Cricket Feature: The greatest left arm fast bowler (part 2)
Some would say that he was an all-rounder, and some will deny his all-rounder status. A bowler who can bat well or an underrated all-rounder; these are just some of the debates that surround Wasim Akram.
Wasim Akram has played many handy innings in both test and ODI cricket. His first test century came in
Australia at the Adelaide Oval in 1990 under dire circumstances.
Pakistan was trailing by 84 runs in the match and had started their innings in a circumspect manner. It was 90/5 when Wasim joined his mentor Imran Khan out on the pitch. Playing under pressure in tough conditions and situations brought
the best out of Wasim Akram, and he formed a match saving partnership with Imran Khan of 191 runs. A test score of 123 against
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 was evident that he could bat; and bat well.
In the 1992 World Cup final, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Inzamam-ul-Haq-c64383 and Wasim Akram helped
Pakistan make it to 250. Wasim, with his brutal hitting, scored a match winning innings of 33 from 18 balls. At the end of the match,
Pakistan won by 22 runs. Wasim’s inning was a defining moment in the match.
Pakistan, after their successful World Cup campaign, toured
England as the hosts were pining for revenge. The first test was at the Lord’s.
Pakistan, chasing a modest total of 138, crumbled. At 95/8, Wasim Akram along with Waqar Younis saved the day for
Pakistan. The pair added 46 runs for the ninth wicket. Waqar added an unbeaten 20, while Wasim played a sparkling, unbeaten, 45. The innings was not a subdued one; it was played with attacking intent as every shot looked like going
for a boundary. Wasim had no fear that day. It was just an innings of 45, but proved to a better one than a double hundred in a losing cause.
In 1986, Wasim Akram played his first match against the
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760. Pakistan was trailing by 89 runs. Wasim, in the 2nd innings, scored a gritty 66 runs to give
Pakistan a chance against the mighty West Indies. A target of 240 still looked as if it wasn’t good enough, until Abdul Qadir weaved some magic with the ball to take amazing figures of 6/16. The
West Indies were bowled out for 54.
A monumental 257 not out against Zimbabwe, in 1996, proved to be one of the hallmarks of his career.
Zimbabwe, in the first innings of the first test at Sheikhupura, piled on a hefty total.
Pakistan, chasing down a total of 375 runs slumped to 237/7. A lead for
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saqlain-Mushtaq-c88743 of 313 runs for the 8th wicket, which has now been surpassed by Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad.
Wasim though still holds the record for the highest individual test score by a number 8 batsman.
A 78 off 204 balls against Sri Lanka at
Colombo in 2000 was another fighting innings. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 made 273 in the first innings and
Pakistan’s pursuit fell short by just 7 runs. It could have been worse for
Pakistan. They were 176/9 till Wasim came along. With the support of Arshad Khan, the two rescued the innings courtesy of a match winning partnership of 90 runs. This innings showed that Akram can bat with great composure and technique.
His 78 in the first innings was followed up by unbeaten 20, while chasing a modest total of 131 runs.
Pakistan had again crumbled in the 2nd innings. It was 89/5 when Wasim came to the crease. Along with Younis Khan he rescued the ship and sailed
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 towards victory with a 44 run partnership. He carried his form into the 2nd test and scored an 89 ball century that included 6 sixes.
A modest average of 22 with the bat shows that he fulfilled his duties as an all-rounder with the bat often enough.
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