ROUND 2 – FIGHT!
After a run-fest of a first match, each team opted to tinker with their bowling ammunition. For the hosts, it was a straightforward swap, replacing the expensive Hasan Ali with Mohammed Wasim jr. The WI, however, left fans bemused with their selection of Anderson Phillip over Jayden Seales. Given that his 2 games vs the Netherlands produced 2 wickets for 99 runs, it was not a confidence-inspiring choice. Pakistan won the toss and took first strike, condemning the WI bowlers to the worst of the malevolent Multan heat. The cricket-loving faithful were again out in their numbers, no doubt expecting their heroes to secure another victory. Pakistan’s openers strode to the wicket with the crowd cheering them on excitedly as umpires Raza and Yaqoob called play. Zaman came out swinging, hitting 3 boundaries by the end of the 3rd over. The WI would land the first telling blow, however, as Zaman was caught with the score on 25. Then, true to form, the customary Iman and Babar show took over.
NO BABAR CENTURY PUNCH.
The Pakistan captain was content to let his partner be the aggressor as he settled himself into building his innings. Pooran rung his bowling changes repeatedly, but he could find no way to dislodge either batter. Sadly for Iman, when your last name is Ul Haq, there is one particular dismissal that appears synonymous with your career. A horrible miscommunication with his captain led to Iman being run out for 72 after a 120 run partnership. Babar was on 50 at this point and with Rizwan for company, he looked well set for a 4th consecutive century. The Multan crowd were stunned into silence, however, when he played too early to Hosein and was dismissed for 77. WI had gotten themselves an early crack at Pakistan’s notoriously brittle middle order and they did not waste it. Led by Joseph’s excellent figures of 2-33 from his 10 overs, the Men in Maroon kept Pakistan to 275-8.
LEFTY KNOCKOUT.
The WI reply got off to a disastrous start as Hope fell to the 6th ball of the innings. This brought in Brooks to partner Mayers and the pair set about their repair job with gusto. They matched each other run for run, putting together 67 from which each contributed 33, but their luck wouldn’t last. Mayers tried to play one big shot too many across the line and lost his stumps to the recalled Wasim. Enter Mohammed Nawaz. The left-arm spinner took a beating in game 1, but like a true fighter, he got up off the canvas. With just his 4th delivery he spun a beauty past King’s defensive prod to clip the bails. From then on there was no stopping him, as he bowled his 10 overs unchanged, conceding a miserly 19 runs. Brooks, Pooran, and Powell were also his victims as the WI were bundled out for 155 in 32.2 overs.
PAKISTANI QUALITY BEATS CARIBBEAN FLAIR.
For all their suspected weaknesses, this Pakistan team is proving that class, as they say, is permanent. Whereas game 1 went down to the final over, this time victory arrived with almost 18 overs to spare. The bowling unit, thrashed for over 300 last game, responded by increasing their dot ball percentage from 46% to 65%. None were more impressive than Nawaz, who contributed 44 scoreless deliveries from his total 60. It goes without saying that their top order batters are still being relied on too much for the bulk of their runs. Fortunately for Pakistan, the WI have not been able to find a plan of attack that brings success against them. Now we move on to the final game of the series, where the home fans expect a clean sweep. On the evidence thus far, I expect to see a Jharoo (broom) making its appearance. Pakistan, Zindabad!
