Misbah-Ul-Haq

The only T20 was played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on November 25, 2011.

The Lankan Lions set a target of 142 runs for victory to Pakistan on a placid wicket.

They started their innings with their regular openers Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat as Tillakaratne Dilshan tossed up the ball to Lasith Malinga.

Farhat was severe on the bowlers from the word go and smashed three fours to Malinga in his first over.

The duo produced 31 runs for the first wicket when Hafeez was adjudged leg before wicket off Thisara Perera on the last ball of the fourth over.

Hafeez lost his wicket after scoring 13 runs and Farhat followed him with the addition of just five runs in the total.

The young gun Umar Akmal added the worries forPakistanas he was dismissed without opening his account.

The third wicket was lost at 44 runs in 6.3 overs when Misbah-Ul-Haq came to the crease and joined Asad Shafiq.

They put their heads down, consolidated the innings with occasional boundaries every now and added 46 runs for the fourth wicket.

Asad lost his wicket after scoring 33 runs of even balls when Shahid Afridi entered on the field.

They shared a valuable partnership of 43 runs and Afridi contributed 22 runs off 15 balls which included two sixes in the 19^th over.

Pakistanachieved the target on the third ball of the 19^th over, thanks to an overthrow on the first ball of the 20^th over.

Earlier Sri Lanka won the toss, elected to bat on a perfect batting wicket while the innings was opened by Upul Tharanga and Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Pakistan started attack with the seasoned Umar Gul who bowled two consecutive wide balls but recovered well by ending up the over while conceding just four runs.

Sohail Tanvir started off the over in the identical fashion following Gul by delivering two wides and was punished by Dilshan for 16 runs including two fours.

Tharanga took charge from the other end by rolling the ball twice over boundry and scored 10 runs off Gul.

Aizaz Cheema was given the charge of bowling in the fourth over and he bowled Tharanga on the second ball after he had scored 12 runs.

Young Dinesh Chandimal came in next, joined Dilshan and the tempo of scoring was lifted by the duo.

Sohail was punished again in the fifth over for 15 runs and fifty of the innings was achieved as well.

Misbah-Ul-Haq brought in magical off spinner Saeed Ajmal to control the game and he got the important wicket of Dilshan who was caught smartly at short midwicket by the skipper for 28 runs off 15 balls which included 4 fours.

The second wicket fell at 61 runs in 5.3 overs which was a good going for Sri Lanka when Kumar Sangakkara appeared on scene.

Sangakkara could not perform well and went back to the pavilion after scoring nine runs and Pakistan never looked back from there.

Chandimal showed some resistance to the lethal bowling attack of Pakistan by smashing 56 runs off 44 balls with 6 fours as the middle order and tail vanished, the whole Sri Lankan team was bowled out at 141 runs off 19.3 overs.

Cheema was the star performer for Pakistan by grabbing four wickets, Gul claimed two while Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez shared one wicket each.

Pakistan won the nail biter by five wickets with three balls to spare and Cheema was declared ‘Player of the match’.

Indian Team celebrates after defeating Pakistan in ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at Mohali

It did not possess the quality of 2003 at Centurion nor were there Ajay Jadeja like pyrotechnics of 1996, but for an India Pakistan clash, there was enough ebb and flow in the game to make the match memorable for the crowds in both the nations, who had put a full stop on their daily chores for a day. The crowds at Mohali, in fact, kept the spirit alive at times when the going wasn’t intense. And why not? After all, this was an Indo-Pak clash and it was the semi finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. At the end of the day, the best team won as Pakistan self-destructed and India, even though not at their best, did well enough to hold their nerves. Here’s a look back at key events in the game that eventually decided the fate of the Mohali battle.

Sehwag outsmarts Gul

Prior to the match, Umar Gul was Pakistan’s best bowler in the series. But, the occasion clearly got to him as he sprayed the ball all over the place and Virender Sehwag was all set to take advantage of the same. The Indian opener launched such a brutal attack on Gul that the latter leaked 21 runs in his second over to get India going. It was a big setback for Pakistan and the perfect start for India as Sehwag was all guns blazing. To the surprise of many, Shahid Afridi, who lost the toss, asked Abdul Razzaq to accompany Gul with the new ball, bowling his gentle medium pacers. Thankfully, Razzaq did not perform as badly as Gul, but the fact was that he did not trouble the Indians either and Sachin Tendulkar also began getting into the groove. Round one, without doubt, went to India.

Wahab fightback!

