For the first time World Cup was held outside UK, in India and Pakistan. It was a huge success not only in terms of quality of cricket but also as regards the organization of the event itself. Despite the absence of some leading stars like Hadlee, Botham, Marshall and Gower, the tournament attracted huge crowds and global audience. It produced a number of nail-biting close encounters, thrilling batting exhibits and spell-binding bowling spells. Neutral umpires were used for the first time in this World Cup. Pakistan who had started with a close match against Sri Lanka rounded off their first round of group matches with another exhilarating victory against West Indies to remain at the top of their group.
West Indies won the toss and batted first on a bright sunny morning. Desmond Haynes and debutant Phil Simmons started firmly and put on 91 runs for the first wicket. They negotiated early moisture of the pitch well and saw off Imran and Wasim Akram’s opening bursts safely. Then they had a mini-collapse when they lost four wickets for just 30 runs. Saleem Jaffar bowling one of his best spells in ODIs got rid of Haynes and Richardson while Tauseef had Simmons caught and bowled for 50. By this time Richards was well into his innings and despite losing partners at the other end continued to be his natural aggressive self. He was dismissed by Imran for 51 off 52 balls laced with four fours and a six. Imran and Wasim ran through the lower order to dismiss West Indies for 216 in the last over. Imran took 4 for 37 while Jaffar bagged 3 wickets for 30 runs. Abdul Qadir went wicket-less but perhaps he had reserved his magic for his batting later in the evening.
Pakistan lost Mansoor Akhtar and Saleem Malik quickly but Ramiz Raja and Javed Miandad took the score to 92 in a slow rebuilding partnership. West Indies came back strongly and struck twice to leave Pakistan wobbling at 110 for 5 in the 35th over. The required run rate was exactly 7 in the last 15 overs. Wicket-keeper Saleem Yousuf whom Imran always trusted and termed as a fighter stood firm at this stage and fought back flamboyantly. Riding on his luck he added 73 crucial runs for 6th wicket with Imran Khan to bring Pakistan back into the game. His 56 off just 49 balls with 7 fours did not let the asking rate to go beyond Pakistan’s reach. But Courtney Walsh came back to dismiss both these players and the match was in balance again. Patrick Patterson dealt a crucial blow in the 49th over when he dismissed dangerous Wasim Akram. Run out of Tauseef also did not help as Pakistan needed 14 runs when Walsh who had taken 4 wickets came to bowl the last over. Abdul Qadir and Saleem Jaffar was the last pair at crease. Tension was mounting and emotions were running high for those present at the ground or glued to their TV sets. More than fifty thousand spectators at Gaddafi Stadium were clearing their throats with full force cheering for Pakistan and egging on their last man standing.
Abdul Qadir hit a full delivery from Walsh towards mid-on and got an easy single. Next ball Jaffar moving towards leg thumped another over-pitched ball in the covers to scramble for another single. Abdul hit the third ball to mid-on fielder who threw it back to Walsh who could not hold on to it resulting in an overthrow for an extra run. Pakistan needed a boundary here. Abdul Qadir making room towards leg side swing hard and hit Walsh’s next delivery on the up for a huge six over long-off. Contrary to the first three balls this was a length delivery which Abdul made full use of. Four more were needed off two balls and Abdul Qadir was looking determined to win it for his team. His eyes were focused on the job but body was restless as usual. Fifth ball was a low full toss on the leg side which Abdul smacked to the off side and rushed for a couple. It was all excitement and drama with two runs needed off the last ball. Just as Walsh was about to deliver the final ball Jaffar moved from his crease to gain extra ground but he stopped and warned him rather than remove the bails. He could have easily won the match for his team but showed sportsmanship instead. This was truly gesture of a great soul. Abdul hit the last ball which was a full toss through to the third man and got an incredible win for Pakistan. Richards was lying on the ground in disbelief and despair as his best bowler could not deliver when mattered the most.
