Afridi shines as Pakistan consume stubborn Canada

World Cup 2011 – Match Report: Pakistan v Canada, Group A, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, 3 March 2011


A day after Ireland shocked England by chasing down record World Cup total courtesy of Kevin O’Brien’s stunning 50-ball hundred, Canada too came close to depose Pakistan. After dismissing Pakistan for a below-par 184, Canada were on course at one stage but Afridi blew them away with a magnificent spell of bowling.

Pakistan opted to bat first after winning the toss. Shoaib Akhtar and Abdur Rehman were rested and their places were taken by Wahab Riaz and Saeed Ajmal. When Pakistan openers strolled out to bat, they had overcast conditions but a dry pitch to bat. The Canadian seam bowlers Khurram Chohan and Henry Osinde got some help from the wicket and atmosphere and that was enough to disturb the Pakistan openers.

Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad started extra-cautiously which brought their downfall as Hafeez was caught in front by Osinde while Shehzad gifted his wicket softly by scooping a catch to mid-on off the medium pace bowling of Harvir Baidwan. Younis and Kamran Akmal also went cheaply and suddenly the cat was among the pigeons. Younis desperately went for a review as he was rapped on the pads by Baidwan but to no avail as he was plumb. Kamran played a rash shot and 16 years old Nitish Kumar (tournament’s youngest player) took it safely at backward point.

At 76 for 4 in the 16th over, Pakistan was looking embarrassingly shaken and needed a solid partnership at earnest. This was provided by Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal who dug deep into the crease and slowly dragged Pakistan out of the hole. They associated patiently for 73 runs in just under 20 overs. Misbah was holding one end up while Umar was playing an occasional shot here and there. The medium pacers were not threatening but proved difficult to get away as the pitch was slow and offering some help. The ball spun too and that helped Balaji Rao to make use of his leg spinners effectively.

Just when Pakistan looked to step up the gas, they lost both of their set batsmen. First Umar Akmal went after being trapped LBW by Rao followed by Misbah who was caught down the leg side off the same bowler. Umar was the top scorer with 48 from 64 balls with 4 fours and a six. After an unfinished venture, Misbah departed just when he was to change gears. He made laborious 37 off 68 balls.

Afridi who had hit two good fours in one over of Baidwan, slashed at a wide one from Rizwan Cheema straight to backward point. He was looking good for his 20 but with his departure Pakistan lost remaining four wickets for just 3 runs. This late capitulation was so dramatic that Pakistan could not make use of the batting powerplay (BPP). They were all out in 43 overs for just 184 runs, after consuming only one over of the BPP. Baidwan was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 35 while Cheema, Rao and Hansra all took 2 wickets each.

It was a disgraceful batting performance by a team full of in-form batsmen against an ordinary bowling line-up. They should have reassessed the total midway through their innings after seeing the pitch and losing early wickets. With the renewed approach they could have managed a score of 230. On the other hand, Canadians went off the field with a sense of disbelief and a hope for an upset.

Pakistan needed not only early wickets but consistent breakthroughs. Abdul Razzaq and Umar Gul started well as both got some movement in the air and off the wicket. Umar got the first breakthrough when he trapped Gunasekera low and in front of the middle stump only to see umpire Daryl Harper shaking his head in negative. Third umpire, though, upheld the review.

Nigel Llong then gave Nitish Kumar out LBW which was turned down by the 3rd umpire on review. Kumar, however, was cleaned up later in the same over by Abdul Razzaq with a beautiful in-dipper. UDRS was again in play as Harper woefully misjudged another one and his LBW decision against Canadian captain Ashish Bagai was overturned.

Bagai and Zubin Surkari negotiated the storm patiently and took the score to 44 when Afridi, the leading wicket-taker of the tournament so far, came to bowl and struck in his 4th over getting Bagai LBW for 16. This decision too had to be reviewed continuing the trend in this match.

Surkari along with Jimmy Hansra tested Pakistan’s nerves by putting up a resilient batting display. They put on 60 runs for the 4th wicket and brought Canada back on top. They had few edgy moments but in between the dogged display they played some aggressive shots including a six by Hansra off Hafeez. Just when they looked like getting too close to comfort for Pakistan, Surkari (27 off 62 balls) was nipped out by Ajmal through a quicker one. Another Harper decision was reversed and Pakistan was back on track barring a late onslaught by the dasher, Rizwan Cheema, who strolled out to bat at number 6.

Then it was time for the Boom Boom show. First he clean-bowled the danger-man Cheema with a slow googly then in his next over removed Hansra and Baidwan on consecutive deliveries. Hansra played well for his 43 runs (75 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) but he needed to do a ‘Kevin O’Brien’ for his team which he failed to do. Afridi could not claim hat-trick but soon removed Tyson Gordon through a diving catch by Riaz. Afridi had claimed 5 wickets again and it was the first time any Pakistani bowler had taken 5 wickets on two occasions in a single WC. He also became the first man to get 4 wickets or more on 3 consecutive matches in a WC.

As if the 5-fer was not enough, Afridi struck another stunning blow when he ran out Balaji through a direct hit from mid-on. The celebration this time was typical but more relaxed. Wahab came back to bowl Osinde to bring the team into a huddle which dissolved after the customary morale-boosting slogans.

Pakistan won the match by 46 runs, a big margin in the end. Canada were all out for 138 in 42.5 overs. Shahid Afridi was again the chief destroyer with 5 for 23, while Gul, Abdul, Ajmal and Riaz took 1 wicket each. Although Canada gave Pakistan a scare but they lacked quality and discipline to be able to topple Pakistan who again showed their bowling strength. Bowling has saved Pakistan from ignominy on this occasion but they have to lift their batting mind-set if they want to go far into the tournament.

Match Result: Pakistan 184/43 overs (Umar Akmal 48, Misbah 37; Baidwan 3/35, Hansra 2/23) beat Canada 138/42.5 overs (Hansra 43, Surkari 27; Afridi 5/23, Abdul Razzaq 1/16) by 46 runs

Man of the match: Shahid Afridi