Col (Retd) Rafi Nasim
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6th Match: Pakistan v South Africa at Colombo, 12 Jul 2000 Col (Retd) Rafi Nasim |
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Pakistan innings:
Pre-game: South Africa innings: |
Kallis broke the silence when he lofted Shoaib Malik to the square leg for a mighty six. He tried to repeat the shot little later and lost his wicket. He lifted Shoaib Malik high towards long off and was smartly caught by Azhar Mahmood after playing a valiant innings of 27. South Africa was 122 for 3, at the end of the 30th over.
Jonty Rhodes came in to bat and appeared uncomfortable against the spinners. He flicked one from Shoaib Malik to slips, which Azhar Mahmood failed to hold. The victory target well in sight now, the batsmen were chasing it slowly and patiently. In 33 overs, South Africa was 134 for 3, only 20 runs short of the target. Cullinan (20) and Rhodes (8) were advancing to the landmark steadily.
The batsmen were closing up with the target with easy singles and twos. It was only a matter of few minutes now. South Africa achieved the target in the 38th over when Cullinan smashed Shoaib Malik to extra cover for a four. South Africa was 156 for 3 with Cullinan (35) and Rhodes (12) remaining the not out batsmen.
South Africa defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets. It was a convincing victory from all angles. Pakistan had batted miserably during the beginning of the innings losing half the side for a mere 18 runs. The target of 154 on a perfect wicket for a well-composed side like South Africa was peanuts.
Kallis joining his partner in the run-making spree also lofted Arshad Khan for a straight four in the 15th over. The runs were piling up pretty fast, the score board showing 80 for 1 in 16 overs with Kirsten at 46 heading for his half century. Unfortunately he could not achieve it. On an admirable delivery from Mushtaq Ahmed, he offered a catch to Azhar Mahmood fielding at silly mid off and was out after playing a wonderful innings of 46. South Africa lost the 2nd wicket at 82.
Daryll Cullinan came in to bat. Some excitement arose when in the 19th over there was a strong bat and pad catch appeal against Kallis but was rejected by the umpire. The TV replay with the spot magnified showed that the ball had brushed the bat before hitting the pads. In 20 overs, South Africa scored 92 for 2 with Kallis (16) and Cullinan (2) playing cautiously. With the departure of Kirsten the rate of scoring came down.
In view of the easy target that South Africa has, the Pakistani bowlers have to bowl very accurately while the fielders need to save every run. The things were not so. Hall extracted two fours out of Azhar Mahmood in the 5th over, one of them going through Mushtaq Ahmed fielding at mid off.
Pakistan achieved the 1st breakthrough when Andrew Hall flicked Azhar Mahmood to slips and was caught by Inzamam-ul-Haq for 15. South Africa was one down for 26 runs, Jacques Kallis took the crease.
Abdur Razzaq bowling from the other end was smashed for two fours by Kirsten maintaining the high run rate that they started with. Leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed came to bowl in the 8th over and was driven by Kirsten to the 3rd man boundary for four. In the next over Kirsten again cut Azhar Mahmood to the point boundary for another four. In 10 overs South Africa was 49 for 1. While Kirsten with 31 was the main scorer Kallis had yet to open his account.
Bringing in the last minute excitement Mushtaq Ahmed swept Boje to fine leg boundary for a four. In the next over Paul Adams put down Shoaib on his own bowling. The two batsmen were, however, collecting runs by singles and twos. Unexpectedly the tail enders were adding to the excitement of the spectators. Mushtaq Ahmed lifted Paul Adams straight over the heads of the fielders for four, twice in one over.
Terbrugge came to bowl again but was unlucky to raise his haul to 5, when Shoaib Malik flicked him for a four through the slips. There was no fielder to catch. Surprisingly the two tail enders were facing the South Africa's onslaught with a fair amount of confidence and collecting runs. In 40 overs Pakistan was 138 for 9.
The tail enders having made a wonderful recovery, 150 of the Pakistan's innings came in the 44th over. There came the end of Pakistan's innings, when Mushtaq Ahmed in an attempt to sweep Paul Adams was caught by Cullinan after making an invaluable contribution of 34 runs. Pakistan's crisis ridden innings ended at 153. Shoaib Malik remained not out with 29, having played a defiant innings.
