History of the ICC Cricket World Cup: Pakistan’s performance (Part 2)
1987: The 1987 competition was held in the subcontinent and this was the first time the tournament was held outside England. Pakistan, being the co-hosts of the tournament alongside http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, had
high hopes this time around. They cruised past the group stages, winning six of the five games played, to book a place in the semi-finals for the third consecutive time.
Pakistan competed with Australia in the semi-final and the home team took the field after losing the toss. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 batted well and gave Pakistan a target of 268 to chase as David Boon top-scored with 65 runs from 91 balls. For
Pakistan, Imran Khan picked up three wickets for the cost of only 36 runs in his 10 overs.
It was predicted that, batting under home conditions, Pakistan would be able to reach the target. The chase, however, started badly and Pakistan lost three early wickets. Imran Khan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Javed-Miandad-c66580 then restored Pakistan’s innings
but after Miandad’s wicket went down, Pakistan lost its way. The whole team was bundled out for 249 runs and yet again failed to qualify for the final.
1992: Australia and New Zealand co-hosted the 1992 World Cup competition. All nine participating teams were grouped together with the top four eligible to qualify for the semi-finals. Pakistan
had a wary start to the tournament and managed to win only one of its initial five matches, but then picked up momentum and won all its remaining games in the group stages.
However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 to secure a spot in the semi-finals. In a closely contested group match between the hosts and the West Indies, the Australian team came out victorious ensuring that
Pakistan reached the semi-final.
This was Pakistan’s fourth consecutive semi-final in World Cup tournaments and in all the previous three occasions the unpredictable Pakistan side had failed to qualify for the final. This time, Pakistan came up against co-hosts
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 in the semi-finals. The Kiwis came into the semi-finals with only one defeat in their eight group stage matches; that defeat had been inflicted by the vibrant on-song Pakistan side.
New Zealand batted first in the semi-final and posted a hefty total of 262/7 in 50 overs. Captain Martin Crowe played a fluent innings of 91 runs from only 83 deliveries while Wasim Akram and Mushtaq Ahmed took two wickets each
for Pakistan. The Asian giants then had a slow start and midway through the innings it seemed that the team would not be able to catch up to the accelerating required run-rate. The young http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Inzamam-ul-Haq-c64383, however, had other plans. Inzamam scored a blistering
knock of 60 runs from only 37 balls to guide his side into its first World Cup final.
The 1992 final was played between England and Pakistan. Batting first, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 249/6 in 50 overs. The innings started slowly and at one stage Pakistan had only 70 runs in 25 overs. The partnership
between Imran Khan and Miandad then picked up pace and a late flurry from Inzamam and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292 ensured that Pakistan ended up with a respectable total.
In reply, England never looked like they were chasing the target. Their loss of early wickets ensured that the required run-rate climbed up and a superb bowling performance in the middle of the innings by Wasim Akram all but sealed
Pakistan’s triumph. Akram, eventually named Man of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/March-c74391, picked up three crucial wickets. Neil Fairbrother was the only shining star in the English batting line-up as he scored 62 runs from 70 balls.
Captain Imran Khan fittingly picked up the final English wicket to give Pakistan its first and only World Cup trophy.
End of Part 2. The article continues in Part 3.
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