Pakistan vs India at Hobart, 21st of January, 2000

Sachin has been out of form a little. There is too much pressure as he is the captain and the only hope for India. India had lost all games in the tournament after a white wash in the test series. This match was a do or die. It was absolutely essential that the best batsman in the world lead the way. Surely, he was the one who could take these ten sullen gentlemen from India to victory and provide hope for the rest of the tournament. He fought valiantly and came out determined. He had the will to do it alongwith the necessary skill. He played his heart out. He batted with his usual elegance. If asked he would have quoted Richards, “Form is temporary, class is permanent”. He tried his level best. And yet he was over shadowed. A man who is new to this life of high stakes over shadowed him. He is new to this pressure cooker called the Pakistani cricket scene. He is new but it seems as if no one has pointed that out to him. He played like a seasoned veteran and on a day when Sachin was on fire, coolly put out any last hopes that India had in this tournament. Oh yeah, Abdul Razzaq can play cricket.

India won the toss at Hobart and put Pakistan in as rain in the morning suggested that the wicket might have some tricks in it in the early overs. The thinking was very defensive, as the Indians were worried to lose Tendulkar early. There were no apparent early morning problems as Saeed started off with a beautiful front foot drive through cover that was timed to perfection. Afridi was brought back into the side and opened the batting with Saeed. Mohanty started off with Srinath and he was right on line even though he had been out for a while. He was unlucky early as Laxman put down a sitter at second slip. What’s more he dropped Saeed and India had given Pakistan the early let off which would have put them onto the back foot. Pakistanis have been doing that to Australia and India gave that opportunity to Pakistan. Afridi was very watchful and correct. There isn’t much wrong with his technique, he just needs to polish up his back foot play outside off and concentrate on his shot selection. Mohanty was obviously dejected after that dropped catch and put up a perfect half volley to Afridi on the off and the leg stump on successive balls at the start of the 4th over. Afridi launched into the first one and the cover drive burnt grass as it screamed to the cover boundary. The second ball was lifted over a wide mid on with great timing and power. Afridi was looking very ominous for India and Pakistan had reached 14/0. Afridi’s fireworks did not last too long as he tried another one of those on drives with the ball just moving away a touch. The ball lobbed up over the bowler’s head and Sachin ran in to hold a beauty. However, Mohanty spoiled it. He looked at Afridi and screamed in his face on his knees for a very long time after the catch. It does not suit average players to do that. It does not have much affect either. After 7 overs Pakistan were 27/1 with Saeed looking very good and Ijaz playing in a very different frame of mind than the blitzkrieg in the match before.

Mohanty was brought back down to earth as Ijaz heaved him over mid on for 4 runs. So much for that different frame of mind comment. Saeed was looking particularly good as he concentrated on the off side with gorgeous drives and square drives. Even when he did not pierce the field, he timed the ball beautifully. Prasad was brought on first change in place of Srinath. Prasad should open the bowling especially against Saeed because he has perpetually bothered him. Ijaz was either playing defensively or hitting off the front foot. Prasad pitched one up to him outside off and he simply half pulled half hoiked him over mid wicket for a one bounce 4 which might have gotten to the boundary as Prasad looked back up after delivering the ball. Singles were flowing very freely and thus this occasional boundary was a big bonus. A run rate of over 4 runs was being maintained and Pakistan were 45/1 in 11 overs. The sun came out at this come to cheer for and welcome a great drive on the up to cover point. The wicket was easing up a bit and the two paced effect of the early dew was wearing off. After 15 overs, Pakistan had reached 58/1 and both batsmen were looking steady with Saeed looking very good.

