Shahid Afridi saves http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 upset against Canada- ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
After a shocking and thrilling display of cricket from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751, it was expected that Canada might be able to pull-off another upset against Pakistan in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2011.
But they could not emulate Ireland’s heroics because Pakistan skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, who single-handedly blew away Canada’s chances, and the Cornered Tigers won by 46 runs.
For most of the day/night match at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, the Men in Green were struggling as Canada dominated the bowling and were steadily working the bat, but it was Afridi, who lashed back in the end to secure Pakistan’s qualification
to the quarter finals.
While Afridi’s form with the bat is becoming quite questionable, his bowling has immensely matured in the World Cup, as he is the leading wicket-taker in the ICC 2011 World Cup, with 14 wickets in three games.
In overcast conditions, the Pakistani captain won the toss but surprisingly took the decision to bat first. Afridi had misread the pitch, which seemed good for batting but due to the overcast conditions, the bowlers easily took wickets at regular intervals.
Pakistani openers, Mohammad Hafeez, and, Ahmed Shehzad, started off confidently at the beginning of the innings but started struggling against the fast bowling of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Henry-Osinde-c62693.
They struggled to middle the ball and seemed nervous at the crease. Hafeez fell to a brilliant in-swinging delivery and was forced to walk back to the pavilion after he scored 11 runs off 12 balls.
Shehzad followed suit as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tyson-Gordon-c94513 caught the ball off a Harvir Baidwan delivery to dismiss Shehzad, who scored 12 runs off 23 balls.
It was expected that wicketkeeper batsman, Kamran Akmal, and, veteran, Younis Khan, will revive the innings for Pakistan once again.
However, Younis lost his composure as the swing of Baidwan proved too much for the veteran batsman as he played a straight delivery that struck on the pads right in front of the stumps. He ended up scoring a paltry 6 runs off 13 balls.
Kamran followed soon after a cutting Rizwan Cheema’s delivery straight to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nitish-Kumar-c79751. Kamran scored 16 runs off 38 deliveries and Pakistan was reeling on 67 runs for the loss of four wickets.
But it was the partnership of Umar Akmal, and vice-captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972, that steered the team to add some considerable runs to the target. The pair rescued the team with a 73-run partnership as they seemed confident for the fifth wicket.
However, Umar narrowly missed out on a half-century as the right-handed batsman was bowled out by Balaji Rao. Umar smashed four boundaries and a six to smash 48 off 68 balls.
It was up to the vice-captain to steer the team to a competitive total but could not without the support of Umar as he was stumped by the delivery of Rao in the 38.2nd over. Misbah managed to hit 37 runs off 68 balls.
The Pakistani skipper was next up but could only smash two boundaries to score 20 runs off 17 balls as he was removed by Cheema. Hard-hitting lower-order batsman, Abdul Razzaq (8 off 8 balls) and Wahab Riaz (0 off 3 balls) were soon dismissed by Jimmy Hansra.
The last wicket of Saeed Ajmal (0 off 5 balls) was taken by Baidwan and Pakistan was restricted to 184 runs in 43 overs.
The Canadian batsmen began their chase confidently, while the lethargic Men in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Razzaq-c84421, but a stubborn partnership
between Zubin Surkari (27 off 67 balls) and captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashish-Bagai-c46284 (16 off 35 balls) frustrated the Pakistani bowlers.
Once Saeed Ajmal and Afridi broke through the partnership, a resilient innings from Hansra threatened Pakistan. But Afridi boosted his side’s chances as he bowled Hansra (43 off 75 balls) and Cheema (4 off 8 balls), as Canada were reeling on 114 for the
loss of six wickets in 36.4 overs.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AS-Hansra-c1088 was walking back to the dressing room, Afridi took Baidwan’s (0 runs off 1 ball) wicket on the next ball.
After some dot balls and singles, Afridi completed his five-wicket haul as Gordon (9 runs off 12 balls) was dismissed in the 38.4th over, while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Canada-c748 were on 130 runs for the loss of eight wickets.
A crucial run-out by the skipper then forced Balaji Rao (1 off 7 balls) to surrender to Pakistan’s fight back as Canada were sent packing home for 138 in 42.5 overs.
The man of the match was undoubtedly, Afridi for his five wickets off 23 runs but overall it was a lackluster display of batting by either side. Fortunately, Afridi rose to the occasion to prove that he is the best to lead Pakistan at the moment.
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