Cornered Tigers Rule the World

World Cup Classics: Final - England v Pakistan, Melbourne Cricket Ground, 25 March 1992 

After a shambolic start to the World Cup, Imran Khan had motivated his players by calling them  ‘Cornered Tigers’ prior to a do-or-die clash with Australia. The players did not let their captain down and lifted their game to a new level. They won all their remaining matches including the one against the all-conquering Kiwis who had disposed off every other team comprehensively. On that historical night in the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan the prayers of whole nation were answered when the mighty Khan and his worriers knocked down the stunned English team to lift the World cup for the first time.

Imran Khan beat Graham Gooch on the coin and opted to bat first in front of a record 87,182 spectators at MCG in a bright afternoon. Openers Aamir Sohail and Ramiz Raja were not allowed to break free by Derek Pringle and Chris Lewis who bowled straight and on a nagging length. Pringle in particular found appreciable swing both ways. There was a bit of drama in the 4th over when Hick caught Ramiz at point off a head-high delivery which umpire Steve Bucknor gave as a no ball but Ramiz started walking after seeing English players celebrating. Hick then tried to run him out but his throw missed the stumps. Ramiz rushed back to reach his crease but the ball meanwhile was declared as dead as he was not attempting a run. Next over Pringle got one to nip away from a struggling Aamir resulting in a faint tickle which Alec Stewart snapped diving forward to make it 20 for 1.

Imran as he did in the semi-final promoted himself to one-down to take the flack and to lead from the front. Pakistan were crawling when in the 9th over Pringle’s in-swing and Ramiz’s penchant to play every thing to the leg side made it 24 for 2. Javed Miandad survived two close LBW shouts in the next Pringle over who was bowling superbly looking threatening as well as giving nothing away. One was a bit high and the other was hit marginally outside off-stump line otherwise it was curtains for Pakistan. No wonder some 14 million people were praying in the middle of their 18th fast.

Pakistan were so laborious that they had toddled to 34 after 17 overs. Imran broke the shackles a bit in the next over bowled by Ian Botham by coming down the pitch for a four and the over fetched nine runs for Pakistan. Miandad’s deft touch down the leg side brought 50 in the 21st over bowled by Phil DeFreitas. In the same over Imran scooped one high towards mid-wicket but Gooch dropped the catch despite having managed to cover the distance from square-leg. At the half way stage Pakistan had only 70 runs on the board. Onus was on Imran to alter the cadence and Illingworth’s leg-spin was too inviting for him to let the opportunity go by easily. He hit him high and handsome for six over long-on to set the vociferous crowd into ecstasy and get a nod of approval from Miandad. Miandad too started hurrying things a little and in the process became the first man to reach thousand runs in World Cups. Pakistan reached 100 in the 33rd over.

Miandad and Imran who had completed their respective fifties were looking dangerous as they began to score in boundaries. Miandad suffering a sore stomach was now batting with a runner. They had added 139 runs in 31 overs when Miandad was caught by Botham at point attempting a reverse sweep off Illingworth. He made a stabilizing 58 off 98 balls with 4 fours. Then came the hero of the semi-final, Inzamam-ul-Haq to join his captain. It was another opportunity to shine and he was to shine brightly again. As Inzi was unleashing his strokes all over MCG, Imran mistimed one to be caught at deep mid-on off a Botham half-volley. Ha played a captain’s knock of 70 in 110 balls including 5 fours and a six.

Wasim Akram who had a quiet tournament with the bat so far was promoted ahead of Salim Malik, Ijaz Ahmed and Moin Khan so that Pakistan could finish strongly. Pakistan scored 44 runs in the last 5 overs thanks to cameos from these two clean-hitters. Wasim hit two scorching drives on both sides of the wicket in the 46th over bowled by Botham which fetched 12 runs over all. Two more boundaries he got in the penultimate over bowled by Lewis but Pringle stopped the bleeding in the last over by restricting Pakistan to just two runs. Inzamam was castled by Pringle on the penultimate ball for a well-made 35-ball 42 while Wasim was run out next ball after making vital 33 runs off just 18 balls. For England Pringle was the stand out bowler with 3 for 22. At break Pakistan were more confident than England to cross the line and Cornered Tigers entered the field smelling blood when the play resumed.

Ian Botham was given caught at the wicket off a Wasim Akram beauty when England had just six runs on the board. He shook his head while going off unimpressed with the decision while the crowd burst into jubilation. Wasim induced another edged from Alec Stewart which escaped umpire’s judgment but before long Aaqib Javed got him in similar fashion on a beautiful out-swinger. Graham Gooch who had survived a difficult chance off Wasim when Moin could not pouch a flying edge was stranded at the other end when 3rd wicket too fell cheaply. Graeme Hick was undone by a spectacular Mushtaq googly which turned sharply and left Hick bewildered and plumb in front. Pakistan fielders’ celebration was worth watching when Gooch too departed after being caught brilliantly by Aaqib deep on the leg side when he top-edged a sweep shot. Little Mushy was jumping in sheer joy while Aaqib ran amok leap-frogging every one. England were reduced to 69 for 4 in the 21st over and Pakistan was in the driver’s seat.

The ever-reliable Allan Lamb and Neil Fairbrother resurrected the innings remarkably well by adding 72 runs in 14 overs. Allan Lamb was handling the spin of Mushtaq masterfully while Fairbrother was stealing quick singles and doubles. Just when things were drifting away Imran brought back his trump card, Wasim Akram. The well-set Allen Lamb was bamboozled by a delivery which came in through the air and straightened after pitching just short of good length and crashed onto the off-stump. Reverse-swing genius was at work. As if it was not enough he produced another gem when he got Lewis next ball off a sharp in-cutter. Fairbrother survived the hat trick ball in his next over but guarded jubilations had already started on the ground and back in Pakistan. Needing 70 off 44 balls, Fairbrother mistimed a pull shot off Aaqib and Moin made no mistake by catching it safely. With him departed England’s last hopes as their resistance had virtually come to an end. He made 62 off just 70 balls with 3 fours.

Reeve was eighth man out at 183 when Ramiz took a stunning catch running backwards and almost colliding with Ijaz. It was almost curtains for them now barring a miracle. Pringle seeing his bowling effort to go waste tried his best and added 25 runs with DeFreitas. They still needed 43 runs in the last 3 overs when Imran decided to bowl himself. Salim Malik who was having a woeful world Cup inflicted a brilliant run out from the deep to send DeFreitas to the pavilion and bring a broad grin on Imran’s face. They needed 28 from the last over which was beyond the reach of the last pair. Caught Ramiz bowled Imran was being written in the score book when Bill Lawry shouted, “Pakistan has won the World Cup’.

Imran raised both his hands above his head in jubilation while his players either thanked Almighty by offering ‘sajda’ or embraced one another. It was a beautiful sight when Imran and Javed hugged each other and the team gathered for a victory lap. Wasim took 3 for 49 and was declared the Man of the Match for his all-round brilliance. Mushtaq too took 3 crucial wickets. Imran dedicated this win to the team spirit and his cancer hospital named after his late mother.

The World Cup theme song, ‘gotta see who rule the world’ had mesmerized the cricket lovers inflicted with world cup fever. In the end the world saw Imran khan proudly holding the World cup aloft. It was the time when Pakistan ruled the world. The prince charming of cricket, the charismatic Pathan, Imran Khan was gracing the field of cricket for the last time. What a fitting and pompous occasion it was for him to bid adieu with his head high and the dream fulfilled.