Mahela, Dhoni crack tons to power Asia XI to 331-8

Chennai, June 10 (UNI) Asia XI captain Mahela Jayawardene struck an explosive 107 and shared a 218-run partnership with Mahendra Dhoni (139 not out) to post a huge total of 331 for eight for his team against Africa XI in the third and the final ODI in the Afro Asia Cup series here today.

Jayawardene won the toss and promptly decided to bat first.

However, Justin Kemp-led Africa XI, hoping to force at least a consolation win, seemed to be on the road to achieving it before Jayawardene blasted 107 off 106 balls with the help of nine fours and two sixes.

Dhoni remained unbeaten on 139 off 97 balls. He hit 15 fours and five power-packed sixes as Africa skipper Kemp, who employed as many as eight bowlers, looked on helplessly.

Before Jayawardene fell in the second ball of the 47th over, caught by Botha at point off fast bowler Morne Morkel, Jayawardene exhibited his brilliant stroke making ability while adding 218 runs for the sixth wicket off 178 balls with Dhoni.

It was a superb rescue act by the Lankan and the Indian stumper after Asia XI lost their first five wickets for just 72 runs off 16.4 overs.

The Asian innings seemed to be off to a perfect start when Virender Sehwag, out to prove himself and regain a place in Team India, hit two delectable fours in the very first over, one over slip and the other past point, off Morkel who opened the African attack from the pavillion end.

But, off the second ball of the third over, Sehwag fell for eight, facing eight balls to a brilliant low diving catch by Kemp in the slips.

Then the upcoming Zimbabwean fast bowler Peter Ongonda rattled the top order of the Asia XI, picking up three wickets.

He forced the other opener, Lankan veteran Sanath Jayasurya, to fall into the trap at deep square leg pulling straight into the hands of Botha.

Jayasuriya made 13 again as in the second match, this time off 18 balls. But, he hit two superb sixes into the stands.

Then the third batsman, another Lankan Upul Tharanga, fell to another brilliant catch, this time by de Velliers at point off Ongonda.

The South African fielder plucked the ball as it came off Tharanga's intended drive past point. Tharanga made 10 runs off 22 balls with one four. Asia were 45 for three in 9.3 overs.

India's Yuvraj Singh appeared to be getting his eye in, in company with Tharanga. But Pakistani Mohd Yusuf fell to Ongonda for two off seven balls driving to mid-on only to be gobbled up by Dippenar. Then it was further trouble for Asia XI with Yuvraj also falling to another Zimbabwean Elton Chigumbura for a patient 31 off 35 balls with six fours.

Asia XI were truly in trouble. But, Jayawardene and Dhoni cried a halt to the African bowlers onslaught.

After Jayawardene fell, Dhoni who completed his second ODI century after his skipper got his ninth ODI century, was running out of overs as well as good partners.

Mashrafe Mortaza fell for one, Harbhanan Singh hit a four off the first ball he faced and was castled by Morkel for his second wicket.

Mohd Rafiq remained unbeaten with Dhoni after facing three balls.

What made batting easy for Asia XI was the perfect strip coupled with the Africans' slack fielding after some brilliant catching which put the Asian batsmen under pressure.

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