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Pakistan pound Namibians

Wednesday, February 19 2003

Pakistan kicked off their world cup campaign last week with an unconvincing performance against Australia. They were outclassed and it was obvious improvements had to be made if they were to go far in this tournament. Namibia, humiliated by the far from mighty Zimbabweans in their opening fixture would be ideal opponents then to find some form and confidence.

Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. Saeed Anwar and Saleem Elahi opened, Shahid Afridi dropped. The openers built a solid platform of 47 before Anwar was dismissed for 23 and Younis Khan helped Elahi take the score past 100. Khan went for 28 and Inzamam scratched around for a 15 ball 4, leaving Pakistan strugling somewhat at 118-3 getting on for 30 overs.

Namibia were disciplined and committed both with the ball and in the field. When Elahi fell for an anchoring 63 Pakistan looked like they would struggle to post much over 200, but the acceleration came just at the right time. Youhana scored a stylish 43, while wicketkeeper Latif (36 off 30 balls) and veteran all rounder Wasim Akram (20 off 14 balls) played some big shots to bump up the scoring rate.

Still Namibia had a chance to bowl Pakistan out inside the over allocation and earn themselves plenty of respect in the process. Two hapless run outs (Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq) saw Pakistan throw away what should have been a better position and in the final over Wasim was spilled at square leg off a fairly routine chance.

That said, 255-9 was a significant improvement for both sides. Namibia had conceded 340-2 to Zimbabwe and Pakistan were never in the hunt against the Australians.

Nobody would have placed money on Namibia to make 256 but they probably wouldn't have expected them to surrender in quite the fashion they did. Competing with Bangladesh for the prize of worst batting performance, they were destroyed by the pace and power of Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar. Walters went first, caught behind off the fourth ball of the first over. 1-1. Next fellow opener Swanepoel guided one to Inzamam off Shoaib and it was 3-2. Daniel Keulder had his stumps cleaned up second ball. 3-3.

Andries Burger played a few lusty blows before Murgatroyd was trapped in front by Wasim. Louis Burger departed in similar fashion first up and it was 17-5 after 3 overs. Burger followed a while later, caught by Younis Khan in the slips and by now there was no stopping the barrage. Snyman was lbw first ball (the fourth duck) to leave Namibia in tatters at 32-7.

Worse was to come. Wicketkeeper van Schoor was lbw Akram for 2 in the next over, and Wasim returned to dismiss captain Dean Kotze for a defiant 8, off 28 balls, in identical fashion. Namibia now 42-9 off 11 overs and threatening the lowest score in world cup history of 45. Wasim and Shoaib continued, aided by a drinks break to give them a breather, desperate to polsih up the last wicket and claim all ten between them.

Fatigue set in though and Shoaib bowled some loose deliveries as the runs started to flow. After 17 overs without a bowling change Waqar finally threw the ball to Saqlain Mushtaq, who finally got a bowl in the world cup, and a wicket, with his fourth delivery. By this stage the last pair of Kotze nad van Vuuren had added 42, doubling the Namibian total and saving a bit of face.

Wasim Akram entered this match closing in on two milestones. He was the all time leading wicket taker in world cups with 45, and also in one day internationals with 493. The first man to reach 50 wickets in the world cup, but we will have to wait just a little while longer for the biggest milestone of all.

As for the after effects of this match, well Namibia have bounced back well to show they can bowl and field with discipline and commitment, whilst they will have gained valuable experience batting against sheer pace (Shoaib at one time reching 95mph+, about as fast as it gets!). And Pakistan have taken a step in the right direction. Still it was only because the Namibians couldn't cope with the pace attack this match was so one sided, and Pakistan certainly have some work to do with the bat.

Both of these sides now go on to face England. Namibia will be looking to build on their skills and experience, avoid another humiliation and learn all along as they hope to register a win possibly in their final fixture against Holland. Pakistan meanwhile, will be working hard all week in anticipation of a tough fixture which could decide the fate of both nations in a group which hangs interestingly in the balance.

Posted by Barrie