Winning the first game was important for Pakistan. The team has the knack of starting slow and stuttering to make things difficult for themselves later on in important competitions. There was a hint of waywardness and unpredictability when the upper order batsmen looked out of sorts and as rusty as old iron.The West Indians, on the other hand, looked very tidy and even threatening in the early part of the game. However, the initiative was taken away from them when Brian Lara had to introduce makeshift bowlers who failed to supplement the quality of Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Mervin Dillon.To make matters worse, 38 extras were given away and that, in a close tie, eventually made losers out of winners. A few injudicious shots were played by the West Indian batsmen, making things that much easier for Pakistan. Lara played an atrocious shot that could only be bracketed alongside the one played by Inzamam-ul-Haq.Thankfully for Pakistan, the slumber in the top order was disturbed by the young gunsof the team, who fashioned the eventual win quite professionally. It was heartening to see Yousuf Youhana, who has not had a very successful time in India and Sharjah, come good in the middle order and steady the innings. Later, Azhar Mahmood joined captain Wasim Akram to play a sensible and potentially match-winning innings to take the game away from the Windies. The captain used his experience of English conditions to provide the impetus and his team's resurgence was based on his blistering knock of 42, coming off just 28 deliveries.The day did not end without some niggling doubts about the Pakistani top order. Their lazy approach, it seemed, was complementary to the ambience of a leisurely English Sunday afternoon. They were at sea against the moving ball and no real effort was made to scramble singles when shot-making appeared difficult. They looked like they were operating in a trance.The gauntlet was thrown once again to the bowlers to defend a fighting total of 229. The runs seemed to be justenough to tease the West Indian batting, which is wobbly despite Lara's presence in the ranks. The bowling honours, like the batting, went to the youngsters. Abdul Razzaq and Azhar in particular tightened the noose around the West Indian batsmen.Saqlain Mushtaq bowled accurately and Shoaib Akhtar thrilled the crowd with his express first spell. The team showed its depth and versatility, and even though things went out of hand at times, especially while batting, the unit did not panic. It was once again sheer talent and instinctive cricket, rather than a disciplined approach, which won the day for Pakistan. Gameplan Syndication
