The Hindu : Sport : You just can't write off Pakistan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006
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You just can't write off Pakistan

Vijay Lokapally

WE HAVE DONE IT: Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik celebrate even as the umpire signals the winning runs. — Photo: R.V. Moorthy

JAIPUR: Pakistan's batting depth matched the resilience shown by the bowlers to cap a wonderful night of some intense cricket at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium here on Tuesday, brushing aside all speculations about the team suffering from spells of desperation and dejection following the episode involving Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif barely 24 hours before this contest.

The winning start that Pakistan crafted against a fancied Sri Lanka in the ICC Champions Trophy was in keeping with the unpredictable reputation that it has acquired a period of time. Never write off Pakistan and it was proved on Tuesday night in ample measure as Younis Khan and his men did coach Bob Woolmer proud.

He had backed them to excel and the team lived up to his expectations by carving an emphatic four-wicket victory.

Akhtar and Asif were not really missed as Pakistan produced a team effort that should send ominous signals to the others in the competition.

In a battle that involved veterans from either side, Pakistan came out unscathed, thanks mainly to the all-round abilities of `man of the match' Abdul Razzaq.

His languid walk to the middle was in sharp contrast to his agility at the crease as he produced some hard-hitting shots to settle the issue even as the Sri Lankans, defending a target of 254, appeared to have taken a grip.

But the Lankans, despite Muthiah Muralitharan's parsimonious spell, ran out of steam as Razzaq joined Shoaib Malik in finishing the contest with a flurry of shots, the winning hit being a crass, but sweet, six over covers off Dilhara Fernando.

The equation was tight when Pakistan commenced its chase through Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat, who launched a healthy response to Sri Lanka's challenge. Hafeez was the more nterprising but the first to go, snapped by keeper Kumara Sangakkara standing up.

Assuming the responsibility, Farhat continued in the same spirit, playing his shots relentlessly, the early dismissal of Younis only charging him up.

A chance

Sri Lanka had a chance when Farhat (53 off 64 balls with eight fours) fell to a loose shot and Shahid Afridi perished cheaply too. The match was interestingly poised when Mohammad Yousuf (49 off 78 balls with five fours) and Malik batted sensibly before a silly run out changed the equation — Yousuf foolishly running to a misfield.

Kamran Akmal's dismissal to a fine catch in the deep put the pressure back on Pakistan but the experienced Razzaq ensured there were no further alarms. Malik distinguished himself with a responsible 46 off 59 balls with one six and a four but it was Razzaq's sizzling 38 off 24 balls with two fours and two sixes that halted Sri Lanka in its tracks.

Earlier, it was Sanath Jayasuriya's hunger at the crease that proved the motivation for the current generation of Sri Lankan cricketers. The left-handed Jayasuriya, playing his 368th ODI, produced two shots that brought back memories of days when he would belt the best of the bowlers.

A pulled front-foot six off Rao Iftikhar Anjum was sensational and an effortless one over the straight field off Rana Naved ul Hasan was simply astounding. It was pure entertainment that sadly lasted a mere 35 balls in which he smashed two sixes and five fours.

The middle overs were bound to influence the course of the Sri Lankan innings since Pakistan showed more faith in the three slow men, all given specific roles to perform. Of course, Pakistan did well to snatch the initiative back but Sri Lanka had none to blame but its poor shot selection.

Intense battle

Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez made Sri Lanka earn the runs and an intense battle developed when Kumara Sangakkara and Marvan Atapattu raised visions of a long partnership.

It was a critical period for both the teams and Pakistan capitalised on the uncertainty that gripped the Sri Lankan middle order.

Mahela Jayawardene, Sangakkara and Atapattu failed to consolidate their sound starts. Jayawardene made 31 off 41 balls; Sangakkara 39 off 47 and Atapattu 36 off 53. All three innings were cut short, giving Pakistan a chance to back itself in the second half of the contest.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka: U. Tharanga c Akmal b Razzaq 38, S. Jayasuriya b Anjum 48, M. Jayawardene c Farhat b Malik 31, K. Sangakkara c Anjum b Malik 39, M. Atapattu (run out) 36, T. Dilshan b Afridi 3, F. Maharoof b Razzaq 22, C. Vaas b Razzaq 15, M. Muralitharanlbw b Hafeez 0, L. Malinga lbw b Razzaq 0, D. Fernando (notout) 4; Extras (lb-2, w-7, nb-8) 17; Total (in 49.2 overs) 253.

Fall of wickets: 1-63, 2-108, 3-141, 4-181, 5-186, 6-225, 7- 236, 8-239, 9-240.

Pakistan bowling: Rana 4-0- 33-0, Rao Iftikhar 7-0-40-1, Gul 6-0-23-0, Razzaq 7.2-0-50-4, Shoaib 8-0-34-2, Afridi 10-0-47-1, Hafeez 7-0-24-1. Pakistan: M. Hafeez c Sangakkara b Vaas 22, I. Farhat c Fernando b Muralitharan 53, Younis c Sangakkara b Maharoof 7, M. Yousuf (run out) 49, S. Afridi c Tharanga b Jayasuriya 1, S. Malik (not out) 46, K. Akmal c Maharoof b Vaas 20, A. Razzaq (not out) 38; Extras (lb-6, w-11, nb-2) 19; Total (for six wickets, 48.1 overs) 255.

Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-71, 3- 104, 4-114, 5-161, 7-201.

Sri Lanka bowling: Vaas 10- 0-61-2, Malinga 7-1-49-0, Fernando 6.1-0-32-0, Maharoof 3-0- 24-1, Muralitharan 10-0-37-1, Jayasuriya 10-0-33-1, Dilshan 2-0-13

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