(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Captain Brian Lara starred as the World XI defeated Asia XI by five runs in an exciting Eid T20 Cricket Festival tie watched by 10, 000 avid enthusiasts at the West End Park Stadium in Doha.
The exhibition game yesterday was all about the cricket passion as the past and current stars showed their class to amuse fans who turned out for the match an hour before kick-off.
Iconic cricketers from Australia, West Indies, England, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands were seen in action in what has been dubbed as historic match for cricket in Qatar.
It was legendary Lara who stole the limelight after he elected to bat first.
He led from the front and showed glimpse of the past in his masterful 47 off 44 deliveries including two sixes.
Spurred with the innings of the former West Indies captain, the World XI compiled a total of 156-7 in stipulated overs.
England's Owais Shah was the other main scorer for World XI, hitting a brisk 43 from just 22 deliveries, before being dismissed by Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat.
South Africa's swashbuckling batsman of the past who hit the first six of the match off Pakistan's Abdur Razzaq, made 22 runs.
Former India Test opener, Aakash Chopra displayed the art of his spin bowling and was the top wicket-taking bowler for Asia XI, snapping up three wickets for 34 runs from his quota of four overs. Arfat claimed a brace while Razzaq took figures of 1-38.
Chasing the target of 162, Asia XI got a good start with skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, and backed by a good number of Sri Lanka fans, looking in good nick along with Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal.
Jayasuriya showed he still have good reflexes hitting four boundaries in his innings of 25 from 23 runs as Asia XI crossed fifty runs in only the seventh over. Iqbal also looked good and was the highest scorer with 41 runs from 31 balls.
After dismissal of the openers, Sri Lanka's Angelo Perrera anchored Asia XI innings as wickets continued to fall at the other hand. The continental side did not get contribution from Razzaq (9), Marvan Atapattu (1), Chopra (1) and Rashid Latif (7) as World XI took control of the game.
Perrera gave hopes to crowd when Asia XI needed 17 runs to win in the last three deliveries, hitting a four and a six from the first two deliveries but Australia's Jason Gillespie conceded just a single to seal victory for the World XI. Perrera made an unbeaten 31.
Dutchman Ryan Ten Doechate took three wickets while Corey Colleymore of the West Indies grabbed two from the winning side.
Lara was named Man-of-the-Match for his classy innings.
While World XI won, cricket in Qatar was the winner for the West End Park Chairman Mana Ibrahim Al Mana.
"Over 10, 000 spectators have turned out to watch a cricket match which is a huge success," Al Mana told reporters.
"This is very encouraging and we will continue to host major cricket tournaments."
It may be recalled that the West End Park, earlier this year hosted the women's tri-series featuring Pakistan, Ireland and South Africa. The venue will also host the Asian Cricket Council U-16 tournament from October 22 to 27.
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