The Hindu : Pakistan storms into final

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 01, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Pakistan storms into final

By Sanjay Rajan

DHAKA, FEB. 29. At 18 years of age, Khalid Latif is the youngest captain in Pakistan cricket's first-class history. On Sunday, one realised why Karachi bestowed upon him the honour at the start of this season. At the Bangabandhu National Stadium here, Latif led his colts with the air of a General, as he orchestrated his team to a five-wicket victory over India in a day/night semifinal of the ICC under-19 cricket World Cup.

Losing the toss was inconsequential to Pakistan. For, going by its track record here, it would have decided to bowl first. Latif is not physically imposing. But his presence is striking because of the command - the cold, calculated attitude of a conqueror - that he exercises over his men. At his disposal was possibly the most potent bowling attack in the championship. And the five-man army of fast medium Riaz Afridi and Imran Pasha, off-spinners Salman Qadir and Tariq Mahmood and leg-spinner Md. Amjad swung in to restrict yet another opposition to under 200.

India, the 2000 champion and last edition's semifinalist, was bowled out for 169. However, it was Latif, positioning himself at mid-off, mid-on, mid-wicket or in the covers depending on which bowler was operating and to which batsman, who made those subtle changes to the field.

Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan should know, as he pulled Pasha down Latif's throat at mid-on. The Pakistan skipper had moved himself slightly wide after setting a packed (seven men) off-side field. The other opener Robin Uthappa's dismissal - flicking Qadir into the hands of square-leg - was crucial. He had settled down well, playing the spinners late, and had earlier added 48 for the third wicket with left-hander Rakesh Solanki.

Latif stuck to his successful formula. Pasha and Afridi bowled five and six overs respectively at the start. Qadir, who replaced Afridi, ran through his full quota, while Amjad bowled a first spell of six overs and returned in the 38th after Pasha had a short burst of three overs.

Meanwhile, Mahmood hurried through his full quota of overs. The speedsters paired up in the end. And India struggled right through. It will be a surprise if the bowling actions of Afridi and Mahmood do not come under a cloud. Doubts that one developed earlier were confirmed by the slow motion replays here. It might have let off as cases of hyperextension though. Mahmood spun the delivery that goes the other way as much as he spun his regular off-break. And the damage had been done. Pakistan did not have it easy in front of a packed crowd. Medium pacers Gaurav Dhiman and left-arm Rudra Pratap Singh struck once each early and tormented the opposition in their later spells. Left-arm spinner Praveen Gupta, off-spinner Suresh Raina and leg-spinner Abhishek Sharma brought forth all their experience to make run-scoring difficult for the opposition, which was 68 for four at one stage and 83 for five a while later. But then, the bowlers did not have a sufficient total to back them, as the unbroken sixth-wicket pair of left-handers Mahmood and Fawad Alam saw Pakistan through with an 88-run stand.

Mahmood was adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance. It was Pakistan's third win to India's solitary success head-to-head in cup play.

The second semifinal between England and the West Indies is on March 2.

At the M.A. Aziz Stadium in Chittagong, Australia defeated Ireland by 49 runs in the first semifinal of the Plate Championship.

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