Bevan’s 185 fails to Rest win

He played some superb shots against Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble, Sri Lankan off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan, Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistani all-rounder Abdur Razzaq and hoisted the World XI from a precarious 196 for seven in 37.4 overs to just 20 runs from the last over.

Caddick took a single of the first ball of the final over bowled by Razzaq and then Bevan struck three mesmerising boundaries off successive balls to make it seven runs from two balls.

The Australian southpaw pulled the fifth ball to the mid-wicket boundary and went for a couple but Caddick (23) was caught short of the crease to be run out.

Needing six runs from the last ball, Bevan made a lion-hearted effort and swung the ball over the bowler’s head but it landed a few yards from the boundary line, to the disappointed of cheering crowd.

Bevan, who was declared the Man of the Match, remained not out with a sparkling 185 runs, coming off only 132 balls and was studded with 19 breathtaking boundaries and five massive sixes.

Bevan’s century came off 88 balls and was studded with seven hits to the boundary. His 150 runs came in 118 balls inclusive of 12 boundaries.

Muralitharan with two wickets for 45 runs and Razzaq with 267 were the leading wicket-takers for the Asia XI. Skipper Wasim Akram, fellow left-arm pacer Chaminda Vaas and Kumble chipped in with one wicket each.

Earlier, former India skipper Sachin Tendulkar and his successor Saurav Ganguly struck breezy half-centuries to help the Asian XI pile up a massive 320 for nine in 50 overs.

Tendulkar scored 80 while Ganguly made 67 in a second-wicket stand of 114 as the Asia XI batsmen made merry on a placid wicket after skipper Wasim Akram won the toss and elected to bat.