Just when it seemed Sehwag would bat Pakistan out of the game, Wahab Riaz rose to the big occasion. There was plenty of pressure on the left-arm seamer considering calls from many quarters to bring back Shoaib Akhtar. However, Riaz proved that for a change, Pakistan got it absolutely right. It was Riaz who gave Pakistan the major breakthrough, trapping Sehwag right in front of the stumps, which was confirmed by the review taken by the batsman. Riaz had not only cut short Sehwag’s threatening knock, but also brought down the scoring rate, as it often happens with Sehwag’s dismissal. However, he wasn’t done yet. His best was yet to come. Riaz bowled some brilliant deliveries to send back Virat Kohli – beaten by a rising, pacy delivery and the very next ball the in-form Yuvraj Singh with a fast in-swinging delivery, to which even the left-hander had no answer. Thanks to those strikes Pakistan were not only back in the game, but on top of the Indians. Deservedly, Riaz came back to complete his five-wicket haul by dismissing M S Dhoni and Zaheer Khan in his final spell, again with some exceptional bowling and the batsmen weren’t good.

Sach(in) a lucky day!

Even as Riaz was making the right moves, something bizarre was transpiring in the field, which eventually cost Pakistan the match. Sachin Tendulkar, who went off the boil following Sehwag’s dismissal was dropped four times, three of them coming off their skipper Shahid Afridi’s bowling. All the three catches were dollies, and even the last one wasn’t all that tough by international standards, but probably can’t be considered as a chance taking the standards set by Pakistan into consideration. Eventually, the captain himself took the catch that led to the maestro’s dismissal and was expressive, showing his team how to do it. But, by that time Sachin had made 85 and, in hindsight, the difference as well. Apart from the fielders, Sachin also had the UDRS come to his rescue for a change. It is no secret that the Indians aren’t great fans of the system, but on a manic Wednesday, it was on India’s side as it overturned an lbw decision at a time when Sachin was only just beginning to settle in. Well, the reprieve did not last long as the very next ball, he was nearly stumped off Saeed Ajmal, who eventually got his scalp. Post those anxious moments, Sachin never looked comfortable, but for some inexplicable reason, the Pakistanis did not want to see the back of him, until they finally ran out of luck!

Raina’s crucial cameo

Two games and two valuable 30plus undefeated scores, both resulting in the team’s victory. M S Dhoni’s purpose of getting Suresh Raina in for Yusuf Pathan has worked wonders. On Wednesday, as the Indian lower order once again crumbled, this time to Riaz’s swinging deliveries, Raina was a picture of calm. A couple of boundaries were all he managed, but importantly ensured that India batted out 50 overs. And, how crucial that turned out to be…

Hafeez’s paddling blunder

Chasing 261, Pakistan got off to an impressive start with both Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal finding the boundaries at ease. And then Kamran fell, trying to go for his favourite cut shot that had got him his runs. But, Pakistan were still in command as they were off to a flyer. And then came the shocker. Hafeez, who had the Indian bowling at his mercy, got arrogant ala Aamir Sohail 1996 and trying to play a cheeky paddle sweep off Munaf Patel to give a simple caught behind chance to a relieved Dhoni. There was no pressure on Pakistan until that moment. But, Hafeez brought it upon them and the Indians ensured they stayed down their throat from that point onwards.

Harbhajan seals it

Post Hafeez’s exit, India were on top with wickets tumbling and Yuvraj getting into the act once again, scalping two big guns in Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq. However, the talented Umar Akmal counter-attacked ferociously and hit Yuvraj for a couple of magnificent sixes and some boundaries. For a brief while, Pakistan’s hopes were raised. After all this was an Indo-Pak game and the arch rivals weren’t going to give up easily. For India though, Harbhajan rose to the challenge and deliveries a fasting delivery from around the wicket that stayed a trifle low and beat Umar for pace. Perceptibly, it was the last nail in the coffin and when Misbah-ul-Haq tried to make amends for his slow scoring in the final overs, the horse had already bolted by then.

Dhoni and Afridi

It was supposed to happen in 2007 in the West Indies, or we all thought so. After all, who would have given Bangladesh and Ireland a chance against India and Pakistan respectively? But, everyone now knows what transpired and how the much-anticipated Indo-Pak clash was replaced by the one between Bangladesh and Ireland. The shocking exits of India and Pakistan had such far-ranging repercussions that fours year later, the World Cup format had to be tweaked to ensure the two Asian giants progressed safely into the second round. Pity that the tournament had to be ‘fixed’ in such a manner. Yet, nothing can take away the excitement of an Indo-Pak encounter. After all they are meeting for the first time in seven years in the game’s premier tournament.