It has been a long time but Saeed and Ijaz decided that they would stay at the crease and build a partnership. In the next 5 overs they consolidated against the very friendly bowling of Ganguly and Kumble. At the end of the 20th over they had reached 73/1 but with that very long batting lineup this was a perfect launching pad. Saeed decided that it was time to change a gear and in the 21st over he picked Kumble up over square leg for 4 runs. His luck however ran out and he got out in a very unlucky way caught down the leg side off Ganguly. He made 43 (67) very good runs but once again missed a half century. One of these days he will get a big hundred and one hopes that will be soon. Inzimam was told this morning to play very positively by his captain and he played an on-drive off Ganguly which should be video taped and added to the teaching tapes at Lords. The fielder at the mid wicket fence had no chance. A treat to watch. He did not over do this though and played sensibly straight and every ball to its merit. Ganguly’s medium pacers must be a delight for the batsmen to play against. My mouth waters whenever he comes to bowl. Ijaz’s mouth watered too and he belted one half volley over mid on for a massive 6. As soon as the harmless Ganguly looked like he would go for runs, Inzi lazily pushed outside his off stump to be caught behind. Pakistan were 96/3 in the 26th over and having a long batting line up in this game seemed like a good idea after all.

Youhana has easily looked Pakistan’s best batsman in this tournament and he looked confident from the start. He let Ijaz play the senior partner and played himself in. Soon after he looked for runs and shots into gaps. It took the two a little time to increase the run rate but then at this time it was more important to stem the flow of wickets. They took their singles well and the occasional twos kept the score board ticking. Ganguly was bowling to a good length so Youhana was trying to move outside off to lift him over mid wicket. Initially Sachin kept the field up but as soon as Youhana lifted one over mid wicket for a boundary the field was pushed back and runs became easier. Prasad was brought back and both batsmen started to use the pace of the bowler to their advantage. They were progressing very nicely at 119/3 off 31 overs. Ganguly was not looking very dangerous but I thought there was no need to bowl the 6th bowler as he was getting wickets. However, Sachin brought Robin Singh on at this stage. Ijaz welcomed him to the crease with a smashing cover drive to the cover boundary and got another 3 runs with a nudge to the vacant third man region. Ijaz got to his 50 with another two in that over and looked towards the heaven with a relieved/inquisitive look. I agree with him. This was a long time coming. It is quite ironic that the better of the two top order batsmen has yet to get to 50 and the one who looked totally out of form has got himself back into good nick. The run rate climbed regularly from then on. Mohanty came on for his second spell and gave 8 in his first over back as Youhana lifted him over mid off as no one was patrolling that boundary. Singles and twos were no problem and Ijaz looked like a new man. Pakistan reached 145/3 in the 35th over. Ijaz looked very well set for a hundred when Prasad cleaned him up with a beauty of a leg cutter. Ijaz left for 67 runs and looked to be back in form. Moin has been a little out of touch in this tournament and was out first ball caught behind. He was trying to leave the ball but got a nick. The launching pad had been lost and so the game was evenly balanced again. The in-form Razzaq came to the crease and needed to play out some overs with Youhana concentrating on singles. They did just that.

After 38 overs Pakistan were 162/5. These two ran India ragged in the next 4 or 5 overs and got 37 runs in partnership in 37 balls and the only boundary was a massive 6 by Razzaq off Mohanty to mid wicket. Razzaq turned on his jets in the 44th over when Srinath was brought back on. Razzaq hit a couple of boundaries when he picked the slower one to hit over the cover fielder and then a healthy blow straight down the ground. If they had just hit out, it would have been luck but they followed it with brilliant singles. The 50 of their partnership took only 41 balls. Kumble had bowled brilliantly throughout and it took a magnificent and fluent easy lofted drive over extra cover by Youhana to score a boundary off him. Reminded me of Miandad that shot. Srinath’s second spell was not a whole lot better than Mohanty’s as Razzaq climbed into him with another boundary over mid wicket as he picked the slower ball very easily. Every boundary was punctuated with quick singles and twos. Kumble got Youhana to break the partnership but by that time Pakistan had reached 223/6 in the 47th over. Razzaq got to his second successive 50 with a straight lofted drive over mid off. Another great inning by a young man who has made his mark on international cricket and I dare say that it will say for a long time. He followed that with a straight 6, which landed way back as Mohanty tried to show his anger at being hit around. I do not think that a medium pacer getting hit all over the ground with genuine cricket shots has no real reason to get angry at anyone else but himself. Razzaq had reached 61 in 43 balls. Wasim left trying to hoik against Mohanty. Mohanty’s spell read 2 wickets for 76 runs in 10 overs. Can you believe that it looks better than it really was. Waqar was promoted over Saqlain since only two overs were left. Tendulkar had mucked up the bowling sequence and was now left with two overs from his non-regular bowlers. He bowled the 49th over himself and did well to restrict Pakistan to just 6 runs. Ganguly was brought for the last over. 3 wd wd . . 2 2 2. Razzaq ended with 70 not out off 52 balls and Pakistan got a very good 262/7 off 50 overs.

