CRICKET Sri Lanka 138-6 Pakistan 139-2:RUNNERS-UP last time, Pakistan went one better at Lord's yesterday, winning the World Twenty20 by eight wickets with eight balls to spare. It was an emotional occasion for a side who have been disenfranchised by terrorism, unable to play matches at home, destined to roam the world in search of cricket to sustain interest and their development. No one, not even those who would have seen as cathartic a Sri Lanka win, will begrudge them their triumph in front of a fervent crowd.
It was not the final perhaps that the occasion demanded, a pattern that followed the earlier success of the England women. Sri Lanka, such a vibrant side throughout, were lacklustre, unable to recover sufficiently from early setbacks with the bat, and equally unable to make the necessary inroads with the ball, to trouble Pakistan.
Set 139 to win on a good pitch, Pakistan had only to fight themselves and their capacity for self-destruction and in this they did not falter, an unbroken third-wicket stand of 76 in 59 balls between the wonderful Shahid Afridi, enjoyment etched into his face, and Shoaib Malik saw them home. A scampered leg bye finished things, leaving Afridi, 54 not out, arms and legs stretched wide before being engulfed by a tidal wave of team-mates. To him went the man-of-the-match accolade.
Afridi is an entertainer by nature, a robust player touched with magic. His bowling, fast wrist spin, has been superb throughout, but it is his batting that has helped change fortunes, persuading Malik to promote him to number three in the order and responding, first against South Africa and now Sri Lanka. His was a more measured innings than his reputation as a thunderous hitter of sixes might suggest: there was much running to do and clearly that does not agree with him. But when the time came he rammed down the accelerator, belted Muttiah Muralitharan high into the Tavern Stand and then over extra cover, and sealed things. He batted for 40 balls and hit two fours and two sixes.
Before him though came Abdul Razzaq, a player so disillusioned with life when left out of the squad for the first World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago that he retired from international cricket and joined the rebel Indian Cricket League. His way back has been fortuitous: an amnesty for ICL players coupled with the withdrawal of the all-rounder Yasir Arafat gave him a new lease of life. His response yesterday was to share the new ball and take the wickets of Sanath Jayasuriya, Jehan Mubarak and Mahela Jayawardene at a cost of 20 runs, which, with the loss to Sri Lanka of Tillakaratne Dilshan without scoring to the young left armer Mohammad Aamer left Sri Lanka floundering at 32 for four with the power play all but over.
Their recovery was down to the determination of Kumar Sangakkara, who batted through to the end of the innings for 64 from 52 balls, and he found an able partner in Angelo Mathews, the gravity-defying fielder, who hit an unbeaten 35.
With this the pair had given Sri Lanka a glimmer of a chance. But although Jayasuriya claimed a wicket with his first ball it was not before Kamran Akmal (37) and Shahzaib Hasan (19) added 48 for the first wicket, while Muralitharan was to dismiss Shazaib. And that was it. Murali was played with ease, and Lasith Malinga with appropriate caution. The mystery of Ajantha Mendis though is anathema to Pakistan. In the Test series against them earlier in the year he claimed a single wicket for 178 runs. Four overs for 34 yesterday told its tale. Perhaps they will pass on the secret. - Guardian Service