On paper, India have an incredible record, having beaten their arch rivals in all four battles between the two sides thus far – 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2003. However, that will count for nothing when the teams meet one more time. And a stakes are at an all-time high too, which means the pressure will be that much more intense. This will be the first time the teams are meeting in a semi final scenario, and the winner of this mouth watering clash will only be one step away from glory.

Key clashes

Sachin Tendulkar vs. Umar Gul

Back in 2003, Shoaib Akhtar had (infamously) commented on the eve of the match that he had developed a special delivery to get rid of Tendulkar. Well, whatever he had developed did not work as the Mumbai maestro blasted him as well as Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis to every part of Supersport Park, Centurion. This time round, Umar Gul has said that he would be targeting Tendulkar among others. The good thing from Pakistan’s point of view is that, unlike Akhtar, Gul is a far more settled bowler and is in the best form of his life. Even so it is not the best ploy to speak out about your opponents on the eve of the match, as it is only likely to inspire greats to better things. Tendulkar’s knock in 2003 is the best example. There has been evidence of the same even in this World Cup. Yuvraj Singh had pointed out prior to the game against the Aussies that Ricky Ponting wasn’t in the best of form and, although in a losing cause, the outgoing Australian skipper came up with a respectful ton that reinstated his stature as one of the modern greats. It, thus, would be intriguing to see how the battle between Tendulkar and Gul pans out. Whoever outperforms the other will ‘open’ up the door for their side’s victory.

Virender Sehwag vs. Wahab Riaz/ Shoaib Akhtar

There is still a lot of uncertainty over who would partner Gul in the mother of all battles at Mohali. Although most indications point to the fact that Akhtar remains out of favour with the Pakistan team management, with them you just cannot predict. Even at the last moment, Pakistan could change their minds and bring in Akhtar. And so, India should be prepared for any eventuality. In such a scenario, Virender Sehwag is India’s best bet. The swashbuckler does not play the bowler on reputation, but just looks at the delivery and if it is there to be hit, he will give it the full monty. This might work well for India if either Wahab Riaz or Akhtar are chosen. To be fair to the former, he has done better than the speedster Akhtar in the limited opportunities that he has got and is rated very highly as well in the Indian camp. As such, Sehwag shouldn’t take him lightly and get his eye in before making an effort to launch his trademark assault.

Yuvraj Singh vs. Shahid Afridi

Expect this to be the battle of all battles. Yuvraj Singh and Shahid Afridi are two great characters, who are as expressive on the field as much as they are explosive with their respective talents. For a change, Yuvraj’s batting is being pitted against Afridi’s bowling. And why not, after all the latter has been the best and most successful bowler in the tournament so far, which cannot be a fluke. Afridi has been picking up wickets at will in the middle overs, while Yuvraj has been solid for India. The team will look up to him chiefly to keep Afridi at bay during this period. Historically, India haven’t been troubled by spin, but every once in a while comes a spinner who gives India a hard time. For a while, India found even Muralitharan unplayable and then there were times recently when Ajantha Mendis made Indians look like club cricketers. Clearly, the Indian batsmen have seen a lot of Afridi for such an eventuality to occur. But, the fact is that the leggie is now a changed bowler, who is a lot smarter with a number of variations. And thus, Yuvraj’s battle with his assumes greater significance.

Zaheer Khan vs. Pakistan openers

The Indian speedster has been in great form in the tournament. However, most of his wickets have come with the new ball. Against Pakistan, India cannot afford to let the openers get off to a good start. With Munaf Patel not delivering up to expectations, there will be added pressure on Zaheer Khan to strike early. It would be important to do so since both Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez played themselves into form in the quarter finals. It would help if Ravichandran Ashwin delivers the goods from the other end, but like India, Pakistan are also good players of spin and hence it might be a bit too much to except Ashwin to come up with some kind of heroics. Zaheer has been the best bowler in the tournament after Afridi and, being India’s premier bowler as well, the whole country would be looking up to him to deliver the goods.

Harbhajan Singh vs. Misbah ul Haq and Younis Khan

It’s about time the turbanator comes to the party. While most of the less fancied spinners have made an impact, Harbhajan has struggled. Thanks to Yuvraj, India haven’t had to suffer much because of Harbhajan’s lack of form. But, against Pakistan it could haunt India if the other Singh doesn’t rise to the occasion. Like Afridi isn’t expected to wreak havoc among the Indian batsmen, the same applies to Yuvraj in spite of their excellent bowling performance in the tournament so far. Harbhajan has to be reminded that he is the main spinner in the team. And while it is good that he has been keeping the runs down, the fact is that he is in the team to take wickets. And as long as he is not doing that, he is not fulfilling his duty at all for the team.

