Cardiff: Former West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh led the Rest of the World to a seven-wicket victory over Britain in a 'power cricket' match under the Millennium Stadium roof on Friday. Walsh, 39, who finished with a world record 519 Test wickets before retiring from international cricket last year, took five for 50 from his allotted five overs as England was bowled out for 155 in its second innings on a match played on a specially laid artificial pitch. In the first match of its kind played in Britain, the Rest of the World was also indebted to New Zealand's Nathan Astle who made 76 not out in its second innings as it successfully chased 111 for victory. Power cricket differs from conventional forms of the game in that a match consists of two 15-over innings per side. Batsmen also scored bonus runs when they hit the ball into different tiers of the Millennium Stadium's stands. A hit straight into the lower tier was a six but balls landing directly in the middle section were classed as an eight with those going into the top deck of the 74,000-seater stadium were worth 10 runs. Astle hit the evening's only 10 although had any batsmen landed the ball straight on the stadium's retractable roof they would have scored 12. No one managed that feat although Pakistan's Shahid Afridi did come close in front of a sparse crowd at a ground more used to staging Rugby Union internationals. Britain was led by England skipper Nasser Hussain with the Rest led by New Zealand Test captain Stephen Fleming. The second match of the two-game series takes place at the same venue on Saturday. If the Rest wins that match as well its will collect all the 50,000 Pounds ($ 78,500) 'winner takes all' prize money on offer.

Tags: cricket former west indies fast bowler courtney walsh, rest of world, seven-wicket victory, britain, world record 519 test wickets, retiring, england, bowled out, specially laid artificial pitch, new zealand's nathan astle, second innings, victory, conventional forms, game, match, scored bonus runs, hit the ball, different tiers, stands, pakistan's shahid afridi, england skipper nasser hussain, new zealand captain stephen fleming.