Sahara Cup

ODI # 1229
Sahara Cup, 1997
India v Pakistan, 3rd One-day International (abandoned)
Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club
17 September 1997

Match report:

• CricInfo match report
• Pakistan open strongly in third match by Qamar Ahmed for Dawn.
• Rain thwarts Pakistan drive by Qamar Ahmed for Dawn.

A progress report from CricInfo

2-0 down in the five game series, and missing their three best bowlers, Pakistan also lost Kabir Khan and Ijaz Ahmed (stiff neck) through injury, and Inzamam-Ul-Haq through suspension in the second game. India in contrast, came into the game unchanged. The side batting first in the first two games appeared to have the worst of the conditions and much seemed to depend on the toss in this 3rd game. A very humid overcast day greeted the captains, with a forecast of rain later in the day. Pakistan's woes increased as Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat. Hasan Raza replaced Inzamam-Ul-Haq, and Azhar Mahmood was recalled. The game was played on the third of three strips prepared for the tournament.

Shahid Afridi and Saeed Anwar opened against Kuravilla and Mohanty on a pitch with some variable boubce, but much drier than those of the preceding two games. Mohanty in particular was able to get movement in the air, but overpitched in his first over to allow Shahid Afridi two cracking fours driven through the off-side. Shahid Afridi batted with considerable aggression, and was fortunate to escape when he lofted a drive just out of reach of Tendulkar at mid-on. Both bats settled well, with Saeed Anwar playing a sheet-anchor role as Shahid Afridi attacked, mostly with powerful drives against anything over-pitched. The 50 went up in 10 overs, a fine start under the conditions, with Shahid Afridi contributing 37 to Saeed Anwar's 11. The score reached 71 when a change of bowling brought a wicket. Off Harvinder Singh's second ball, Shahid Afridi charged down the wicket, took a wild swing, and only succeeded in top-edging an easy catch to 'keeper Karim. Shahid Afridi rode his luck to score 47 off 46 balls.

Neither the Indian bowling or fielding seemed to have the edge of the first two games, with length and line being wayward at times. Saeed Anwar grew in confidence, and started to look like the class player he is. He was severe on anything short pitched with some fierce square cuts. Mohanty, however, was unlucky to have Saeed Anwar missed as a superb delivery induced an edge that went between Karim and first slip for four. The 100 came off off only 18 overs (as opposed to 28 overs in the first game, and 39 in the second). Rameez Raja was also looking comfortable, although Ganguly troubled him at times. He was fortunate to survive a confident lbw appeal, as a ball cutting back off the seam beat the bat and hit the pad. Ganguly also struck him a sharp blow on the right hand that eventually caused him to retire hurt. A six over extra cover off Robin Singh took Saeed Anwar to 49, and a single to a fine 50 (off 58 balls).

Tendulkar tried all the bowlers available to him, with little success as Rameez Raja and Saeed Anwar continued with few problems. At 156/1 in the 30th over Rameez Raja, on 34, decided to retire hurt, still troubled by his right hand. Salim Malik lasted only 3 balls, decieved and bowled by a slower delivery from Ganguly that cut back and took his off stump. This brought in the youngtser, Hasan Raza, who scored only a single before hitting a return catch to Ganguly, as rain began to fall. With Pakistan 169/3 off 31.5 overs, the covers were brought on as rain fell heavily.

Pakistan open strongly in third match

By Qamar Ahmed

Earlier Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi had put on 71 runs for the opening stand before Shahid Afridi was caught at the wicket by Saba Karim off medium-pacer Harvinder Singh for 47 made in 46 deliveries. Anwar and Ramiz Raja then added 85 runs for the second wicket but Ramiz Raja had to retire hurt after being hit twice on his knuckles by Ganguly. He had made 34.

Salim Malik, the highest scorer in the last two games, survived only two balls having replaced Ramiz. Playing across the line of Ganguly he played onto his wicket when one and then young Hasan Raza playing in place of Inzamam offered a return catch to Ganguly to make Pakistan 169 for 3.

Ijaz Ahmed with back trouble is rested so is Kabir Khan with groin injury. He bowled only three balls in the second game and had to retire. Mohammad Hussain is in the team. India has an unchanged side. In case of match not completed it will be played tomorrow, weather permitting.

The steady batting by the Pakistani cricketers came as a pleasant surprise to the Pakistani immigrants who fully backed the openers playing aggressive strokes. Pakistan may yet finish in a strong position.

Rain thwarts Pakistan drive

When it rained, as predicted by the Met office which is usually correct, Pakistan were sitting pretty, having piled up 169 for three in 31.5 overs.

Put in by India on a windy and cloudy day, their premier batsmen put behind failures in two consecutive matches and the Inzamamul Haq trauma, with the type of scintillating strokeplay they are known for. Flamboyant Shahid Afridi set the ball rolling with a forceful 47 off 46 balls with seven fours before Saeed Anwar took over. Driving and pulling with authority, the world record holder in one-day cricket took the sting out of the Indian pacers and made them look mediocre. The opener was still at the crease scoring an elegant 74 off 84 balls with six fours and one six, off Saurav Ganguly. Skipper Rameez Raja chipped in with a sedate 34 off 58 balls before retiring hurt after injuring his index finger. Salim Malik, who had dominated the Pakistan batting in the previous two matches, faced just five balls before being bowled by Ganguly while young Hasan Raja also didn't last long, playing early to Ganguly who snaffled a simple catch off his bowling. Both contributed just one run each. It started pouring the moment Raja walked back to the pavilion.

But it was Anwar and Afridi who lit up the proceedings earlier in the day with a solid 71-run stand. Pakistan maintained a healthy run rate of over five an over from the beginning. Afridi fell to an adventurous square cut, only managing to edge to wicketkeeper Saba Karim off Harvinder Singh, the man who had the mortification of conceding as many as 22 runs off just three overs. Pakistan scored the first 50 in 9.4 overs, 100 in 17.2 overs and 150 in 27 overs, a fine strike rate which gives enough indication of their command over the proceedings.

Source:: Dawn (http://dawn.com/)

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