Hafeez, who opened the bowling, trapped Smith and Bravo in the same over with similar deliveries in the same over and that all but clinched it for Pakistan. Although Pakistan bowled well, the West Indies too need to take a large part of the blame for some poor batting. Everyone knew that Gayle’s wicket was the big one after Darren Sammy won the toss. Being so, the dashing left-hander should have reined himself in and got his eye in before having his mandatory go at the bowling attack. Instead, he attacked the intelligence of Umar Gul and paid the price for it. Even the two batsmen that fell to Hafeez could have done a better job than hanging on to the back foot and allowing themselves to be trapped. Once the top three were gone in a flash, the Caribbeans were in a daze from which they just did not have the firepower neither the tenacity to recover.

Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul brought all their experience into play and hung around for a good part of 18 overs. Sadly, while they played up time, the runs did not come even at the pace of trickles. And so, by the time Sarwan fell trying to break the shackles, West Indies hadn’t made any kind of progress at all. Chanderpaul continued to hold on to one end, but did not find anyone for company until number 10 Kemar Roach showed some stomach for a fight. However, in between, Afridi and Ajmal had eaten into the Windies batting. Kieron Pollard failed again, as did Devon Thomas and skipper Sammy. And the one who was performing, Andre Russell, was dropped because the skipper couldn’t sit out. All this only reiterated all this wrong with West Indies cricket. Clearly, they are going nowhere in terms of progress.

For Pakistan, this game will act as a great confidence booster. This is not the kind of performance you expect from an erratic side. But the fact that they batted with equal resilience and did not give West Indian bowlers an inch proves that there is something about this Afridi-led team that is different. After his exploits with the ball, Hafeez who has been shoddy with the bat for a number of years came good with the willow too. Buoyed by his bowling success he found the sweet spot of the bat more often than not and even inspired Kamran Akmal to find his form back.

Thanks to the opening partnership, the end result was an unimaginably comprehensive win. However, while the end was sweeter than ever, it was the beginning that made it all possible.

Pakistan vs West Indies

After a month long of cricket action – mostly drab to be honest – the business end of the ICC 2011 Cricket World Cup has finally arrived. It all begins at Dhaka, Bangladesh with the clash between two teams who, on their day, can upset the best and, on an off day, can be embarrassed by the worst. Pakistan and West Indies it will be then to kick off the quarter-finals stage. This is as unpredictable as it gets and all previews and pre-match equations can be thrown out of the window in a matter of hours. Still here’s presently an attempted SWOT analysis of the two teams.

Pakistan

Strengths: One of Pakistan’s greatest strength in this tournament, something which they have been traditionally blessed with, has been their bowling. This was most evident is their historic win against the Aussies in their final league game. They have quality bowlers in both the pace and spin department. Umar Gul has been the pick of their bowlers and will be expected to lead the attack in the quarter-final as well. His nagging line and length and accurate yorkers have proved too good to handle for most opposition batsmen. Gul’s form clearly gives Pakistan an edge in the fast bowling department. While Gul has been exceptional, he has found good support in the form of Wahab Riaz in the last couple of games. Moreover, Shahid Afridi’s match-winning efforts with the ball in this tournament has made him the leading wicket-taker in the tournament so far. Nothing more needs to be said then.

Weaknesses: The obvious weakness is this Pakistan team is the same that has plagued them for ages. They are prone to crumble when put under extreme pressure and horribly at that, as seen in the game against New Zealand, where they looked all at sea when put under the hammer. If West Indies manage to put together a phase during which they hold the upper hand for a longer period of time, it would be intriguing to view how Pakistan respond. One thing is for sure, they will either come out all guns blazing or go down without a fight.

Opposition: Like Pakistan, West Indies too are unpredictable and, if they get up from the right side of the bed, Pakistan could be in trouble. Thus, the Asian giant needs to be wary of the Caribbean thunder.

Threats: The perceptible divisions in the Pakistani camp has never affected the on-field performance of the team per se. Even so, it remains a threat nonetheless. All the controversy surrounding Shoaib Akhtar and his retirement continues to make news. Questions regarding whether he will play another further part in the tournament remain. From the Pakistan team’s point of view, it would be a good thing if the management clears the air once and for all on the issue so that the players as well as the media can focus on the game. Akhtar apart, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who incidentally also had a big role to play in the entire Akhtar fiasco, is also a definite threat, more than a weakness in the side. If Akmal self-destructs behind the wickets, another ‘Taylor-made’ disaster could be in the making. The good part from Akmal’s point of view is that he has got the backing of his skipper Afridi, but for how long is the question that remains to be answered. The quarter-final will possibly take us closer to the solution in store.

