A view from the Gully (25 May 1999)

25 May 1999

A view from the Gully

Tawfiq Aziz Khan

Alfred Hitchcock would have been pleased with the screenplay.

The setting was ideal for a contest between two titans of modern-day cricket but a contest as fierce, a finish so dramatic and proceedings so full of suspense were not originally on the menu. Despite the unpredictable nature of one-day cricket Sunday's match between Australia and Pakistan at Headingley was the best so far in this World Cup.

The Headingley wicket is generally credited with bounce and is deemed to be ideal for pace bowlers, specially when it is cloudy. Leeds-Headingley is not the original headquarters of Yorkshire cricket in the north of England. According to Wisden its first centre was at Bramall Lane, Sheffield from 1863 until 1888 when a group of wealthy developers who were also sportsmen joined together to buy a plot of land in the north-west of Leeds. Cricket and rugby football have been played at Headingley since 1890 when the first important match here was staged between the North and the touring Australians. Headingley staged its first Test match against Australia in 1899, exactly a hundred years ago. Yorkshire County Cricket Club is extremely conservative.

Lord Hawke first broke the unwritten law of 'no outsiders.' "In 1880's when I became captain of Yorkshire they were a fine lot," Hawke once said, "There were ten drunks and a chapel person - and he wasn't ordained!" (I hope Boycott does not mind).

Now back to the game. Steve Waugh's decision to send the opponents in was normal because he had the strength in his batting, reinforced by Damien Martin and Paul Reiffel, to chase a moderate score and at the rate the Pakistani's lost their first three wickets the job appeared easy. But one can hardly think that one had seen all in cricket. Razzaq and Inzamam, out of nick so far, kept the Aussie bowling at bay.

In the process they slowly stabilised the innings but not before Inzamam, not the best of runner in the world, gave creeps to the Pakistani supporters. Youhana,, who was going great guns fell short of the crease and Inzamam finally ran the 20-yard in shortest possible time in vain. The last ten overs were extremely fruitful for Pakistan as they raced to 275 for 8 from 167 for 4 an addition of solid 108 runs that made all the difference at end of the day. Barring Fleming all others came for a bit of slick from the desperate Pakistanis.

Australians were determined to make it a match having lost the previous one to New Zealand. An early wicket was no hindrance, as Mark and Pointing made their intentions clear. But three quick wickets by Razzaq and Saqlain slowed down the Aussie chariot. Steve and Bevan started consolidating their position and the drama between Steve Waugh and Shoaib Akhtar began. Umpire Rudy Koertzen of South Africa pointed fingers at Shoaib and Akram hastened to cool down the speed merchant. The contest that ensued between Shoaib and Steve Waugh could be the plot for a real thriller. The net result was that Shoaib was deprived by Koertzen of a plumb Lbw decision against Steve and Azhar suffered at the hands of the other Umpire from England Peter Willey, as Bevan gave an inside edge to Moin that was turned down. Both these decisions were clear indications of the Umpires'' annoyance with the bowlers which is highly regrettable. Even the partisan Australian commentators disagreed with the Umpires' decisions.

Inspite of such provocations the Pakistani's got the right breakthrough at the right time and secured their position in the 'Super Six'

It was only fair that Sachin Tendulkar should return with a bang. Whatever may be the opposition it is always difficult to hammer out a century, particularly in a limited overs match. Tendulkar did that in great style and force and in the process kept India's hopes for a 'Super Six' berth alive. He dedicated his first ever World Cup ton to his late father Ramesh Tendulkar - an able son indeed. Rahul Dravid also scored a century, his first in World Cup also and India had a facile win but not before the Kenyans crossed the 200 mark for the third time in the tournament. Why Asif Karim invited such a strong opposition to bat will remain a mistry.

Source :: The Daily Star