Cricket Tournaments

It was a game that was Pakistan’s for the taking. But, four crazy overs of slog over bowling and some childish fielding from the unpredictable Asians turned things around 360 degree. Ross Taylor, who was dropped twice at the start of his innings, one being a simple, straightforward chance to wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal and one going between the keeper and slips, went on to play the innings of the lifetime. Until the last five overs of the innings, Pakistan were in control, courtesy Umar Gul whose tight bowling and wicket-taking kept New Zealand’s score under check.

Unfortunately for Pakistan, it was actually the silence before the storm. Shoaib Akhtar bowled a plethora of full tosses and was treated by the well-set Taylor with the least of respect. All those deliveries found their way over the ropes as Akhtar could do nothing but watch in embarrassing amazement. Taylor threw his bat at everything and was rewarded suitably as he also brought up his birthday century. There was more come in the innings of the lifetime as Taylor dished out similar treatment to Abdul Razzaq. Like Akhtar, Razzaq was also guilty of bowling a number of full tosses. And not surprisingly, those deliveries were dispatched easily over the ropes. And even when the bowler managed to land the ball on the pitch, the ball was creamed to the fence along the ground. The bowlers had absolutely no answer to the Taylor assault. Inspired by Taylor, Nathan McCullum and Jacob Oram also played wonderful cameos as Pakistan bowlers succumbed to the pressure.

Taylor’s was the kind of innings New Zealand needed to lift themselves up following some disappointing efforts in recent times. Taylor hadn’t been the greatest form going into the tournament. In fact, he had been struggling for quite a while. Also, his record on the sub continent had been below par prior to this tournament. In spite of all this, Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori had backed Taylor to come good sooner rather than later in the tournament. And that’s exactly what happened. Taylor went from strength to strength as the innings progressed and hurt Pakistan badly for their misdemeanours with both the ball and in the field.

Once Taylor and co had blasted Pakistan in the manner they did, there seemed to be no way back for the Pakistanis. So shell-shocked were they that in time the Pakistanis had lost six wickets and the game was all but over. It was only a blazing counter attack by Abdul Razzaq that the Asian giants something to cheer about. He got some good support from Umar Gul towards the end. But, that was only a case of too little too late.

Apart from Taylor, Martin Guptill’s half-century will also give assurance to New Zealand at the top of the order. He has been in good form of late and the Kiwis will want him to continue that in the coming matches as well. What they need now is for Brendon McCullum to find his groove. He did perform well in the previous game against Zimbabwe. However, New Zealand will need McCullum to be more consistent in the coming games. Among the other worries, the injury to skipper Vettori will be a bit of a worry to them.

From Pakistan’s point of view, they will need to get their bowling act at the death right. Also, their fielding needs to go up by a few notches. And, of course, their batting under pressure needs to improve. They have been caught napping on more than a couple of occasions now and were bailed out by Shahid Afridi. The business end of the tournament is just about to begin and Pakistan need to put the past victories behind them and look ahead to the bigger battles that are ahead.

Only Pakistan could have done it. After restricting New Zealand to a well below-par 133 for 7, Pakistan managed to mess up the chase despite a sensible, unbeaten 67 from opener Salman Butt and some monstrous hitting from Abdul Razzaq towards the end.

The Pakistani opener was left stranded thanks to some inexplicable batting from the other end, as the Kiwis escaped to a one-run win. Earlier, New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori rescued his side with the bat, with a typically fighting 38 after the early loss of wickets.

Still, at the halfway stage, it seemed a far from competitive total. But, with Pakistan once again in the mood to commit hara-kiri, it proved just about enough.

Pakistan’s best chance was when Butt and Razzaq joined forces following the batting collapse and played some intelligent cricket. Razzaq batted patiently in the initial phase of his innings before exploding.

He smashed two massive sixes and a four off Vettori in one over. While he was relatively quieter against Shane Bond, he did manage to smash one that nearly cleared the stadium.

Thanks to his mighty hitting Pakistan were left needing to score at just over eight runs an over in the final three overs, an easily achievable task in T20 cricket.

However, the renowned fighters that they are, the Kiwis fought back. Nathan McCullum bounced out Razzaq to keep his side in the hunt. At the other end, Butt crossed his half-century and kept finding the boundaries in between the singles and dot balls.

11 were needed off the last over, and the responsibility of bowling it was handed over to Ian Butler, who had been miserly until then. It was a mixed bag from Butt as he swung two for boundaries and missed two from the first four balls.