West Indies

Strengths: When in form, batting is definitely their strength. Left-handed opener Devon Smith has clearly been the star of the tournament with the bat for the Caribbeans. His application at the crease has impressed all. And with the explosive Chris Gayle also most likely to be fit for the quarters, West Indies will have a formidable opening pair. If Gayle can fire and Smith can anchor one end, they would form a perfect opening partnership. Here again, the ‘if’ needs to be answered. There are a couple of bright spots in the bowling department too. Kemar Roach has been on target and among the wickets as well. Like Gayle, he too is most likely to feature in the quarters against Pakistan. For sure, the Windies can’t drop Ravi Rampaul following his stirring performance against India in a losing cause. Roach and Rampaul, if they get it right, can prove to be quite a handful for the Pakistani batsmen, who have displayed a tendency to collapse under the slightest of pressure. Last but not the least, Devendra Bishoo’s leg spinners have also made significant impact as has the all-round effort of Andre Russell.

Weaknesses: Unfortunately for the West Indies, their weak points outnumber their strengths. Two of their most experienced batsmen – the lynchpins of the side over the last decade – have been going through a mighty struggle. Ramnaresh Sarwan looked helpless against both England and India as the Windies faltered while chasing gettable targets. The fluency which earmarked Sarwan as a natural talent has been visibly missing and his dogged efforts have earned his sympathy more than praise. Sarwan has at least managed to hold on to his place in the eleven. But, that is not the case with Shivnarine Chanderpaul. There was a time when a Windies batting line up minus the left-hander was unimaginable. Not anymore. Chanderpual has been struggling for a while now, and the Windies camp has been forced to drop him for the last few games and bring in fresh blood. Whether Chanderpaul gets one final shot at regaining lost glory remains to be seen.

There are issues with the bowling too. The decision to open the bowling with the left-arm spin of Sulieman Benn hasn’t quite worked against the bigger teams and has to be relooked at. The exceptionally talented Kieron Pollard continues to fall short of expectations against the Test nations. He needs to fire against Pakistan to change that perception. But, most important of all, the captain of the ship himself must deliver. There have been question marks over Darren Sammy’s position in the playing eleven itself. And being so, where will Windies look to inspiration? It’s time to deliver the goods, skipper.

Opposition: Pakistan will be buoyed by the fact that they will be playing in Dhaka, where the wicket should favour them. Being so, they already hold a distinct advantage even before the game has begun. The Pakistani spinners will play a big role in the match and how the Windies handle them could be a major deciding factor.

Threats: Like Pakistan, even West Indies face a major threat due to their own ability to self-destruct. Another England or India-like collapse and they could soon be packing their bags for home.

Despite the loss, the Aussies would be confident going into the quarter finals against India at Ahmedabad, on Thursday. However, they need a few things to go right for them on that day else they could struggle against India, who themselves have a number of problems of their own. First and foremost, their captain Ponting needs to get among the runs. It has been a while since Ponting registered a big score and there cannot be a bigger occasion that the knockout phase of the World Cup. Also, the times have changed since the days he used to struggle on the subcontinent wickets, or perhaps the pitches themselves have changed to reduce Ponting’s woes. Whatever be the reason, his great record against India should inspire him to roar back to form. Add to it, his one time nemesis Harbhajan Singh isn’t the threat he once used to be, even on Indian wickets. And so, the Australian captain would be desperate to set things right against India.

If Ponting fires, a lot of Australia’s woes would be automatically reduced. But, that would be far from easy as he would be under extreme pressure from all corners. It would be intriguing to see how Ponting responds in such a situation. He is a great player no doubt, but aspersions have been cast over his leadership abilities following the team’s declining fortunes in recent years. One loss against India and, who knows, it could be the end of the road for Ponting as both captain and player. The Aussie selectors are known to take such harsh decisions so no one would be surprised if something like this transpires.

Apart from Ponting, one time all rounder Cameron White’s form is another major cause of concern for Australia. While his bowling no longer inspires confidence in anyone, even his batting hasn’t been special in this series. Still, the team has been backing White to perform since he has come up with some exceptional innings in the past, or to be fair they don’t have an option since there isn’t anyone else as explosive in the squad. But, it is about time White shapes up to the challenge. Like his skipper, a loss against India might well put the much younger White’s career in jeopardy, if he does not lift his performance.

