Australia's 2nd World Cup Win

On this day, 21 years ago, Australia created history by becoming the first nation to win more than one World Cup. They won their second World Cup title by beating Pakistan, at Lords, The Home of Cricket. 

Steve Waugh led Australian team, reached its fourth World Cup Final, whereas Pakistan had approached its second Final. Both teams, have won each a single World Cup title. Australia, due to higher points in the group stage, have helped in their Semi Final, to directly qualify to the finals of the tournament, unanimously, whereas Pakistan have beat New Zealand comfortably with 9 wickets to spare, in a chase of 241 !. Surprisingly, these two teams met in the group stage, where Pakistan had beat Australia by 10 runs. 

Comparatively Pakistan were even more dominant than Australia, but in the course of final, each and every teams are stronger and tough to beat. Pakistani Captain Wasim Akram, had won the toss and chose to bat first.

Right from the start, Australia were so clear in just letting pacers to bowl. They had 4 seamers and one spinner in their card, and their plan was so clear. During the initial course of overs, they set 3 slips for Pakistani Batsmen and the ball was handed over to Damien Fleming, Tom Moody, and Glenn McGrath. These three were spearheads of Aussies' bowling attack. On the other hand, Pakistani batsmen were struggling to face them. Opener Saeed Anwar was in aggressive mode whereas Wajahastullah Wasti, weren't able to counter attack and dismissed for just 1 runs off 14 balls faced. In the same over, SAeed Anwar were too dismissed. Then Abdul Razzaq joined hands with Ijaz Ahmed. Both were playing so slowly but were in a mode of building a neat stitched partnership, They were defensive and didn't expected to take risks. On the other hand, Australia kept atleast a slip fielder, and the pacers bowled accurately at Middle and leg stump line. Some balls, went to leg side direction but still they didn't change their length. Pure good length deliveries were bowled. Australians were famous for their bouncer deliveries, didn't rather bowl one, knowing the pitch's ability. At the course of 20th over, Pakistan team were 68/2, before Abdul Razzaq was dismissed for 51 ball 17, by Tom Moody. Till now, it was pace domination. But from the dismissal of Abdul Razzaq, spinner Shane Warne, came into attack. He was allowed to bowl, keeping along a slip fielder. He was so consistent, bowling either at middle and off stump line or middle and leg stump line. Also, he didn't anything like Googly, Wrong-un etc. Only leg break deliveries. But, this straight forward plan grabbed him 4 wickets. Specifically, the wicket of Ijaz Ahmed, where the ball pitched in leg stump line, at a good length, and it hit the off stump precisely, missing the straight bat. Also, Pakistani team weren't really in the game and got dismissed for 132 runs, at the end of 39 overs. Bowlers were so economical, without exceeding 3.7 Runrate per over ( except Damien Fleming, whose economy was 5).

Australians came into bat, and chased the target in just 20 overs, with winning the match by 8 wickets and around 150 balls to spare. With this, Australian team, clinched the title, quite comfortably. Pakistani bowlers, were clueless, as Australian batting so dominating and aggressive, with the likes of Mark Waugh, Gilchrist, Ponting etc. Man of the Match Award was given to Shane Warne for his 4 wicket haul. Shane Warne, had rattled the batting line up, but other pacers were the one started making the batsman to set up for a line and length and then put immense pressure on them. But, a disappointing performance from Pakistan, resulted in loss of trophy, and still their unpredictability is prevailing all around, while Australian team were so aggressive and dominant even in today's world.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Decade and Future

ரஞ்சி'யா ? விஜய் ஹசாரே'வா ? - 2021

IPL 2021ல் புதிய அணியா ?