goswami 3-8)
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Defending just 105, Asia stamped their authority on the Twenty20 match against Africa by dismissing the opposition for a paltry 45. Smarting from a top-order collapse inflicted by Ashlyn Kilowan, as well as from some inopportune run-outs, the Asian side stormed back to ruthlessly shred the African batting order.

Though the game finished with five overs still remaining, the action in the preceding 35 gave no one a chance to complain that they were short-changed. While good fielding dominated in the first half, impressive bowling dominated the second. Rumeli Dhar had impressive figures of 4 for 8, while her opening partner, Jhulan Goswami, was not required to bowl her last over.

Goswami had, however, struck the first blows when she dismissed Margaret Banja and Julie Chibhabha for ducks in the first over. In her next one, she dismissed Trisha Chetty for one - all her dismissals were lbw. Dhar, meanwhile, trapped one in front of the stumps, and bowled the rest.

Eight ducks in the match indicate that the women reversed the trend of Twenty20 cricket - usually associated with fours and sixes - yet they managed to keep the buzz in the game. A spunky partnership between Urooj Mumtaz and Chamari Polgampola for the ninth wicket ensured that Asia got to a competitive total after being 47 for 6 at the half-way mark.

Bad calling by Sulakshana Naik had Jaya Sharma run out at the non-striker's end without facing a ball and Kilowan then struck twice in consecutive balls, trapping Mithali Raj leg before with her first ball and bowling Dedunu Silva off the next.

Cri-Zelda Brits, the Africa captain, would be disappointed that her side allowed Asia to set them a target of 106. It has to be said here that there are only four players from among ICC's top-ten-ranked countries in the Africa side. Asia were always to be favoured - with six players from India, who are ranked No. 2 - but the manner in which they wrapped up the match was still impressive. Alicia Smith top-scored for Africa with 23, their only double-digit score.

Spectators trickled into the ground as the hour drew closer to the men's game and were not disappointed by what they got to see while they waited. Music accompanied every bit of action on the field and it looked like Indian crowds were getting attuned to Twenty20 cricket. The curtain-raiser was meant to whet the crowd's appetite - excite them without stealing the show. But if the women ended up stealing the show, it would only reflect poorly on the men.