Even as a couple of batsmen need to set their act right, improvements are needed in the bowling department too from an Australian point of view. The good news first though. Brett Lee has been exceptionally good in the tournament and has kept his side in the hunt throughout. Very few gave him a chance to make a comeback, leave alone do well, following a career-threatening injury. But, the fact that he has not only returned to one-day but has also reclaimed his spot as the number one strike bowler in the team stands testimony to his dedication and desire to do well for the country. Bowlers from some of the other countries must take a leaf out of Lee’s book and inspire themselves to greater things despite having gone through dreaded times. Lee has been fantastic with the ball in the tournament and nearly pulled off a win for his side singlehandedly against the Pakistanis.

Even though a majority of the blame for the defeat against Pakistan must be taken by the batsmen, the bowlers too could have done a better job, and this applies to the rest of the series as well. In spite of a number of years of experience, left arm seamer Mitchell Johnson remains unpredictable as ever. Not long ago, he was at the peak of his game only to fall ludicrously. He rose again from the ‘ashes’, but is yet to regain the control to be termed as reliable. The Aussies would be desperate for an improved performance from Johnson as it would help Lee build up further pressure. Johnson wasn’t bad in the losing effort against Pakistan, but he needs to be a bit more penetrative.

A lot cannot be said in praise or criticism of the other pacer in the side, Shaun Tait, since he has been earmarked as the ‘lottery’ bowler by the Aussie camp. Like in the 2007 edition, there will be days when he will fire and come off like a raging bull and, on other days, will be treated like a leopard that has lost its habitat. The issue for the Aussies is that, unlike 2007, they don’t have a Glenn McGrath at the other end, who can keep things extremely tight and force the opposition to go after Tait, losing their wickets in the process. This is why the performance of Johnson will be all the more important. He needs to keep things extremely tight even if the wickets aren’t falling in his kitty as even Lee is an out and out attacking bowler and is bound to go for a few runs at times.

The spin department is also an Achilles’ heel for the Australian camp. Jason Krejza is an earnest bowler, but even Shane Warne struggled against top quality batting on the sub-continent wickets. And so, it would be unfair to expect miracles of Krejza. He has been doing a decent job so far, and anything coming out of him against India should be a surprise bonus. Steven Smith hasn’t had much to do either, raising further doubts about Australia’s chances of retaining the World Cup.

In spite of all the issues surrounding the side, the Aussies can be expected to lift their game, come Thursday. So India better be on their toes, else they will be caught off guard.

Group A has panned out as expected, the International teams have decimated the Associates. Canada, Zimbabwe and Kenya have only ratified the ICC’s decision of streaming down the number of teams for the next world cup down under. Kenya have been the most impressive of the Associate teams as far as Group A is concerned, improving considerably with every game.

Here is a look at how the top 4 teams have gone (Group A) and what lies ahead:

Australia

- The defending champions came into the tournament on the back of a drubbing that they offered the Poms after an embarrassing defeat in the Ashes. Australia have a lot of things going for them this tournament, decent batting order, potent attack and fabulous fielders.

- However, a few obvious gaping holes do lie in between. Their batting has been suspect this tournament, despite the 320 odd that they scored against the Kenyans. Both the openers have looked sublime but the middle order has not been able to keep the score board ticking. Michael Clarke was an exception today, but, Ricky Ponting and Cameron White have been in woeful touch with the bat. Ponting has still snuck through but White’s form has been real cause for concern.

- On the positive note, Michael Hussey has returned to the Australian side giving the batting much needed potency in the middle order. Hussey always seems to have a calming influence about himself that invariably rubs of on his peers.

- All the talk about the Australian bowling being the best in the tournament, the three pronged pace attack looked ordinary against Kenya and could be exposed against better oppositions in the quarter finals if they fail to hit their lengths. Having said this, I personally do believe that if the bowlers hit their straps soon, the oppositions may be in for some contest. Add to this, their bowling has the best strike rate across all teams this world cup. Australia’s bowling should improve over the next week.

Sri Lanka

- The last time the World cup was staged in the sub continent, it was the Lankan tigers who walked away with the trophy. Arjuna Ranatunga inspired the Rest of the World as he enabled Sri Lanka announce themselves on the World stage.

- 15 years later, the World cup is back in the sub continent and you would not bet against the Lankans, they are wily at home and looked determined like never before. Muttiah Muralidaran is sure to hang his boots up with the closure of this tournament and would look to bring home the cup after 15 elusive years.

