I was lucky enough to watch almost the entire match between Pakistan and West Indies yesterday. I watched about 35 overs in Pakistan innings, after which i no longer could stay awake. This world cup is going to be really tough to watch here in India, since the matches get over by around 4 in the morning.
One thing was quite clear from the match, if Pakistan maintain this momentum, they stand no chance of reaching the semi finals of this World Cup. They didn't have discipline in any of the departments, be it batting or bowling or fielding. At the same time, I believe we shouldn't take away the credit from Windies who played with the spirit to win the fight.
The start to Windies innings would have been worse hadn't Younis khan latched onto a easy chance at slip from Sarwan, after the Gayle had fallen the previous delivery. Chanderpaul, who didn't get his timing right, was caught unaware by a ball which jumped a bit. Sarwan, after the initial scare, settled well into his groove and reached the fence 9 times, all in nice fashion.
Think in this world cup, we will see many persons getting a great start but failing to convert them into big scores, unless otherwise they don't get flashy. The reason is when you have played some good shots you become confident and start playing aggressively, which should not be done in this sluggish pitches. You need to wait for the odd ball which comes occasionally because the ball after pitching stays for almost a second, hence you might not get your timing right on all occasions if you go for the big ones. Sarwan did this exactly, trying to drive a pitched up on and giving an easy catch, which Younis caught this time.
Samuels who was getting the feel of the pitch earlier on, dazzled with the introduction of Kaneria, hitting him effortlessly for a six over long on. Samuels and Lara not only steadied the ship, but also increased the run rate which was moaning at just above 3 to a healthy 4. When it seemed that both of them will see the team to a score of around 240, Lara departed getting an inside edge of a sweep off Kaneria, which Kamran Akmal manged to latch on. Kamran Akmal didn't have a great day behind the stumps, he needs to improve a lot or else it doesn't augur well for Pakistan. Samuels departed soon trying to step up the run rate. I think, Samuels have to show more maturity, because hadn't Dwayne Smith played a flashy innings at the end, Windies would not have reached this respectable total.
Slow ball is an one which must be used to confuse the batsmen with the change of pace, what amused me was the way Rana Naved Ul Hasan bowled slower one after slower one for all the six deliveries in the 48th over. The last ball of the over was wide of the off stump, Smith had enough time to whack it over deep mid wicket for a six, so slow was the ball.
Once Windies posted 241, i had a gut feeling that Windies would win and they did.
Pakistan got off out to bad start after Imran Nazir got out a set piece on the third ball of the innings. Powell seemed to bowl the first two balls deliberately short and wide. The second ball was chipped to third man for a six by Nazir. Buoyed by the six, Nazir went after the next ball which was pitched up, inviting him to drive, giving a regulation catch to Ramdin. It just showed that West Indies had done some good home work.
Windies would have had some plan for Younis Khan also, but Younis never waited for them to deploy it as he tried to pull a short ball which was pitched well outside the off stump. The result, another catch to Ramdin. Hafeez showed some promises but he also got out to a bad shot, trying to go across the top of Powell. That shot made me realize why this guy is having an average just below 18.
Three down for 39, Pakistan were in trouble. I thought with pitch playing slow, Lara would bring in Gayle to bowl some off cutters, instead he trusted his medium pacers and they reposed his confidence by bowling a very tight line which sent the required run rate and the pressure soaring in the Pakistan camp. We all know that Inzy is a very poor runner, hence Lara had mid on and mid off inside the circle saving the ones. With the pitch not favoring stroke play, Inzy and Yousuf found it hard to keep the scoreboard ticking. When Yousuf got out trying to step up the run rate, the match was almost over. The asking rate was well over six, i was also sleepy and hence went to sleep.
Anybody who would have watched the match would have known that, this world cup is going to be misery for Pakistan. I think from here on, Pakistan can drop Kaneria and bring in Azar Mahmood into the eleven. He can field well, bat well and also bowl. Malik and Hafeez can take care of the spin department.
