Pakistan survive http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Canada-c748 scare, Shahid Afridi takes five wickets
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 was pushed to the limit by the un-fancied Canadian team, but in the end the lack of experience and pressure of playing against a world class side took its toll on Canada.
Pakistan was saved once again by the talismanic captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 who got 5 wickets in the match; this makes him the leading wicket taker in the tournament so far, with 14 wickets in just 3 games.
Pakistan batting let them down once again as they struggled to score against a mediocre Canadian bowling line-up. A total of 184 runs was always going to be a tough target to defend, but Pakistan managed to save themselves from a historic defeat.
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and without any hesitation decided to bat first. The pitch was expected to be a placid track, but Canadian bowlers managed to extract plenty of seam and swing. Overcast conditions also helped the North Americans
a great deal.
Pakistan’s opening duo of Muhammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad looked totally at sea against the new ball. Hafeez was the first to go, out LBW for just 11 runs. Ahmed Shehzad did not last long either and was caught after scoring 12 runs from 23 balls.
Younis Khan was sent back for just 6 runs. Kamran Akmal walked in at number three and did not do any better than the openers and fell after adding just 16 runs on the board in the 15th over.
Pakistan were looking in trouble at 67 for 4; the only substantial partnership of the innings between Misbah ul Haq and Umar Akmal lasted for 73 runs. It was 140 for 5 when Umar Akmal fell for 48 runs. Misbah followed soon after for 37. The big hitting all
rounders Shahid Afridi and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Razzaq-c84421 failed to make an impression and fell for 20 and 8 runs respectively. The entire Pakistani team was back in pavillion for a total of 184 runs after just 43 overs.
Canada were off to a shaky start losing two quick wickets: the openers looked nervous and Umar Gul made the first breakthrough when he dismissed Ruvindu Gunasekara for 8. From the other end Abdur Razzaq clean bowled http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nitish-Kumar-c79751 for 2.
Zubin Surkari and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashish-Bagai-c46284 steadied things to some degree. The next wicket came at the total of 44 in the 17th over, Captain Bagai was out LBW off Shahid Afridi.
Surkari and Jimmy Hansra then decided to dig in deep and frustrated the Pakistan attack. The partnership looked to be taking the match away from Pakistan. Men in green threw everything at the two, but they looked determined to see it home.
Pakistan finally got a breakthrough in the 33rd over: Saeed Ajmal broke the partnership and dismissed Surkari for 27. That was the cue for Afridi, and the leg spinner created havoc in the Canadian ranks. Afridi went on a rampage and dismissed
3 in quick succession, two of which were bowled in consecutive deliveries. Canada slumped form 104 for 3 to 130 for 8. Balaji Rao was run out in the 41st over and Wahab Riaz completed the win by getting the last wicket.
Canada were all out for 138 and handed Pakistan a win by 46 runs; Shahid Afridi was given the Man of the Match award. With their third win, Pakistan is sitting on the top position in Group A with six points.
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