- The Lankan top order looks solid, with Tillakaratne Dilshan taking them of to blazing starts on a regular basis. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene provide the perfect foil in the middle order. It is their lower order batting that is a little questionable, Angelo Mathews does not look good enough to provide the impetus at the fag end of the innings on a consistent basis. They rely on other bits and pieces cricketers in Thisara Perera and co to do the job.

- Nevertheless, you cannot discount them. Just a reminder, Sanath Jayasuriya was an unknown commodity too in 1996, so you never know with the Lankans.

- Their bowling seems very steady with Lasith Malinga and Muralidaran leading the pack. Sri Lanka should make the semi finals and stand a very good chance this tournament if they can sort out their late order batting.

Pakistan

- The only consistent thing with Pakistan is inconsistency. On paper they look a very balanced unit, one that opposition teams must really take seriously. But which Pakistan you get on the day, can never be told. It is a well documented fact, Pakistan on their day can beat the chickens out of their opponents.

- They have looked impressive this tournament barring the outing against New Zealand where they threw away their position of strength and ended up being battered like one of the minnows.

- A steady top order lead by Younis Khan and Misbah ul Haq is followed by a flamboyant middle order in Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi with Abdul Razzaq providing the finishing touch. Perhaps the most efficient lower middle order across all teams, Pakistan is sure a team to watch out for.

- The bowling complements their batting perfectly, 2 front line seamers backed by a steady Razzaq and useful spinners in Afridi and Rehman to do the job. However, Pakistan’s biggest issue for many years now, has been their fielding. The fielding fails to give teeth to the bowling and they tend to put down a couple of catches, least, every match.

- Contenders this year, if only they can shave of the slack and unprofessionalism, Pakistan may just do what they did in 1992.

New Zealand

- New Zealand, workman like, have been very industrious in the way they have gone about things. Nothing flashy in their cricket, steady and stable.

- One feels for New Zealand, with a population under 50 lacs, it must be hard to find full time professional cricketers.

- It has to be Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor who have got to do the bulk of the job with the bat, if New Zealand stand any chance this world cup. Daniel Vettori, by far is their most proficient and experienced player.

- A lot of things have to go wrong for other teams and a lot right for NZ if they have to proceed any further than the quarters this World cup.

- The lack of a game changers with both bat and ball is a huge problem for the Kiwis. They will have to make do without them or hope young guns in Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson come to the fort.
- A good side in decent form but may find it difficult to proceed ahead of the quarter finals.

Zimbabwe needed to win this game to have any chance of qualification for the next round but after heavy losses to Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand, they wouldn’t have harboured too many hopes. Pakistan, on the other hand, were almost through to the quarter-finals but a loss here would have made that path more difficult as they would either have to beat Australia in the last game or lose by a small margin.

Chasing 162 for a win, Ahmed Shehzad’s poor run of form continued to haunt him. He made only eight but he will be disappointed by the shot he played when he tried to charge Ray Price but was stumped by the wicket-keeper Taibu.

However, playing in his first game of the tournament, Asad Shafiq joined Mohammad Hafeez and the pair took the side to the realms of safety. Hafeez fell when he was one short of his half-century but Shafiq went on to make his 50 and despite the early dismissal of Shahid Afridi (3), he ensured that the win was Pakistan’s.

It was a surprising decision by Zimbabwe to win the toss and elect to bat first, that, on a track which was evidently moist. To add to that, the conditions were overcast and one would have expected the side wanting to bowl first. Especially given that the Pakistanis have a bowling attack which can exploit the conditions rather well.

The other surprise was the playing eleven. Under such conditions, it was difficult to comprehend the rationale behind going into the game with only one medium-pacer in S Masakadza. Masakadza was playing his first game of the tournament and the two from the previous game, Tinashe Payangara and Christopher Mpofu were both consigned to the dressing room.

Zimbabwe were quickly pegged back in the very first over of the game as Brendan Taylor was dismissed by Abdul Razzaq for four. Taylor edged one to Kamran Akmal, who seemed to have overcome his catching issues and the batsman had to take the long walk back. In the very next over, Umar Gul had Regis Chakbva dismissed lbw for a duck and then, when Vusi Sibanda departed for five, the Zimbabweans looked like they were in a soup at 13/3 in the sixth over.

Tatenda Taiu added 30 with Craig Ervine but Waha Riaz sent him back to peg the side to 43/4. Ervine batted on and in partnership with the likes of Greg Lamb first and then captain Elton Chigumbura, ensured that they weren’t going to fall away for nothing.

