The spin trap worked for Pakistan
on April 22nd, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Intikhab Alam talked about a spin trap for the Australians before the series, I was skeptical about the existence of any such plan as Intikhab’s plan of a pace trap failed miserably against SriLanka, but this time my skepticism proved to be wrong.
Afridi and Ajmal bowled magnificiently, the Australians had no clue about their variations. Ajmal was literally unplayable he mixed his doosra’s and off spin intelligently, the inexperienced Australians failed miserably to read him.
Australia were 51/1 at the end of 11 overs, this is when I stepped out of the house for 30 mins, In the 12th over Afridi was being introduced into the attack, I knew he will provide Pakistan with a breakthrough but never realized that I am going to miss probably one of his best bowling performance by the time I came back Australia were 109/6, Afridi took three wickets and Ajmal took 1 the match was already wrapped up for Pakistan the rest was just a formality. The Australian wickets kept on falling like dried up leaves and Afridi finished up with his career best figures of 6/38 from 10 overs, Ajmal finished up with 2/19 from 10 overs.
Australians were thoroughly punished for their arrogance and the disrespect they showed to the Pakistan team by resting their major players. They also showed their vulnerability against quality spin bowling their Young players are too inexperienced and lack in skill.
Pakistan started their run chase over cautiously except for Afridi and Akmal nobody else tried to play any extravagant strokes, Pakistan kept on losing wickets but Australia never had any chance to win this match.
Afridi’s innings of 24 from 16 balls took the match away from Australia, Pakistan’s overall run chase was a bit nervous and less exciting as they were over cautious and in no mood of taking any undue risk.
Afridi was declared the man of the match.
Pakistan once again snatched defeat from the jaw of victory. It seems that Pakistan team knows multiple ways to lose the match, in the last match the openers were blamed, in todays match the openers gave a stand of 95 but Younis Khan and his seniors were in no mood to capitalize on the platform built by the openers the target was just over 3.5 runs an over the way the middle order collapsed was bizarre. In the next match probably the bowlers will under perform.
Younis Khan, Kamran Akmal , Misbah, Ahmed Shehzad and Afridi all got out playing stupid shots. There was no need for Misbah and Afridi to start the slog so early all they had to do was to take singles and bring the team close to the target, its not that these guys are playing cricket for the first time and they don’t know how to pace a run chase, all these players have played nonstop domestic cricket during the last few months and exactly know how to pace the innings.
Today Shoaib Malik had only one goal in mind to bat till end and make sure that the team does not win he was just blocking every ball there was no positive intent, in the end he got run out to save his skin. All these mother fuckers are corrupt and selfish they do not play for the nation but only for their own interests.
Misbah should be kicked out and Fawad Alam should play in his place. Kamran Akmal should be shown the door permanently after this series I am sick and tired of looking at his crying face after getting out cheaply.
Give Moahmmed Aamer an opportunity
!
Also get Tanvir back !
Scorpi
Pakistani batsmen are a bit rusty due to lack of international cricket played by Pakistan, they are finding it hard to pace the innings, part of the problem stems from the fact that this Australian bowling line up is new for Pakistani batsmen.
The openers should set the tempo, Akmal and Butt should open, Butt is in good form but I don’t know why he is so nervous and defensive, he needs to go out and play aggressively.
If Pakistan has to win this series their batsmen or their pace bowlers will have to step up their game.
Fantastic effort to get a 6 for. Good chance for Pakistan to nail the series. However I must say their run chase was not all that impressive… still some work needed on the batting.
Danish
It’s good to see Afridi back in form both with the bat and ball, if his form continued through out the series Pakistan will win this series, Ajmal bowled like Murlitharan may be a bit a better.
I am only concerned about the form of Pakistani pace bowlers they were unimpressive. But if the spinners kept on bowling the way they did in the last match we don’t need to worry about anything.
The Australians will work out a plan for the spinners in the next match, they will try to see them off, so it is essential that the pace department should be reinforced by replacing Shoaib Akhtar with Sohail Tanvir.
Next match won’t be a low scoring one so Pakistani batsmen should also work out a plan for the Australian bowlers, this Australian bowling line up is new for Pakistani batsmen the slow run chase in the last match gave them a valuable exposure to the Australian bowling, I am not too concerned about the Pakistani batting as most of the batsmen are in good form. Pakistan can also strengthen their team by replacing Nasir Jamshed with Fawad Alam.
Well played Pakistan !………….
Here is the fall of wickets……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZyieObTjrc
Afridi was on fire. The flight, guile, drift and variation he bowled with was exceptional as demonstrated in those bowled dismissals. Credit to Ajmal who also bowled mysteriously and economically. After all the criticisms we raised over his selection he proved to us that he is “international cricket material” and can make an impact after all.
A victory is a victory but Pakistan should learn from that late onslaught which was conceded. On another day the margin could have been the difference between a win and defeat.