Just 1.2 overs into the match, the Asian Women's XI got themselves into such a deep hole that it almost seemed curtains for them against a fired-up African XI. Put in to bat by African skipper Cri-Zelda Brits, Asia got off to an ominous start, losing opener Jaya Sharma, who ran for a non-existent single and was caught short of the crease. Skipper Mithali Raj was trapped in front for a first-ball duck by left-arm seamer Ashlyn Kilowan in the second over of the match. The South African then bowled LDVV Silva with the next ball that jagged back into the batswoman.
Rumeli Dhar did deny Ashlyn the joy of a hat-trick, but the Africans had taken a firm grip of the Twenty20 match. Or so it seemed.

Despite struggling at 47 for six halfway through the ultra-abridged match, the Asian XI -- thanks to some lusty hitting by opener Sulakshana Naik up front and Sri Lankan PRCS Kumarhami and Pakistan's Urooj Mumtaz Khan towards the end -- put up a competitive 105 and then bowled the Africans out for a niggardly 45 to win the fifth ever women's Twenty20 international by 60 runs. For Mithali, there was double delight. Having led India to their first Twenty20 win against England in their only such game to date, the Hyderabad girl maintained her cent percent record in the newest version of the game.

It was the new-ball duo of Jhulan Goswami and Rumeli Dhar that was at the forefront of the damage inflicted on the Africans, taking seven wickets between them at a cost of just 16 runs.

Both bowlers, it seemed, had read the conditions perfectly and stuck to the basics without trying anything extravagant. Their wicket-to-wicket line had the desired the effect as most of the Africans fell victim, either trapped in front or bowled.

Dhar, who hit a run-a-ball 14 and claimed four for eight in her four-over spell, was adjudged the woman of the match. Goswami lent admirable support with figures of three for eight.

Earlier, Naik was entrenched at one end even as wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end. Down at eight for 64, the Asians looked like theyu were going to be easy meal for their rivals, but Kumarihami (22, 16b, 3x4) and Mumtaz Khan (18, 18b, 1x4) took them to a total that was more than enough for Mithali's women to defend.

Pak official’s plight
A Pakistani national, working for Asian Cricket Council (ACC), was deported to Kuala Lumpur from the airport here on Sunday as he did not possess valid documents, forcing him to come again via Mumbai, adds PTI.

Sultan Rana, who had come to Bangalore to take charge as manager of the Asia squad for the Afro-Asia Cup cricket series, had arrived by a Malaysian Airlines flight on Tuesday. He had visa issued by Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur which listed Bangalore as the entry point, immigration officials said.

However, as rules do not allow any Pakistani passport holder to enter India from anywhere except Delhi and Mumbai, or through the Wagah border, he was sent back to Kuala Lumpur at 11.45 PM on Sunday, they said. His visa was amended in Kuala Lumpur.

Rana, the younger brother of late Pakistani umpire Shakoor Rana, is the Development Manager with ACC which is based in Kuala Lumpur.

SCORE BOARD
ASIA XI
Naik b Kilowan 31
(34b, 5x4)
Sharma (run out) 0
(0b)
Mithali lbw Kilowan 0
(1b)
Silva b Kilowan 0
(1b)
Dhar (run out) 14
(14b, 3x4)
Maroof c Margret b C’bha 1
(10b)
Siriwardene c Smith b T’kos 2
(5b)
Goswami c Mashedi b T’kos 9
(23b)
Kumarhimi (run out) 22
(16b, 3x4)
Mumtaz (not out) 18
(18b, 1x4)
Dimri (not out) 0
(0b)
Extras (LB-1, NB-1, W-6) 8

Total (for 9 wkts, 20 overs) 105

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Sharma), 2-4 (Mithali), 3-4 (Silva), 4-29 (Rumeli), 5-44 (Bismah), 6-47 (Siriwardene), 7-61 (Sulakshana), 8-64 (Jhulan), 9-100 (Kumarihami).

Bowling: Alicia 4-0-22-0 (w-2, nb-1), Ashlyn 4-0-16-3, Franklin 4-0-32-0, Thandolwenkos 4-0-20-2 (w-2), Chibhabha 4-0-14-1 (w-2).

AFRICA XI
Cri-Zelda lbw Dhar 2
(6b)
Margret lbw Goswami 0
(1b)
Chibhabha lbw Goswami 0
(1b)
T Chetty lbw Goswami 1
(4b)
Alicia (not out) 23
(27b, 2x4)
Shakim b Dimri 7
(14b, 1x4)
Ashlym c Siriwardene b Dimri 2
(12b)
Aryemo b Dhar 6
(15b, 1x4)
Mashedi b Dhar 0
(2b)
Franklin b Dhar 0
(1b)
T’kos lbw Siriwardene 0
(4b)
Extras (B-1, LB-3) 4

Total (all out, 15 overs) 45

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Margret), 2-1 (Chibhabha), 3-3 (Cri-Zelda), 4-5 (Chetty), 5-26 (Shakim), 6-30 Kilowan, 7-44 (Christine), 8-44 (Mashedi), 9-44 (Najjumbo).

Bowling: oswami 3-1-8-3, Dhar 4-1-8-4, Kumarihami 4-0-19-0, Dimri 3-1-5-2, Siriwardene 1-0-1-1.