Overall Verdict :
Windies : Played well with the fighting spirit, need to show more maturity in batting
Pakistan : Only a miracle will take them to semi finals (Forget that Afridi will be coming during Super - 8).
One thing was quite clear from the match, if Pakistan maintain this momentum, they stand no chance of reaching the semi finals of this World Cup. They didn't have discipline in any of the departments, be it batting or bowling or fielding. At the same time, I believe we shouldn't take away the credit from Windies who played with the spirit to win the fight.
The start to Windies innings would have been worse hadn't Younis khan latched onto a easy chance at slip from Sarwan, after the Gayle had fallen the previous delivery. Chanderpaul, who didn't get his timing right, was caught unaware by a ball which jumped a bit. Sarwan, after the initial scare, settled well into his groove and reached the fence 9 times, all in nice fashion.
Think in this world cup, we will see many persons getting a great start but failing to convert them into big scores, unless otherwise they don't get flashy. The reason is when you have played some good shots you become confident and start playing aggressively, which should not be done in this sluggish pitches. You need to wait for the odd ball which comes occasionally because the ball after pitching stays for almost a second, hence you might not get your timing right on all occasions if you go for the big ones. Sarwan did this exactly, trying to drive a pitched up on and giving an easy catch, which Younis caught this time.
Samuels who was getting the feel of the pitch earlier on, dazzled with the introduction of Kaneria, hitting him effortlessly for a six over long on. Samuels and Lara not only steadied the ship, but also increased the run rate which was moaning at just above 3 to a healthy 4. When it seemed that both of them will see the team to a score of around 240, Lara departed getting an inside edge of a sweep off Kaneria, which Kamran Akmal manged to latch on. Kamran Akmal didn't have a great day behind the stumps, he needs to improve a lot or else it doesn't augur well for Pakistan. Samuels departed soon trying to step up the run rate. I think, Samuels have to show more maturity, because hadn't Dwayne Smith played a flashy innings at the end, Windies would not have reached this respectable total.
Slow ball is an one which must be used to confuse the batsmen with the change of pace, what amused me was the way Rana Naved Ul Hasan bowled slower one after slower one for all the six deliveries in the 48th over. The last ball of the over was wide of the off stump, Smith had enough time to whack it over deep mid wicket for a six, so slow was the ball.
Once Windies posted 241, i had a gut feeling that Windies would win and they did.
Pakistan got off out to bad start after Imran Nazir got out a set piece on the third ball of the innings. Powell seemed to bowl the first two balls deliberately short and wide. The second ball was chipped to third man for a six by Nazir. Buoyed by the six, Nazir went after the next ball which was pitched up, inviting him to drive, giving a regulation catch to Ramdin. It just showed that West Indies had done some good home work.
Windies would have had some plan for Younis Khan also, but Younis never waited for them to deploy it as he tried to pull a short ball which was pitched well outside the off stump. The result, another catch to Ramdin. Hafeez showed some promises but he also got out to a bad shot, trying to go across the top of Powell. That shot made me realize why this guy is having an average just below 18.
Three down for 39, Pakistan were in trouble. I thought with pitch playing slow, Lara would bring in Gayle to bowl some off cutters, instead he trusted his medium pacers and they reposed his confidence by bowling a very tight line which sent the required run rate and the pressure soaring in the Pakistan camp. We all know that Inzy is a very poor runner, hence Lara had mid on and mid off inside the circle saving the ones. With the pitch not favoring stroke play, Inzy and Yousuf found it hard to keep the scoreboard ticking. When Yousuf got out trying to step up the run rate, the match was almost over. The asking rate was well over six, i was also sleepy and hence went to sleep.
Anybody who would have watched the match would have known that, this world cup is going to be misery for Pakistan. I think from here on, Pakistan can drop Kaneria and bring in Azar Mahmood into the eleven. He can field well, bat well and also bowl. Malik and Hafeez can take care of the spin department.
Overall Verdict :
Windies : Played well with the fighting spirit, need to show more maturity in batting
Pakistan : Only a miracle will take them to semi finals (Forget that Afridi will be coming during Super - 8).
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