Rain played its part in reducing the overs to 43 but with Zimbabwe’s score reading 151/7 in the 40^th over, rain fell again to reduce the game to 39-a-side. Duckworth-Lewis came into the picture and Pakistan were set a total of 162 in 38 overs. Ervine made 52.

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.

The feature of the partnership between Amla and de Villiers was that neither looked in any sort of trouble as the duo set about rebuilding the innings. The boundaries came at will, with de Villiers expectedly playing the aggressor. That said, Amla also rotated the strike well, ensuring de Villiers got enough balls to face. The duo wasn’t separated until the 45^th over. And even after Amla’s and de Villiers’ dismissal, there was no respite for the Dutchmen. Jean-Paul Duminy came in and blasted a cameo which propelled the South Africans to a highly daunting total considering the bowling attack at their disposal. Duminy slammed as many as four sixes in his 18-ball stay at the crease. Netherlands’ limitations and inexperience with the clearly ball in hand clearly stood exposed.

During the chase, the Netherlands batsmen must surely have taken some heart from the fact that Ireland had managed to chase down England’s mammoth target the previous day. But, this was going to be a doubly difficult task considering that the Proteas attack is much more penetrative and lethal. And that’s exactly what stood out as the major difference between the two sides. Apart from Wesley Barresi, none of the Dutch batsmen could stand up to the South African attack. A lot of hopes rested on Ryan ten Doeschate if Netherlands had to put up a fight. But, he was done in by Dale Steyn and no one among the rest were good enough on the day. Netherlands’ weakness against spin was also evident from the fact that more than half the side succumbed to the tweakers. Imran Tahir and Robin Peterson shared the major spoils even as Duminy chipped in with the ball as well. It was a majorly disappointing effort from the Dutch. But, to be fair, South Africa were a far superior side and there wasn’t a good enough arsenal in Netherlands’ kitty to stop the carnage.

Even as Netherlands and South Africa played a one-sided tune, things were much more intriguing in the other contest of the day. Like the abovementioned match, Pakistan vs Canada was also expected to be a one-sided affair. But with Pakistan, always be ready for a surprise or two. Their batting crumbled in the face of some disciplined but far from threatening bowling. And if not for Shahid Afridi’s deadly spell, his third in three consecutive games, we might well have had another upset post the Ireland-England humdinger.

It was an atrocious batting display from Pakistan and a definite wake up call for them going into the bigger contests. None of their batsmen could register a half-century, with only Umar Akmal getting close. But even he and the in-form Misbah-ul-Haq, the next highest scorer for Pakistan, threw their wickets away as the mercurial side capitulated inexplicably. To their credit, the Canada bowlers stuck to their guns. Harvir Baidwan was the most impressive and also the most successful. But, the others also gave him ample support. Rizwan Cheema, Balaji Rao and Jimmy Hansra all troubled the Pakistan batsmen, who were adamant on committing hara-kiri, and were suitably rewarded. Having bowled out the dangerous Pakistan for a score on under 200 would have given Canada mighty confidence to chase down the target. And they tried the level best to do it. Unfortunately for them, Afridi completed a hat-trick of sorts, standing in the way of a Pakistan defeat for the third game in a row.

While the Pakistan skipper’s batting has gone down by miles, his bowling has risen in an equally steady manner. And he is using it to lethal effect in this World Cup. Nothing changed in the game against Canada. Unlike the earlier matches, Afridi was assisted by the opening bowlers in this game. Not only did Abdul Razzaq and Umar Gul strike early, they also maintained an extremely tight leash on the batsmen during their spell. Even so, with such a meagre total to defend, all the batting side needed was one decent partnership to see their team through. The run-rate wasn’t a concern too, so Canada had everything going for them. And when Zubin Surkari and Hansra joined forced in a sensible partnership, hopes of another upset in the tournament were raised immensely. That was until Afridi took over and turned the game on its head.

After Saeed Ajmal broke the dangerous partnership getting rid of Surkari, Afridi rolled over the rest with his fastish leg-breaks, to which the inexperienced Canadians had just no answer to offer. Three of his five victims were bowled, a clear indication that they were beaten for pace and, from a seemingly safe position, Canada plunged to what at the start of the match was an expected defeat. Despite the loss, Canada can take heart from the fact that they managed to run their much more fancied opponents so close.

In the end, no surprises were reserved for Thursday. But while the South Africans would be buoyed by their thoroughly professional effort, Pakistan have a lot of work to do to ensure that they do not have to depend on Afridi’s bowling in every game to bail them out. After all, even the Pakistan skipper is bound to have a bad day with the ball, and if the rest do not rise to the occasion, it can put Pakistan in serious trouble in the matches ahead.