Australia Plunge Deeper As Pakistan Rise

World Cup Classics: Australia v Pakistan, WACA, Perth, 11 March, 1992

 It was a do or die match for Pakistan. They were languishing second last on the points table with only three matches left. Having won only once in the last five games, any further loss would have ended their chances for a semi-final spot. On the other hand the defending champions too were going no where. Allen Border’s desperation only increased when his side could not win against a Pakistan side which was famously termed by Imran Khan as cornered tigers at the toss.

Pakistan, under pressure, opted to bat first. Pain-killing injections had enabled Imran Khan to lead his side in this crucial encounter despite a sore shoulder. Openers provided a confident start till Ramiz departed at 78. Salim Malik followed quickly but Aamir Sohail continued to play fluently and drafted 77 run partnership with Pakistan’s man of the crises, Javed Miandad. Miandad running between the wickets quickly and with a few boundaries along made sure that runs were ticking along at a good clip. Aamir who looked set for a big one got out caught behind off Moody after making 76 off 106 balls with 8 sweetly timed fours. Steve Waugh deceived Miandad for a similar dismissal a few overs later for  a 75-ball 46. At 193 for 4 Pakistan was looking good for a big total but Steve Waugh triggered a collapse by dismissing Miandad and Imran Khan. Australians had tightened a noose around Pakistan batsmen with tight bowling and sharp fielding. In frenzy Inzamam and Ijaz got run-out and big hitters, Wasim Akram and Moin Khan were dismissed cheaply. Pakistan finished at a below par 220 for 9. Waugh took 3 for 36 while Moody bagged 2 wickets.

In reply Aussies were pegged back at the start by Aaqib Javed who removed Moody and Boon in no time. Both Wasim Akram and Aaqib were getting appreciable swing in the heavy evening atmosphere. Australians found it difficult to negotiate the swing and the tight line which they were bowling. Geoff Marsh and Dean Jones added 85 runs for the 3rd wicket but pressure was still mounting as their scoring rate was not up to the mark. Marsh in particular was sluggish as he crawled till 34th over to collect 39 runs. He was neither rotating the strike nor finding the boundaries regularly. In an effort to break the shackles they lost 4 wickets for 15 runs in the middle overs. Imran and Mushtaq shared two wickets each to knock Australia down. Jones made 47 off 79 balls. At 130 for 6 they had a mounting to climb. Mark Waugh was at the crease but Aaqib came back to remove Ian Healy to bare open the tail which was polished off by Wasim Akram in no time. Australia got all out for 172 in the 46th over. Pakistan in the end, won by a handsome margin of 48 runs. Aaqib and Mushtaq were the pick of bowlers taking 3 scalps each while Imran and Wasim both took 2 wickets. Aamir Sohail was named Man of the Match.

With this win Pakistan were afloat again in their World Cup campaign while Australians had sunk further prompting Allan Border to dismiss off any chances of his team’s progression into the knock-out stages.