The fifth ball saw a yorker length delivery that the left-hander couldn’t do much with, but steal a bye. And so, Abdur Rehman was on strike with two needed off the last ball.

Butler bowled one on a length and a swipe from Rehman only managed to travel as far as the fielder, Martin Guptill at deep square leg.

Ironically, Rehman was the one who bowled Pakistan into a good position earlier in the day. After Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder had started off aggressively, it was Rehman who put the brakes on the innings.

Rehman troubled all the Kiwi batsmen, but none more than Guptill, who looked all the sea before the misery was ended by a diving catch by Umar. Things got worse for New Zealand as McCullum, who had calmed down following the loss of wickets, top-edged a sweep shot for 33.

Soon, the loss of Ross Taylor saw the batting side slump to 58 for 4, before Vettori did some amount of damage control.

Pakistan remained favourites to win as they began their chase. However, apart from Butt and Razzaq, they never ever looked in control any sort of rhythm. When their captain Shahid Afridi fell in the 10th over, the score read a miserable 58 for 5.

The disaster began when Kamran ‘wonder why he is in the team’ Akmal failed to pick a slower ball from Kyle Mills, and inside edged one. Mohammad Hafeez then fell to a rising delivery from Shane Bond, and soon Mills sent back Umar Gul for a first ball duck.

Misbah-ul-Haq (in the same boat as Kamran) scratched around for 13th balls and gathered only 3, before being trapped in front of the stumps. With the top four falling cheaply, all eyes were on Boom Boom Shahid Afridi.

But, the skipper too fell to a superb diving blinder from Nathan McCullum and thus proved no matter how badly the opposition performs, they can always better the worse.

21st June, the historic day in Cricket history, especially for Pakistan it’s the unforgettable day. Pakistani Fan’s prayers accepted, and Pakistan won over by high spirits and delight. Afridi swung willow wand and leaded the Pakistan to become ICC World T20 Champions. Pakistan determination, spirit and brilliancy in the game were apparent and each player gave his every bit of effort for the fancied victory. Expectations were high from Pakistan; to be pressurized instead it uplifted the spirits and motivated Pakistan to believe in itself. Consequently, we have Pakistan as ICC World T20 Champions beating considerably Sri Lanka off 8 wickets.

London Lord’s stadium, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first, though decision was sensible but it wasn’t fateful for the Sri Lanka. Lankans came to bat but blunder started from very first over; Aamer taking essential wicket of Tilakaratne Dilshan (0), then in second over Jehan Mubarak (0) was ducked by Razzaq. Then Sanath Jayasuriya(17), Mahela Jayawardena (1), Chamara Silva (14)and Isuru Udana (1); batting line up collapsed in a nick of time. But Kumar Sangakkar (64) on the other end was still holding the pitch and hopes, with vital support of Angelo Mathews (35); Sri Lankan total reached 138 runs off 6 wickets.

Pakistan bowling was spectacular, we could see the Pakistan bowling magic thrilling to fans and threatening to Sri Lanka. Pakistani bowlers Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi were outstanding and line and length was just near to perfect. Every Pakistani bowler bowl seemed tough to play, and every fielder clenching for the one’s and two’s equally bitter the batsman and made every effort of batsman worthless. Senior player Abdul Razzaq had been lucky for the Pakistan, with his return Pakistan spirits uplifted and in the final we saw he him out performing Sri Lanka by taking 3 wickets.

Lankans put forth 139 runs target, Pakistan was confident to achieve it and win the championship. This kind of optimism was radiant on every Pakistani player, and something like hunger we felt in them to win this world cup. As expected each player entertained spectators, Kamran Akmal (37) and Shahzaib Hasan (19) from the first over made Lankans restless and power play also proved to be fruitless. After Akmal, Afridi came to bat, and fans roared as he walked out of pavilion. Expectations, and prayers were being chanted and every bit of it got fulfilled. Shahid Afridi knocked unbeaten 54 runs of 40 balls and Shoaib Malik (24) also contributed well enough. Pakistan won the match by 8 wickets sparing 8 balls.

Afridi and Razzaq terrific performance just made the day only for Pakistan. After Sri Lanka qualifying for the finals Afridi growled to them to beware. In the same manner Afridi executed and terrified Lankans with his terrific performance eventually leading the Pakistan to the T20 World Cup win. Whole stadium was loaded with Pakistani supporters they cheered outrageously for the Pakistan in the End.