WI VS PAKISTAN T20 #2 MATCH REPORT

READY, SET, GO!

Our much-anticipated series finally got properly off and running with its first fully completed match. A change in venue brought with it a marked change in weather and optimism for a result. Both camps had cause for concern, though, as they were forced into personnel changes. For WI, Simmons was unavailable after retiring hurt in game 1 and Russell was rested. Pakistan’s Azam Khan took a blow to the helmet in practice and sat out for safety precautions. Pollard called correctly at the toss and put his opponents in to bat. This would be a great chance to finally see the Pakistani batting machinery in operation. Sharjeel, Rizwan, and Babar vs Hosein and Walsh Jr? Yes, please! I could barely contain my excitement as I settled into my comfy living room couch.

PAKISTANI CLASS

Sharjeel and Rizwan began on fire. Anything remotely off target from Hosein and Holder was put away with ease. They posted 46 by the 5th over before Sharjeel was caught off Holder. Enter Babar Azam. Together with his wicketkeeper Rizwan, the Pakistani captain set about putting on a batting clinic. The pair showed their form in England was no fluke, mixing power with class at will. Nothing the WI bowlers tried worked and it took some brilliant fielding from Lewis to finally dismiss Rizwan. By then the score was 113 in the 15th over and Babar was looking to accelerate. 17 runs came off the next over and then, suddenly, the skies opened up. The rain derailed Pakistan’s momentum so badly that on resumption they lost 6 wickets for just 23 runs. A final total of 157-8 was perhaps 40 short of comfort and gave WI a fighting chance.

OLD BUT NOT COLD

Pakistan’s skipper had Afridi, Wasim Jr., and Ali, all capable of hitting 140 kmph, at his disposal. Instead, he chose Mohammad Hafeez to open the bowling. In some parts, he would have been called a madman. I prefer to call it a stroke of genius. The experienced veteran of over 100 T20 matches for his country took just 2 deliveries to send Fletcher packing. Not even the arrival of the Universe Boss to the crease could faze Hafeez. Giving life to the saying “age is just a number”, Pakistan’s senior statesman delivered 1-6 off 4 overs. Included in this spell was a maiden over to Lewis. The same Lewis who has scored 288 runs with 24 6’s in his recent 8 T20 games. Who says cricket is a young man’s game? Ponce De Leon should have searched Pakistan for that fabled fountain of youth.

LIVE – AND DIE – BY THE BIG HIT

How often will WI keep going to the proverbial well of power-hitting to bail themselves out of trouble? Language lesson (from a MATH teacher by the way): the preceding is called a Rhetorical Question. Its answer is already known before even being asked. Just like the WI cricket fan already knows before every game how their team’s innings will unfold. Thanks largely to Hafeez, Pakistan limited WI to a mere 32 runs from their powerplay overs, dismissing Gayle as well. At the halfway mark of the WI innings, the score stood at 59, with TWENTY SEVEN dot balls. In those 59 runs, 26 came from three 6’s and two 4’s. The WI batters, therefore, managed to rotate strike for just 28 out of their first 60 deliveries. They seem quite happy to keep playing with fire, however, regardless of how badly they get burnt.

POORAN’S PYROTECHNICS NOT ENOUGH

The wanton disregard for a more holistic batting approach once again put the WI in dire straits. Through overs 10 to 15, the Pakistani bowling unit surrendered ONE boundary while WI scored just 25 runs. In the process, they lost Hetmyer bowled playing an ugly swipe and Lewis retired through injury. At 84-3, needing 73 to win from 30 legal deliveries, young Pooran went ballistic. Normally the aggressor, Pollard was reduced to a subdued onlooker as his wicketkeeper tore into the Pakistani bowling. From the next 24 deliveries, Pooran smashed five 6’s and three 4’s as WI arrived at the final over. 20 needed off 6 balls. Difficult, but not impossible. Afridi’s nerves held firm under fire. He dismissed Pollard off his second ball and kept Pooran scoreless for two more. A final flurry of 10 from the last 2 deliveries still left WI agonizingly short by 7 runs.

LOOKING AHEAD

I hate to say I told you so, but here we are with Pakistan 1-0 and 2 games left. For Babar’s Subcontinental superheroes, it will be much of the same. Stick to the plan of attack when bowling and keep a balanced approach when batting. Pollard’s merry men, however, need to adjust their approach – and their attitude – if they hope to win. This is a Pakistani outfit that well and truly means business and came prepared for a fight. If the WI thought their opponents would be intimidated by their power and recent victories, they were badly mistaken. Now that they have had their noses bloodied in game 1, let’s see how they answer the bell next time.