Lankans celebrate as Pakistan falls just short

By Sanjay Rajan

GALLE, JAN. 24. While the rest of his teammates returned to the dressing room, Faisal Iqbal remained on the balcony. A distant look about him as he scanned the Galle International cricket ground and the wild Sri Lankan celebrations which followed the host's thrilling 10-run victory.

Even as the Pakistan tail-enders were putting in their best efforts in trying to pull off an improbable victory, there was a forlorn look about Iqbal, his face twitching at each falling wicket. For he knew, as much as every single person who witnessed the nerve-wracking first semifinal of the Youth World Cup here on Monday, that if there was one man who could have won it for Pakistan, it was he.

Much had been expected of the Test players, Imran Nazir and skipper Hasan Raza, when Pakistan began the chase, a target of 220. Nazir deserted at the start, caught at fine-leg trying to pull Nissanka in the very first over of the innings. Mediumpacer Ganegama struck twice in quick succession to leave Pakistan in a mess at 28 for three.

The burden of expectation weighed heavily on Raza's shoulders. He was expected to lead the charge now. Just when the spotlight was to focus on him, emerged this exciting new talent. Faisal Iqbal had made his first class debut in a tour game against Australia in 1998-99.

It didn't come as a complete surprise when news trickled in that Faisal is Javed Miandad's nephew. For, in the manner he batted for those 53 runs (71b, 5x4, 1x6) and the confidence he displayed in leading the charge while dominating the 96-run fourth-wicket stand with Raza, the touch of the `wily Old Fox' was evident. It was a phase when it looked like the host was losing its grip.

Actually, Faisal fell to a well-connected sweep off the leg- spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi. Ganegama brought off a splendid running catch on the square-leg boundary. The host, stung by the reverse at the hands of India in the Super-Eights, had played quality cricket through the day.

Raza clogged up the strike, consuming 108 deliveries for his 44. He did play a good support role to Iqbal, but didn't have it in him to lead the charge thereafter. Sri Lanka held its nerves when it mattered most, while Pakistan, talented but temperamental as ever, pressed its self-destruct button.

In the morning it was opener Ian Daniel's effort (58, 95b, 7x4) which saw Sri Lanka, opting to bat first, achieve its final score. His 59-run fifth-wicket stand with left-hander Pushpakumara was the best phase of the innings, which saw five run-outs, four of which were effected by Hasan Raza.

On Tuesday, India meets Australia in the second semifinal at the Saravanamuthu Stadium. The Plate Championship semifinals between Bangladesh and Ireland at Welagedara Stadium and Zimbabwe and South Africa at the Asgiriya ground will also be played on the same day.

The scores:

Sri Lanka: Rashan Pieris b Fazil 12, Ian Daniel lbw b Imran Farhat 58, Jehan Mubarak c Arafat b Fazil 2, Thilina Kandambi (run out) 2, Malintha Gajanayake (run out) 13, Muthumudaliage Pushpakumara (run out) 47, Kaushal Lokuarachchi (run out) 23, Kaushalaya Weeraratne (run out) 6, Ranil Dhammika (not out) 26, Akalanka Ganegama c wk Humayun Farhat b Yasir Arafat 5, Prabath Nissanka b Yasir Arafat 3. Extras (b-3, lb-5, w-7, nb-7) 22. Total (in 49.1 overs) 219.

Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Pieris), 2-36 (Mubarak), 3-51 (Kandambi), 4-79 (Gajanayake), 5-138 (Daniel), 6- 165 (Pushpakumara), 7-177 (Weeraratne), 8-190 (Lokuarachchi), 9- 205 (Ganegama).

Pakistan bowling: Zahid Saeed 10-0-45-0, Irfan Fazil 6-0-29-2, Yasir Arafat 9.1-0-37-2, Danish Kenaria 8-1-29-0, Babar Naeem 2-0-16-0, Imran Farhat 9-0-29-1, Taufeeq Umar 5-0-26-0.

Pakistan: Imran Nazir c Ganegama b Nissanka 4, Taufeeq Umar lbw b Ganegama 0, Imran Farhat lbw b Ganegama 4, Hasan Raza (run out) 44, Faisal Iqbal c Ganegama b Lokuarachchi 53, Babar Naeem c Kandambi b Lokuarachchi 11, Humayun Farhat (run out) 20, Yasir Arafat c&b Pushpakumara 27, Zahid Saeed c Ganegama b Pushpakumara 3, Irfan Fazil (not out) 17, Danish Kenaria b Nissanka 5. Extras (lb-3, nb-11, w-7) 21. Total (in 50 overs) 209.

Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Nazir), 2-7 (Umar), 3-28 (Imran Farhat), 4- 124 (Faisal), 5-136 (Humayun Farhat), 6-136 (Raza), 7-174 (Naeem), 8-183 (Arafat), 9-194 (Fazil).

Sri Lanka bowling: Prabath Nissanka 9-1- 35-2, Akalanka Ganegama 10-2-24-2, Ranil Dhammika 10-0-40-0, Kaushalaya Weeraratne 4-1-15-0, Muthumudaliage Pushpakumara 10-0- 55-2, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 7-0-37-2.

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