Australia beat Pakistan in Nail Biter

Inzi
By Amjid Javed
September 5 2004

Pakistan could not end the Lords jinx against Australia, as they lost by 10 runs in a pulsating encounter. Despite a huge 5th wicket partnership from Youhana and Inzi, late wickets proved crucial as the Aussies held their nerve.

Australia made it a hat trick off wins over Pakistan at lords with a thrilling victory. For the second time in a week Australia held there nerve and showed why they are best side in the world.
Pakistan’s last two appearances at the home off cricket were tame surrenders, but this time Pakistan went down fighting bravely.
The day started off with Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, winning the toss and asking Australia to bat. The wicket looked a good one to bat on but there was early seam and swing movement for Pakistans opening bowlers Muhammad Sami and Rana Naveed. Both players regularly beat the bat early on and Rana was unlucky not to have Matt Hayden lbw. Muhammad Sami who bowled with good line and length was rewarded early on with two wickets. 1st he had Brad Haddin caught in the covers and then took the huge wicket of Ricky Pointing lbw to leave Australia on 30/2. As wickets tumbled at one end Matt Hayden slowly built momentum at the other. Early on he looked shaky against the ball coming back into him, but when ever a loose delivery was bowled Hayden was there to put the ball away.
After two early blows Australia consolidated excellently, Damien Martyn came out and joined Matt Hayden and the pair put on 69 runs before, Mr golden arm Shahid Afridi dismissed Matt Hayden for a well made 52. Australia at that point had reached 99/3 in the middle of the 20th over. The introduction off spin from both ends through Shoaib Malik (1/34 off 10overs) and Shahid Afridi (1/40 off 9 overs) stifled the Australians, runs dried up and Damien Martyn through a rash shot and Darren Lehmann through a great piece off brilliance by Shoaib Malik was run out. This left Australia in big trouble on 150/5 in the 35th over. But such is the quality in the Australian side, both Andy Symonds and Michael Clarke stepped up to the plate and delivered for Australia. In the 2003 world cup clash Andy Symonds smashed a brilliant 143 not out, which most people consider the turning point in his career. Once again Symonds took a liking to the Pakistan attack. He was severely harsh on Shoaib Akthar who he hammered boundary after boundary off. But Symonds was aided by sloppy fielding he was given two chances one on 24 when he was dropped by Rana Naveed and later in the 80s he was dropped by Yousaf Youhana. Both proved costly. Clarke at the other end made a well complied 31 and Symonds finished on 104 not out as Australia compiled a very daunting 269/6 in their allotted 50 overs.
Pakistan in order to chase down such a total had to bat solidly. Openers Imran Farhat and Yasir Hameed looked good early on. A lot of question marks had been put against the name of Yasir Hameed, but the young man batted superbly well. Pakistan raced away to 30/0 until a wild slash by Farhat off Brett Lee end the young left handers brief dashing innings. Pakistan then decided to promote Shahid Afridi to number 3 to continue the momentum Pakistan had begun with, but Afridi looked all at sea and was soon back in the hutch, gone lbw to Jason Gillespie for a duck. In strode Shoaib Malik who had been Pakistans best batsmen in the last two tournaments played, but like Afridi he didn’t last long. A poor pull come slog straight to mid wicket meant Malik was on his way for 2. Pakistan were on the rack on 62/3. But the majestic Yasir Hameed continued to play some delightful shots including a rocket off a pull shot off Brett lee. Hameed though was to get out soon after brilliantly caught in a floating slip position by Matt Hayden off the bowling off Michael Kasprowicz.
Pakistan where now 66/4 in the 17th over with both there best players Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousaf Youhana in the middle. The experienced pair then dug in using all there knowhow, a mixture of controlled aggression the pair put on 162 for the 5th wicket to take Pakistan to 228, Inzamam ul Haq was then dismissed for 72, when he hammered a ball straight to a cover fielder. It was a huge blow as Pakistan made a reach for the finish line. The dismissal meant that Pakistan were left chasing 42 runs off 31 balls and with wickets in hand Pakistan would have fancied themselves to win.
But like in Amsterdam a week ago, a mixture of superb Australia ground fielding and catching and poor shot selection from the Pakistani batsmen, Australia slowly tightened the screw. 1st Yousaf Youhana skied a catch straight down the ground off the bowling off Michael Kasprowicz, which brought an end to his superb knock off 88. Big hitting Razzaq then was brilliantly caught and bowled by Michael Kasprowicz, after previously striking the same bowler into the stands the ball before for a huge six. The pressure mounted, Rana Naveed was run out and Moin Khan was brilliantly caught on the boundary as Pakistan batsmen panicked and pressed the lack of self control button. The equation got down to 17 runs off 12 balls with 1 wicket in hand. Muhammad Sami then hammered a huge six off Michael Kasprowicz to get the equation down to 11 runs off 11 balls, but then lost his head, his middle stump and the match. Kasprowicz, in for the rested Glen McGrath, had 5 wickets and showed the bench strength the world champions have.
Pakistan got so close yet so far. In the end Australias extra knowhow of winning in tight situations got them home. Pakistan though should take some heart from another see-saw battle with Australia and take a lot of confidence going into the ICC trophy.