Rajat Subhra Chatterjee
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Why Pakistan was beaten in the T20 World Cup semi final ?
Firstly because they were being confronted by Australianism. Those who have not tasted this before, may well get used to this at least once as it helps re-strategizing one’s game plan. Australianism gives the Aussies that extra mental punch & strength which when delivered becomes so lethal that the opponent seldom finds any breather.
Secondly, Pakistan started showing signs of crack under pressure during the last overs of Australia‘s batting.
In the semi final on Thursday, things were absolutely fine for Pakistan. Batting first, they just rampaged. It was annihilation and savage batsmanship. No quarter was given to the Australian bowlers. Starc, Hazelwood, Cummins – every one were clobbered around the park. The fearlessness in Pak batting was so much in exhibition that at times, it seemed as if the Pakistan batsmen were out there to prove to the entire world that by not playing with them, Pakistan has not been a loser, rather rest of the cricket fraternity has been robbed off how entertaining and vicious, cricket could be. After Babar’s initial punch, it was Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman who held the stage. Both played copy book – Rizwan mainly on square of the wickets while Zaman mainly in the ‘V’ but never shied to lift. And lifting ferociously. Couple of Zaman’s sixes on the back foot had lot of bottom hand in play, yet the ball soared deep in to the stand. Fabulous stuff.
Their batting in partnership was so eye soothing in contrast to what we are used to from some of Indian batsmen, specially that of Rishav Pant whose batting seems to be so difficult a subject. In contrast, Rizwan, though equally destructive, was seen a bit impatient and trying to do things in a haste. Anyway, 176 against a bowling line up of the Aussies was a huge one and looked beyond escalating after whimsical self destruction of Warner getting out himself when he was clearly not out. Around this stage, signs of crack in the Pakistan body language was starting to be visible. Once Rizwan, in utter excitement, threw his wicket keeping gloves unintentionally though, on to the foot of Stoinis who picked up the gloves and handed back to the wicket keeper with a wry smile. Then unnecessary over throw a couple of times trying to impossible run outs also were done under pressure. Pakistan was seen getting desperate in the thought of winning but should have realized that it was cricket that they were playing. Both Stoinis and Wade were sticking and hitting occasional boundaries but they still had Cummins and Starc, both are hard hitters and could change the game any time.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, a great bowler Pakistan has got, was superb. But his over exuberance in the nineteenth over cost Pakistan the match. To be fare on Wade, his mental frame also is to be viewed with appreciation. He was dropped in that over. Yet he brushed that aside and reframed his mind set and hit three successive sixes that sealed Pakistan’s fate. It was great determination on the part of Wade which very explicitly expressed the Australiansm.
Pakistan may now be out of the race, yet the type of cricket they have dished out throughout this tournament, was simply superb and ideal exhibition of Fearless cricket. Their first four batters in T20 format are unmatched and must be bracketed with the very best in the world. It has been sheer joy to watch this Pakistan team playing so hard cricket. On personal hindsight, I would love to have a full fledged series against Pakistan with India. I don’t understand politics.
Let the game be on.
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