In an emotion-filling performance the Pakistani pack brought down West Indies in a nerve-wracking scenario at the Perth Stadium to qualify for the tri-series best of three finals against the redoubtable Australians. An impregnable Pakistani score of 307 and a determined and tight attack by mediocre bowlers, in the absence of the heavy artillery having developed defects and staying at home, proved too much for the Caribbean set who had won the earlier verdict with the help of brutal assault at Adelaiden Oval of Brain Lara, just delighting the spectators with a magical century.
Fascinating as the victory was by 30 runs over the West Indies it must have enhanced the enthusiasm and the capacity of resilience of the Pakistani band in the final confrontations against the world champions, who too were pinned down at Perth by three wickets in a thriller.
Never had the Pakistani side thought of proving superior to the Australians, the most powerful, the most destructive combination in the present day world cricket. But it was Pakistan's day; the whole team never lost its nerves, showing toughness of mind and skill. And surprisingly even the attack stuck to its task courageously and well.
The Pakistani batting had been too slow in the beginning, a deliberate austerity of method was shown which may have derailed the squad from its course and made its task of reaching the target difficult. Certainly it was not one-day mode and method and when three wickets had gone for just 49 runs the Pakistan side was in real peril. But Yousuf Youhana, a success in this tournament, wielded his willow like a rapier in what was a searching hour.
Inzamam too exhibited handsome and powerful strokes off the back foot. He put on 74 with Youhana for the fourth wicket. A doubtful leg before decision off spinner Hogg forced the captain to leave the crease for the dressing room. Two runs later Shoaib Malik was run out to put Pakistan in deep trouble and there was debate again among the fans over Pakistan reaching the target of 266 set by the Australians. Yet Razzaq played a gem of an innings of 63 not out off 61 balls to shepherd Pakistan safely to a three-wicket triumph. The bubble of Australian invincibility had been pricked; the tails of the Pakistanis had gone up.
In the second success in a row Youhana again played a stellar role with a quick-fire century. The openers had spoiled Pakistan's chances with safety-first method. Yet Youhana and Inzamam (74) flogged the Caribbean attack in a fourth wicket stand of 134. Then it was Afridi who struck hard blows on the Caribbeans with the bat cracking and flashing, the crowds making delightful cheers.
A score of over 300 was a tall one though Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul tried their level best to overtake the Pakistani score with a fourth wicket partnership of 95. Once Afridi bamboozled Sarwan with a beautiful turner and later Chanderpaul was taken in the deep by Inzamam the West Indian challenge had been snuffed.
The instructions to the bowlers from Inzamam was to follow a policy of accurate line and length. The Caribbeans could not have much accelerated the pace of their batting and they capitulated just four days after their win at Adelaide.
Perhaps their downfall in the crucial match at Perth was due to the fall of their trump card Brain Lara in the initiate stages of the tie. After has departure there was tremendous pressure on the West Indies batsmen, howsoever they tried for success.
Rana Naveedul Hasan was the main destroyer of the Caribbean batting with a haul of four for 29. He has been improving match after match in Australia. He has truly become the strike bowler for Pakistan.
After the Pakistani team's two consecutive successes it enters the final in a mood of moral ascendancy. The bowlers should stick to the age-old principle of precision of length and direction. The batsmen should make principled strokes with firm, confident drives. The Australians may yet again be pushed to the wall, brought to the knees at their own backyard.
Two victories against two strong opponents must make Pakistan go into the final in a confident frame of mind. There cannot be any forecast, for it is always a hazardous exercise, but interesting, hard duel should be expected. All members of the touring squad should contribute their mite if success, looking impossible and difficult, is to be attained.
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