When Pakitanis were beaten by West Indies – QF update – WC 2011

It was an interesting incident when the Adjudicator gave the MOM to a bowler, stating that it is customary to give the award to the member of the winning team, without realizing that the team had in fact lost after been in commanding position for a larger portion of the match.

There is very little to write about on the first QF.  It was a complete mismatch – WI succumbed not to the great pace attack of Pak but to their gentle spinners.  Gayle was out at 14 and the contest was never on.  Hafeez who opened the attack took 2 for 16; Afridi took another 4 for and Ajmal took another two.  A total of 112 was never going to test the opponents and Pakis pulverized them in 20.5 overs without losing a wicket.

In what can be termed as Finals for Indians, the match at Motera is threatening to be a livewire.  A win would sour the dreams of India lifting the WC after 25^th June 1983.  After all the initial hustle, the Indian bowling option is most likely to be R Ashwin opening the bowling, initial burst from Zaheer with the new ball and there could be heavy dependence on spin.  How of much assistance they get from Motera wicket would hold the key.  The Indian batting has not collectively fluent but very good at the start which if continued could pose a great threat to Aussies despite the fact that Indians have crumbled in the slog and the batting powerplay.

Whether the personal pressure on Ricky Ponting would descend on his team remains likely to be seen.  On form and by statistics, Aussie is a superior team and they have won big titles though their 34 match streak came to an end with the loss to Pakis. 

It was the last league match in the inaugural WC – Tom Graveney, who was appointed to give out the Man-of-the-Match award, had left for the bar at the fall of our eighth wicket, that of Keith Boyce. He came back in time for the presentation, and gave the award to Sarfraz Nawaz.  When asked about his choice, he said: "Sarfraz has taken four wickets and it is normal for a player from the winning team to get the award." Someone then pointed out that West Indies were the winners. That was the first he got to know of the result of the game!

It was ODI no. 26 8^th match of the tournament – a thriller.  Javed Miandad, Pervez Mir (who ?] and Gordon Greenidge made their debuts.  WI were playing Pakis for the first time.  Asif Iqbal, Pak captain and allrounder, had to opt out due to illness. Majid Khan took over as captain and elected to bat on winning the toss.

Majid and Sadiq opened against the likes of Roberts, Boyce, Julien and Holder.  There were half centuries from Majid, Mustaq and Wasim Raja and Pak finished at 266 for 7 in their allotted 60 overs.  WI had a strong batting line up too – Fredericks, Greenidge, Alwin Kallicharran, Rohan Kanhai, Clive Lloyd and Vivian Richards  -  Pak bowling was in the hands of Asif Masood, Sarfraz Nawaz, Naseer Malik, Pervez Mir – Javed Miandad whom all know as a batsman who appeared till 1996 WC bowled the full quota of 12.

At 36 – Fredericks, Greendige, Kalli were back all out to Sarfraz and at 99 half of the team were inside the pavilion.  At 166 they were 8 down.  Holder held out for a while taking the score to 203 and when he was out – 65 had to be scored with Wicket keeper Deryck Murray being joined by Andy Roberts – match was over though were as may as 16 overs left  ………..  a great partnership blossomed and 5 were required off the last over – Majid had ran out of his main bowlers and Wasim Raja bowled the last one and WI won.   Murray was not out with 61 and Roberts made an unbeaten 24

With regards – S. Sampathkumar