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Journalism of Courage
MELBOURNE, FEBRUARY 2: Pakistan won the toss but lost a wonderful opportunity to take a lead in the best of three finals series. On a good pitch that dusted a little in the evening and on a hot afternoon, Pakistan could have posted a target that would have been difficult for Australia, if Glenn McGrath hadn’t cracked open the batting order like an expert safe breaker.
While McGrath had demolished the top, the Pakistan lower half failed to put away the loose deliveries Australia bowled. Many times, the loose ball was thumped straight at a fielder and this led to frustration and the demise of Azhar Mahmood and Abdur Razzaq, both of whom holed out playing flamboyant shots.
Pakistan were correct to have an aggressive batting plan but some of the execution left a bit to be desired and their inability to cajole a big score out of the top order has corrupted the theory. Following on from the World Cup final, Pakistan batting collapses in finals against Australia are approaching endemic proportions.
ShoaibAkhtar charged in and bowled his most lethal spell of the summer. He caused Adam Gilchrist to mis-hit a hook shot and then trapped Mark Waugh in front. At the other end, Wasim Akram also bowled with some fire but as has happened all season, without luck. Ricky Ponting was the main beneficiary playing in his 100th International, he survived the initial onslaught by managing to put away a few loose deliveries and attacking at every opportunity.
There was a time when Ponting had a reputation for being a player who struggled against good spinners but all that changed in Sri Lanka. He hasn’t forgotten the lessons learned. After making fifty, he was out to Shahid Afridi but not before he had frustrated off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq’s efforts to get the vital breakthrough.
His departure was the signal for Michael Bevan to increase the tempo. The difference between the batting sides was Australia’s ability to hit the ball into gaps, much more often than Pakistan.
With the game well and truly won, Steve Waughrefused to contemplate a hurried finish. He put on a relentless exhibition of grinding an opponent into the turf and it now remains to be seen if, having missed a great opportunity, Pakistan have the mental toughness to bounce back and square the series. To do so, the top order has to find a way to unsettle McGrath’s immaculate bowling and the man who has to accept that responsibility is Saeed Anwar. If he doesn’t fire and Inzamam-ul-Haq keeps getting his legs in the way of straight deliveries, then the only fireworks at the end of the second game will be the muffled sound of damp squibs.
Scoreboard
Pakistan: Saeed Anwar c Warne b Brett Lee 7, Shahid Afridi c Gilchrist b McGrath 0, Ijaz Ahmed c Warne b McGrath 0, Inzamam-ul-Haq lbw McGrath 0, Yousuf Youhana lbw Shane Lee 14, Abdur Razzaq c Steve Waugh b Bret Lee 24, Azhar Mahmood c Steve Waugh b Bevan 16, Moin Khan c Martyn b Warne 47, Wasim Akram b Symonds 15, Saqlain Mushtaq b Brett Lee 16, Shoaib Akhtar not out 3; Extras: (lb 2, nb 1, w9) 12.
Total: (in 47.2 overs) 154.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-4, 3-4, 4-12, 5-28, 6-59, 7-78, 8-108, 9-147.
Bowling: McGrath 9-1-17-3, Brett Lee 8.2-2-18-3, Warne 10-2-33-1, Shane Lee 10-1-37-1, Symonds 7-1-24-1, Bevan 2-0-16-1, Mark Waugh 1-0-7-0.
Australia: Adam Gilchrist c Mahmood b Akhtar 9, Mark Waugh lbw Akhtar 10, Ricy Ponting c Razzaq b Afridi 50, Michael Bevan c Razzaq b Saqlain 54, Steve Waugh not out 19, Damien Martyn not out 4; Extras (lb 4, nb 5) 9
Total (for 4 wickets, 42.4 overs) 155.
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-27, 3-104, 4-147.
Bowling: Akram 6-0-26-0, Akhtar 7-1-26-2, Razzaq 3.5-0-19-0, Mahmood 7-1-22-0, Ijaz 0.5-0-2-0, Saqlain 10-0-27-1, Afridi 8-0-29-1
