The cries of ‘Iqbal, Iqbal’ from the stands would have given one the impression of the match being staged in one of the Bangladesh stadiums. Tamim Iqbal, the left-handed opener had, in a way, had put India out of the World Cup with his blinding half-century. But on Tuesday night, he was the darling of the Indian cricket fans. And the youngster did not disappoint them either, playing an innings full of crisp hitting though it didn't last more than 22 balls (30, 3x4, 1x6).

By the time Iqbal departed, he had almost made sure that the opening day of the Afro-Asia Cup thoroughly belonged to the hosts. After the clinical precision with which the Asian women's team decimated their African counterparts, the men were equally good in the systematic dismantling of their rivals in the Twenty20 match at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Tuesday.

After the Asian bowlers did a reasonably good job by restricting the Africans for 109 for eight in the stipulated 20 overs, the batsmen complemented them in fine style.

After Iqbal's assault at the top of the order, Sri Lankan Tillekeratne Dilshan (47 n.o., 36b, 6x4, 1x6) and skipper Shoaib Malik (14 n.o.) batted Asia to a comfortable six-wicket victory, with Asia reaching 110 for four in 15.5 overs.

The duo added 49 in 36 balls for the unbeaten fifth wicket to script a facile romp.

Sensible Bosman
Earlier, put in to bat, Africa had not much to cheer as wickets fell at a fast clip before Loots Bosman came to the rescue.

Bosman lived up to his reputation of a Twenty20 specialist with savage hitting that was the cornerstone of Africa's average total. However, his knock was not all about brutal batting. The opener, alert to the situation, bided his time and waited for loose deliveries to stack up a 55-ball 52 studded with three hits to the fence and deposited an equal number over it.

Barring the South African international, none from the visiting side made a worthwhile contribution with the next best score being 12 by Bosman's fellow opener Goolam Bodi.

There was no exceptional bowling show by any of the Asian bowlers but the Bangladeshi duo of Mashrafe Mortaza and left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak stood out for their parsimonious ways.
Sreesanth, the lone Indian in the side, though relatively expensive, picked up two vital wickets and provided some usual theatrical entertainment.


SCORE BOARD
AFRICA XI
Bosman c Akmal b Sreesanth 52
(55b, 3x4, 3x6)
Bodi c Afridi b Sreesanth 12
(13b, 2x4)
Ouma c Akmal b Mortaza 4
(6b, 1x4)
Mishra c Razzak b Mortaza 6
(6b, 1x4)
Obanda (run out) 1
(5b)
D’gwa c Akmal b Maharoof 2
(3b)
Odhiambo b Razzak 9
(15b, 1x4)
Morkel (not out) 8
(12b)
Tshabalala b Afridi 2
(3b)
Mupariwa (not out) 1
(2b)
Extras (B-1, LB-1, W-10) 12
Total (for 8 wkts, 20 overs) 109

Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Bodi), 2-30 (Ouma), 3-40 (Mishra), 4-43 (Obanda), 5-51 (Dabengwa), 6-65 (Odhiambo), 7-101 (Bosman), 8-107 (Tshabalala).

Bowling: Sreesanth 4-1-26-2 (w-5), Mashrafe Mortaza 4-1-17-2 (w-1), Maharoof 4-0-21-1 (w-2), Razzak 4-0-12-1, Afridi 4-0-31-1 (w-2w).

ASIA XI
Iqbal st Ouma b Tshabalala 30
(22b, 3x4, 1x6)
Nazir c Mupariwa b Odhiambo 8
(7b, 2x4)
Akmal c Ouma b Morkel 1
(6b)
Ashraful c M’iwa b Odhiambo 1
(6b)
Dilshan (not out) 47
(36b, 6x4, 1x6)
Malik (not out) 14
(18b, 1x6)
Extras (LB-2, W-7) 9

Total (for 4 wkts; 15.5 overs) 110

Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Nazir, 1.4 ov), 2-29 (Akmal, 4.3), 3-34 (Ashraful, 5.4), 4-61 (Iqbal, 9.5).

Bowling: Morne orkel 4-0-16-1 (w-3), Odhiambo 3-0-21-2 (w-2), Mupariwa 3-0-20-0 (w-2), Tshabalala 4-0-30-1, Varaiya 1-0-9-0, Dabengwa 0.5-0-12-0.