Abdul Qadir’s batting rather bowling did it for Pakistan this time. It was one of the classics of the World Cup history. Saleem Yousuf was awarded the Man of the Match and Abdul Qadir was bathed with glory. On the other hand Walsh was showered with abundant praise and awarded a lavish carpet from a Karachi firm for his ‘Spirit of the Game’.
West Indies won the toss and batted first on a bright sunny morning. Desmond Haynes and debutant Phil Simmons started firmly and put on 91 runs for the first wicket. They negotiated early moisture of the pitch well and saw off Imran and Wasim Akram’s opening bursts safely. Then they had a mini-collapse when they lost four wickets for just 30 runs. Saleem Jaffar bowling one of his best spells in ODIs got rid of Haynes and Richardson while Tauseef had Simmons caught and bowled for 50. By this time Richards was well into his innings and despite losing partners at the other end continued to be his natural aggressive self. He was dismissed by Imran for 51 off 52 balls laced with four fours and a six. Imran and Wasim ran through the lower order to dismiss West Indies for 216 in the last over. Imran took 4 for 37 while Jaffar bagged 3 wickets for 30 runs. Abdul Qadir went wicket-less but perhaps he had reserved his magic for his batting later in the evening.
Pakistan lost Mansoor Akhtar and Saleem Malik quickly but Ramiz Raja and Javed Miandad took the score to 92 in a slow rebuilding partnership. West Indies came back strongly and struck twice to leave Pakistan wobbling at 110 for 5 in the 35th over. The required run rate was exactly 7 in the last 15 overs. Wicket-keeper Saleem Yousuf whom Imran always trusted and termed as a fighter stood firm at this stage and fought back flamboyantly. Riding on his luck he added 73 crucial runs for 6th wicket with Imran Khan to bring Pakistan back into the game. His 56 off just 49 balls with 7 fours did not let the asking rate to go beyond Pakistan’s reach. But Courtney Walsh came back to dismiss both these players and the match was in balance again. Patrick Patterson dealt a crucial blow in the 49th over when he dismissed dangerous Wasim Akram. Run out of Tauseef also did not help as Pakistan needed 14 runs when Walsh who had taken 4 wickets came to bowl the last over. Abdul Qadir and Saleem Jaffar was the last pair at crease. Tension was mounting and emotions were running high for those present at the ground or glued to their TV sets. More than fifty thousand spectators at Gaddafi Stadium were clearing their throats with full force cheering for Pakistan and egging on their last man standing.
Abdul Qadir hit a full delivery from Walsh towards mid-on and got an easy single. Next ball Jaffar moving towards leg thumped another over-pitched ball in the covers to scramble for another single. Abdul hit the third ball to mid-on fielder who threw it back to Walsh who could not hold on to it resulting in an overthrow for an extra run. Pakistan needed a boundary here. Abdul Qadir making room towards leg side swing hard and hit Walsh’s next delivery on the up for a huge six over long-off. Contrary to the first three balls this was a length delivery which Abdul made full use of. Four more were needed off two balls and Abdul Qadir was looking determined to win it for his team. His eyes were focused on the job but body was restless as usual. Fifth ball was a low full toss on the leg side which Abdul smacked to the off side and rushed for a couple. It was all excitement and drama with two runs needed off the last ball. Just as Walsh was about to deliver the final ball Jaffar moved from his crease to gain extra ground but he stopped and warned him rather than remove the bails. He could have easily won the match for his team but showed sportsmanship instead. This was truly gesture of a great soul. Abdul hit the last ball which was a full toss through to the third man and got an incredible win for Pakistan. Richards was lying on the ground in disbelief and despair as his best bowler could not deliver when mattered the most.
Abdul Qadir’s batting rather bowling did it for Pakistan this time. It was one of the classics of the World Cup history. Saleem Yousuf was awarded the Man of the Match and Abdul Qadir was bathed with glory. On the other hand Walsh was showered with abundant praise and awarded a lavish carpet from a Karachi firm for his ‘Spirit of the Game’.
Published in sportpulse.net
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