Picking up from 18 for 5 and then from 47 for 7, it was a gigantic recovery on the part of the tail enders to raise the total to a respectable looking 153. The South Africa needs 154 to win apparently an easy target. It will, however, depend how good or bad Pakistan's bowlers and fielders perform.
While Azhar Mahmood was trying to take Pakistan out of the crisis by scoring runs, Shoaib Malik was providing his more competent partner a solid start. A vital tragedy struck Pakistan when in an attempt to take a cheeky run? Azhar Mahmood was run out after scoring defiant as well as highly valuable 36 runs. Pakistan was 90 for 8.
Being the only recognized batsman left, Azhar was quite capable of playing the full innings but for the folly of trying to grab a risky run. With Arshad Khan coming in, Pakistan's innings was in the hands of the tail enders. They could not possibly salvage much out of the debris of the earlier disaster. It was more like waiting for the inevitable, In 30 overs, Pakistan was 97 for 8, with Shoaib Malik (7) and Arshad Khan (1) trying to hold the crease for as long as possible.
Pakistan suffered another tragedy when Moin Khan trying to give the Pakistan innings a respectable look was caught by Boucher off Kallis for 19. Pakistan was 49 for 7. Shoaib Malik took the crease.
The Pakistan batsmen trying to get out of the shell shock were desperately trying to collect runs. It was essential to wipe out the wave of gloom that engulfed the Pakistan camp. Azhar Mahmood moved in this direction by lifting Klusener for a six over mid wicket.
In 20 overs Pakistan was 58 for 7. Azhar Mahmood (16) and Shoaib Malik (1) struggling to stay at the crease and collect whatever runs they can. The team, however, remains in dire straits.
Pakistan opened with Saeed Anwar and Imran Nazir against the attack of Shaun Pollock and suffered the first causality when Imran Nazir snicked Pollock in the safe hands of Mark Boucher behind the stumps for a duck. Pakistan lost the 1st wicket with only 2 runs on the score board.
David Terbrugge who bowled from the other end accounted for the second wicket when Younis Khan who had just come in was out in exactly the same manner. Younis Khan had also edged the ball to Boucher. Pakistan lost 2 wickets for 5 runs.
Vice Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan's savior in many matches came in to stabilize the disastrous beginning but was snatched of the opportunity to do so. He was adjudged caught behind by Boucher off Terbrugge, also for a duck. Inzamam was wonder-struck by the umpire's decision because there was hardly an appeal for the catch. Pakistan was 6 for 3 facing a near disaster.
Pakistan's innings was like the start of a procession with umpires as the VIPs. Yousuf Youhana came in and was directed to return in the same manner alleged to have offered the inside edge to Boucher off Terbrugge, playing his first match of series. The batsman was stunned because the ball did not seem having brushed the bat. Anyway it gave Mark Boucher his 100th catch in one-day cricket. Pakistan was 13 for 4.
It was like the doomsday for Pakistan. A little later Saeed Anwar flicked the ball to his stumps, off Pollock for 6 runs. Pakistan was struggling at 18 for 5. The disaster continued when the new comer Abdur Razzaq was adjudged LBW off Terbrugge for 1. Pakistan losing 6th wicket at 19.
Skipper Moin Khan came in while Azhar Mahmood occupied the other end. Whatever the merit the two players may have it may not be within their scope to bring Pakistan back in the game. In 10 overs Pakistan was only 19 for 6. Both Azhar and Moin Khan have yet to open the attack.
Incidently Pakistan is at the bottom of the point's table with no victory with South Africa a step above with a victory. South Africa's defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in 27 overs on Tuesday made the Pakistan's job easier. Their run rate having risen higher than South Africa, the team winning today's game will jump into the finals without the need for any calculation.
South Africa having defeated Pakistan by 18 runs in the first match enjoys the upper edge but their humiliation of a 8 wickets defeat in 27 overs at the hands of Sri Lanka must cause them some psychological set back. The defeat that they dished out to Pakistan was not overwhelming either.
In the present situation, South Africa's first victory over Pakistan carries no value. Both teams thus shall have to muster all their strength and resources to humble their opponents. Pakistan has the capacity to bounce back, while South Africa has the upper edge. Let us see which team performs better.
Date-stamped : 12 Jul2000 - 14:22