Butt shines in Indian tour opener

NEW DELHI—Left-handed batsman Salman Butt hit form with a sparkling half-century as Pakistan warmed up for the one-day international series against India with a six-wicket win over a local side here Friday.
Butt, dropped from the playing eleven in all five matches of the preceding series against South Africa because of poor form, blazed his way to an 84-ball 83 studded with 13 fours and a six before opting to retire in the only warm-up game before the one-day series.
Imran Nazir (34) and Misbah-ul Haq (39) also spent useful time in the middle as the visitors surpassed Delhi XI’s total of 213 for nine with 44 balls to spare.
The toothless bowling attack of the local side could not really test the visitors, who open the five-match series in Guwahati on November 5. The one-dayers will be followed by three Tests. Earlier, controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar took one for 46 in a restrained performance after captain Shoaib Malik won the toss and elected to field. Akhtar, sporting a new shorter haircut, refrained from going all out, apparently to save his firepower for tougher battles ahead.
The 32-year-old, whose new-ball partner Umar Gul finished with 31 off six overs and one wicket, assumes greater responsibility for Pakistan after the withdrawal of Mohammad Asif with an elbow problem.
Akhtar returned to international cricket against South Africa last month after 13 months on the sidelines due to a drugs ban, later rescinded, injuries and a 13-match suspension for hitting Asif with a bat.
Prolific batsman Younis Khan was the surprise bowling package, taking two wickets in as many balls with his medium-pace bowling.
For the local side, Rajat Bhatia top-scored with 75 off 106 balls including seven fours and a six. Shikhar Dhawan chipped in with 52 which included a six off AKhtar.
Pakistan were sharp in the field, enjoying three run-outs of the Delhi batsmen, who were keen to get among runs before the start of the domestic season on Sunday.
Over 10,000 fans allowed free entry into the Ferozeshah Kotla ground cheered Pakistan, who also forced three run outs, two of them smart direct hits by Butt and Sohail Tanvir. Butt, who did not feature in last month’s one-day series loss to South Africa after poor form in the preceding tests, batted fluently after Pakistan’s opening pair again struggled.
Kamran Akmal (5) was out in the first over and fellow opener Imran Nazir (34) in the sixth. Butt added 91 runs with Misbah-ul-Haq (39) for the third wicket before he retired hurt, leaving Yasir Hameed (33 not out) to finish off as key batsmen Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi and skipper Shoaib Malik did not bat.
Younis took two wickets off successive deliveries with his occasional medium-pace to reduce Delhi to 46 for four in the morning before Rajat Bhatia (75) and Shikar Dhawan (52) dug in. Pakistan strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar, just back from a 13-game ban, bowled at half pace to take one for 46. The tourists will play five one-dayers and three tests with the first one-day international in Guwahati on Monday.

—Agencies