India lost two overs since they had a very slow over rate. Pakistan does the same so I am in no position to criticize that. Someone needs to look at this rule though where the second team only gets penalized for money only. Now if Pakistan bowls their overs very slowly they will only get fined and that is it. That is a tad unfair to the team batting first. Pakistan had added a little more variety to their bowling by bringing Afridi in for Azhar Mahmood so maybe if a partnership got stuck Afridi might have a bowl. Ganguly and Tendulkar opened so atleast the Indians made the right decision first up. Wasim, the only 400 man, had bowled a fantastic spell in the last match and it was hoped that he would repeat that feat. Tendulkar faced him so it was captain to captain. The ground facilities were not that good at this ground as Shoaib Akhter and a cameraman set the sight-screen before the first ball. Wasim’s first ball pitched about middle, Tendulkar tried a flick and the ball moved in a little to hit him in front of leg stump. Wasim appealed with the rest of the Pakistanis but the umpire after a long hard look said nothing doing. Sometimes I do not understand these Australian umpires. I mean what the hell was he looking at. I don’t think there was any doubt that it was going to hit leg stump. Anyways, whatever. Wasim hit Tendulkar on his pads most of the first over. Shoaib was given the new ball instead of Waqar, which was not a bad idea as Waqar had a couple of uninspired outings. His first over was a bit of a loosener as he did not go flat out but he was on line. Tendulkar took some time to play himself in but as soon as Shoaib pitched one on his legs, he whipped it for 4 runs. India’s start was steady with 14/0 off 4 overs. Ganguly followed that with a great shot through the covers for 4 off Wasim. All timing and no foot movement at all. Shoaib was gathering speed by his third over and one particularly fast ball got Tendulkar in front of leg stump but the umpire had moved away soon after to get in line for a possible throw at the stumps. Another decision went a begging I thought. Shoaib was still very accurate and apart from a sudden burst of boundaries, Pakistan was keeping the Indians quiet. After 6 overs, India was progressing steadily with 25/0.

The third umpire was used on a run out appeal, which resulted in a couple of over throws. Ganguly was in but he did not ground his bat in time and put it down late quite like he did when he got run out at a 100. I guess he did not do his homework after the debacle earlier. The two Indian batsmen were getting boundaries but not a whole lot of singles so their run rate was not climbing. Tendulkar was getting a little edgy by the 9th over with the score at 37/0. The 10th over saw Sachin come back into form. He played a pull, a straight drive and cover drive for boundaries as a tiring Shoaib was taught a good lesson. Saqlain was brought on early. He enticed Ganguly to lob one over mid off and Shoaib made a valiant effort but could not get there. Sachin’s onslaught continued as he drove Saqlain through cover with ease for another boundary. Ganguly and Sachin kept a run rate of around 5 or so and were looking very ominous. The 15 overs restrictions were soon over but the singles kept coming with an occasional boundary. Saqlain and Razzaq were bowling in tandem with no sign of Waqar yet. Razzaq was very impressive though Sachin once in while would unleash a classic 4. By the end of 15 overs India had scored 85 runs without loss and was well in control. Razzaq started to move the ball a little bit and made life a little difficult for the batsmen. Sachin french cut one that nipped back and it was not a surprise when Razzaq got Ganguly. Razzaq bowled one that went across Ganguly, which he tried to force to the on side only to lob a catch to Afridi at cover. Laxman was inexplicably sent at number 3 but did not last too long so in essence Dravid did come in at number 3. Razzaq got Laxman caught behind off a ball that moved away. India was slowed down a little with Pakistan coming into the game. Waqar took care of that. He bowled 5 wides in his first over and gave away 12 runs to ease the pressure once again. India were 123/1 off 22 overs.

