Mohammad Hafeez
Pakistan put up a transcendent show in the first quarter final of this world cup to dominate the West Indies in Mirpur. West Indies were outperformed, dethroned, sealed-off, surmounted out of this world cup as they joined the league of horrendous batting collapses and their atrocious batting display in the quarters being the highlight.
West Indies strategy to bat first this time backfired almost instantly as the pace-spin duo of Umar Gul and Hafeez effectuated the early breakthrough scalping the so called “irresistible top three” of the Carribean batting lineup. Sarwan’s formidable resistance had to terminate only to commence Afridi’s four wicket haul. Afridi could not complete what would have been a “strangulating hat-trick” when he cleaned up Pollard and wicket keeper Thomas of successive deliveries. The bowling needed a balance in wickets column as Razzaq and Ajmal obliged it with due respect toppling three more tail-enders. The skipper Afridi finished off in style with the conventional leg break as Rampaul sweeped only to put 112 on the board. Pakistanis made use of the flat pitch to cruise to the winning score under 21 overs and finished with a clinical 10 wicket win to add more misery to West Indies.
They have not had a centurion so far nor a home ground match nor a bowler to match the standards of Akthar nor an exceptional fielder who can fly in air nor a team without sloppy fielding but they strive on a motivating and ambitious captain not having high hopes but is ready to fight it out and promises to deliver more than what is expected. Afridi has been the real star for them and jot it down on the cards that he will now carry the behemothic expectations and the dream for winning the world cup and such astounding bowling performances assisted by a winning opening partnership in the quarters just checks it. But still the question that will keep on bouncing in the minds of Afridi is that will he risk a world cup semi-final by giving a farewell match to one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time Shoaib Akthar.
The first quarter final denied a great cricketing match but nevertheless had some point to prove. West Indies are vulnerable now and are on the verge of losing their test status and that could not them harm them anymore. One day goes bad, and then it does not mean the end of the world and this hold true for both West Indies and cricketing fans. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for our Boxing Day match tomorrow against the Aussies.
Tags: Cricket, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Mirpur, Mohammad Hafeez, Pakistan, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, West Indies, World Cup
