Improved West Indies run out of luck to concede T20I series

By Ehsan Qureshi at National Stadium, Karachi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Unlike the first outing of the tour when they were completely outplayed by the hosts the other day at the same venue, the visiting West Indians came up with much improved performance in the second T20 International but lost the game, and with it the three-match series against Pakistan, at the National Stadium, Karachi, on December 14.

On any other day, or night, the West Indies could have emerged triumphant from the commanding situations they were during the match but they let the initiative slip at key moments to deprive themselves from a possible series leveling win. They lost by nine runs instead, while chasing a target of 173, to give Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead. 

As the visiting skipper Nicholas Pooran conceded in the presentation ceremony they made silly mistakes and he also held himself accountable for the chaos in the middle when his team was in the driving seat. 

"Tough one for us. Big improvement from yesterday. Felt like we lost here due to silly mistakes. Irresponsible from myself too. We tried our best to execute plans. It's our responsibility to carry the game. Unfortunately, we made some mistakes. It is an experience for us all, and very proud of how all these guys have performed," he remarked. 

The home captain Babar Azam didn’t look perturbed as his outfit has been fortunate enough to come out of such situations frequently since the resurgence witnessed during the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

Someone has been doing the job, no matter how challenging or precarious the circumstances had been in the UAE or then in Bangladesh where Pakistan triumphed across formats. It was the turn of Shadab Khan to come good with bat and ball to win the day for his team this time round. 

"The finish from Shadab with the bat was very good. Bowlers did well too, particularly Shaheen, and it was a team effort. The idea is to set a target and defend, and play as per the conditions and the wicket. There is grip for the spinners in the second innings, which is why we wanted to bat first,” the winning captain observed. 

"When my batting comes, it usually is in the death overs so I practice accordingly. I planned by batting as per the field. And with the ball, it wasn't gripping a lot. I had good rhythm, and I just tried to bowl in the good areas," Shadab stated after being adjudged Man of the Match for his all-round performance. 

Losing the toss, the West Indies put up a far better performance in bowling department. They had restricted Pakistan to 127 for six after 17 overs despite opener Muhammad Rizwan’s 30-ball 38 with containing a six and four boundaries. Haider Ali made steady 31 off 34 balls with four hits to the fence while Iftikhar Ahmed hoisted a couple of sixes in his 18-ball knock of 32. Asif Ali, the six-hitting wonder, failed once again. 

It was left to vice-captain Shadab to retrieve the situation. He smashed a delightful unbeaten 28 off mere a dozen deliveries studded with three towering sixes as the Pakistan batters went on rampage mustering 45 runs in last three overs to their eventual total to 172. 

Odean Smith was the most successful West Indian bowler with the figures of 2 for 24 but left-arm spinner Akeal Husein again produced a tight spell of 1-16 off four overs. 

Opener Brandon King’s explosive 43-ball 67 containing three sixes and six fours laid very strong platform for the West Indies to overhaul the home total but despite being only two wickets down at the halfway stage when they were ahead of the clock, the momentum was lost in strange circumstances and eventually they were beaten in the match they could have won leisurely.

readmore »»

Pakistan eye Scot scalp to remain unbeaten in league rounds

From Ehsan Qureshi in Sharjah 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Babar Azam’s Team Pakistan will be aiming to extend their winning streak in the league rounds of ICC T20 World Cup as they prepare to take on Scotland in Sharjah on November 7. It has been the happy hunting ground for the green shirts over the years and they appear poised to end their league campaign with another powerful victory. 

Less than a couple of weeks ago, Pakistan had outsmarted New Zealand at the Sharjah Cricket Ground with Asif Ali’s three huge sixes and Shoaib Malik's brilliance rotation of strike. 

Victories in their previous four games over the quartet of India, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Namibia, have built a big reputation for Pakistan and they are being tipped to lift the trophy. They only need to sustain the momentum in the knockout games to capture the crown which looks at a striking distance now. 

Pakistan will be returning to arena after a gap of five days with three-day rest for the game. The big question being asked was whether Pakistan will field allow a couple new players as they have already assured a place in the semifinals. 

It remains to be seen if Haider Ali, Usman Qadir or Muhammad Nawaz will be tried against Scotland or will they continue to be benched. 

Although there’s a tradition of sorts in Pakistan cricket of not altering the winning combination but trying out new boys could be helpful in testing their skills ahead of the semifinals. 

Pakistan’s coaching staff is expected to work out plan for improving performance in their six overs power play. This is one vital area which sets impetus to boost good total and the think-thank must find ways to deal with it. 

It may be recalled that Pakistan had struggled initially against Namibia scoring only 29 runs in six overs and there were as many as 14 dot balls during the first three overs. 

Batting supremo Babar and Muhammad Rizwan will continue to hold the key to provide exhilarating start when only two fielders out of circles. With Babar and Rizwan expected to extend their brilliance with the bat, Pakistan will be looking forward to Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan at their best in the upcoming crunch games. 

I feel that leg spin and googly bowler Usman Qadir could be tried out in the game against Scotland who don’t seem not very comfortable in combating such variety of bowling as was witnessed in their struggles in tackling the Indian spinners the other night in Dubai. 

Kyle Coetzer's Scotland, after offering New Zealand a tough fight, were actually blown away by India. They were bowled out by the rampaging trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Muhammad Shani and Jasprit Bumrah for only 85. The Scots, however, cannot be taken lightly as George Munsey, Richie Berrington, Michael Leask and Mathew Cross are dangerous batters.

readmore »»

Pakistan wins tension packed encounter to move closer T20 World Cup semis

By Ehsan Qureshi in Dubai 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan inched closer towards claiming spot in the semifinal rounds of ICC T20 World Cup with tension and drama packed five-wicket victory over Afghanistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 29. 

For the second match running, Asif Ali emerged as the hero when he hoisted Karim Janat for four sixes in the 19th over to seal the fate of the dramatic match in front of an enthusiastic and vociferous crowd. They shouted Pakistan Zindabad and Pakistan Aa Gaya Maidan Main as Pakistan completed their win after a few hiccups. 

The new finisher Asif smashed an unbeaten 25, under pressure, after facing just seven balls in blink of an eye. Pakistan had lost Fakhar Zaman (30), Muhammad Hafeez (10) and Shoaib Malik (19) as the asking rate kept mounting. 

The Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, played a decent knock of fifty but he could not finish the game. Having successfully reviewed leg-before decision which had gone against him, he was cleaned by the same bowler, Rashid Khan, while attempting a cross-batted swipe. 

Earlier Afghanistan staged a grand recovery, after having been reduced to 35 for four at the end of six-over power play, to post a competitive total of 147 for seven in their 20 overs. Skipper Muhammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran lifted them from a precarious 76 for six in 13th over with a fighting unbroken 71-runs stand off 43 balls. 

The Afghanistan contingent, which outnumbered Pakistanis in the stands, was silenced by brilliant performance of Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf. They removed the dangerous power hitter Hazratullah Zazai for five-ball duck and Muhammad Shahzad for only eight in first 16 balls to put them under pressure. When Rehmanullah Gulbaz and Gulbadin Naib went for ten runs apiece, the Afghanistan batting was in tatters. But experienced Nabi and Gulbadin stood firm against spin cum peace attack to keep them in the contest. 

Due to the intense rivalry between two neighboring countries, the UAE Police remained on high alert in order to avoid any untoward incident. The match was contested in a tense atmosphere as supporters of both teams expected their respective countries to run away with the game.

readmore »»