Wasim showed faith in Waqar and brought him back on for another over. He did not fare too much better in this one either though there weren’t any wides, he was still very inaccurate and down the leg side. This one cost 7 runs to Pakistan. Afridi was brought in place of Razzaq, so that Waqar would not have to bowl his full quota plus maybe Sachin would lose his concentration. He did not. A delicate late cut/chop to the third man fence was a delight to watch. India was cruising at 137/2 after 25 overs. Shaoib was brought back to break the partnership or specifically to get Sachin. He bowled well and was very straight but did not break the partnership in the two overs he bowled in his second spell. Afridi became steadier after his second over. I think Waqar might be brought back for another try a little later but his quota would be considerably reduced. India had 144/2 after the 28th over. It was time to break the partnership and the captain thought that he would have to do it himself. And he did. His 401st wicket saw Dravid caught in front trying to flick the ball. The finger went up to signal the end of a good partnership and India were 156/3 off 29th over. Jacob Martin came in after that. I haven’t seen this fellow before. He looks technically very correct in the Mahnama mold. He would be a good prospect for higher up the order instead of Laxman who has some technique problems. However, at this pressure cooker stage he was bogged down at the start and so there was more pressure on Sachin and the run rate required went up consistently. Wasim bowled two and saved two of his overs for later. The strain on Sachin was apparent as he tried a heave ho against Razzaq who was brought back for his second spell. India were 169/3 off 33 overs. Soon after, Sachin broke the shackles a little bit with an extra cover drive off Afridi, which fetched him 4 runs.

It was Razzaq’s day however. The first ball very next over, he bowled one from a little bit wide of the crease and the ball came in with the angle. It pitched middle and off and moved to straighten up towards the off stump. It was a shade quicker than normal too or maybe the movement made it look that way. Sachin was bowled neck and crop. He was too late on the ball. The best batsman in the world on 93 was knocked over. Brilliant stuff by Razzaq and this man was on fire. Robin Singh was the next man in and they needed to get a move on. They didn’t. They did not force the pace or push the spinner around. The run rate climbed to beyond 7 runs an over. They were 186/4 off 38 overs and the match well in Pakistan’s hand. Saqlain was brought back alongwith Shoaib and it was essential that India atleast put up a fight by hitting the off spinner. They did not charge him in his first over even though he flighted the ball to my surprise. The asking rate went up to 8. They tried a suicide run and Martin was run out by a direct hit from the reserve fielder Shoaib Malik. It was a shame that we could not see Martin try and hit some. He should have atleast tried. The keeper came in at the fall of that wicket and India were 194/5. Robin gave a simple return catch to Shoaib Akhter and it was all over very soon after that. Razzaq came back in the 44th over and cleaned up Kumble and Srinath to bag a 5-wicket scalp. Fantastic stuff from the talented all rounder. It was certainly his day. Wasim came back to get the last two wickets to bundle out India for 230. Razzaq got 5/40 and deservedly the man of the match for his all round performance.

India fought well at the start and especially Sachin was a fun to watch. The Pakistanis are very deep and when one of their regular bowlers was not on his game, their 6th bowler was good enough to stem the rot. India’s thinking at the end where they did not hit out was hard to grasp. Pakistan’s batting order is fine and maybe they could drop Inzi down to number 5 since he is not in form. However, I think persistence might pay off with this line up. Waqar was off his game but he should be persisted with. Wasim’s captaincy was great, especially when Sachin was on a rampage. His interviews have become a treat to watch and listen to. I still remember his press conference in New Zealand on his first tour and my God the transformation is unbelievable. His cricket mind was always one of the best around but now he can eloquently put his thoughts into words. He gets the guys together when they are losing their way. He fires them up when motivation is needed. There isn’t much more motivation needed than the 403 number he achieved today and hopefully will increase further in this tournament and beyond. His bowling is back on track. The tournament is now between Pakistan and Australia. Normally Pakistan in a situation like this relax but hopefully this Wasim Akram team will treat each international one day game as an important game to get a W out of. Australia are the more professional and in form side but Pakistan’s top order seems to be running into form at the right time. If Saeed and Ijaz play like they have in the past two games and if Inzimam can somehow find his form they will be formidable.

Carlton & United Series