Sunday, Mar 02, 2003
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By Vijay Lokapally
THE BOYS HAVE DONE IT: After India's winning run against Pakistan in the World Cup match on Saturday, Yuvraj Singh and Rahul Dravid are being congratulated by Pakistan's Wasim Akram and Taufiq Omar, as their skipper, Waqar Younis, looks on. India won the match at Centurion in South Africa by six wickets. Sachin Tendulkar, who missed his century by a whisker and was adjudged man of the match, also became the first player in One Day internationals to cross 12,000 runs. — Photo: V.V. Krishnan
Thanks to his fantastic show, India almost eliminated Pakistan from the premier tournament of the cricket world with an emphatic victory. It was a remarkable recovery for a team, which had been savaged after just one defeat against Australia. If there was a man who deserved all the credit in a team's achievement, it was Tendulkar, the true icon of Indian cricket. He may not have been present in the middle to finish it off, but the direction he gave the innings was an unforgettable experience for the lucky ones present at the venue. His swashbuckling innings opened a new chapter for a young team, which learnt to snatch victory when up against heavy odds. India also ensured a Super Six berth with this epic victory. It was epic for one prime reason that it gave the team a new identity and also did a world of good for its self-belief. Meanwhile, it should be recorded that Sourav Ganguly showed exemplary character in leading the team. His tempered reaction to each Pakistani dismissal was an indication of the man not being swayed by emotions. And his handling of the bowling with some tactical changes was one of the many highlights.
Kaif, Yuvraj show their class
The win meant that India maintained its wonderful record of not having lost any match to Pakistan in a World Cup. The win also meant that youngsters like Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif have grown into men. Kaif, promoted in the order, gave a winning thrust with his brave handling of the attack and the innings by Yuvraj was a confirmation of his potential as a matchwinner. He indeed made some great strides in this one innings today as he guided the team in the company of Dravid, who continues to be the Mr. Reliable of Indian cricket. It was to India's advantage that Dravid was in the middle when the run-chase was given a roaring finish. It was a tale of two innings — one an essay in devotion and the other an extention of the man's love for batting. Anwar and Tendulkar played like champions that they are, showing little respect for the bowlers and in the process producing some great entertaining stuff. You could not have asked for more on a warm but beautiful day for cricket. Tendulkar's commitment stood out so glowingly. It was an innings that confirmed the opening slot as his domain. It also dispelled any hints of Tendulkar having lost his zeal to play attacking strokes. There were plenty that took the breath away. And then it was an innings that was a tribute to his loyalty to the team's cause. It should silence some of his detractors, yes there are some, who claimed he no longer could play big innings on big occasions. He may fail in the final but then he is the one who ensures the team plays the final too. Was Tendulkar proving a point? He did not relent in his resolve to destroy the opposition with a stunning flurry of strokes that decorated his knock. It was not just about some artistic batsmanship. It was also about some classy bowling, especially Wasim Akram, who commanded respect when the batsmen were on a song. In fact the match was lit up from the great combat between Akram and Tendulkar. The batsman on a rampage and the bowler shackling him with a stifling length. If Tendulkar slammed him for a few boundaries, Akram too beat him comprehensively on a few occasions. The Tendulkar-Akram duel was always on the cards. Just as Anwar's with the Indian bowlers. The difference was in class. Tendulkar's was poetry in perfection. Anwar was attempting to write one.
Tendulkar at his best
It was a day when Indian cricket needed Tendulkar to unfold his best and we were treated to some vintage cricket. The Pakistani skipper, Waqar Younis, had advocated aggression as his team's panache. The message was taken seriously by the Indians who launched an incredible assault that took the wind out of the Pakistani pace battery. Surely, Waqar Younis and company was shell shocked by the ill-treatment that Tendulkar and Sehwag meted out to them. Two imperious sixes over point, by Tendulkar off Akhtar, and Sehwag off Waqar, were dream strokes. Sehwag indulging in such adventurism was not out of place but Tendulkar outclassed his partner with some sensational batsmanship. He was not the captain but he commanded the expedition as Indian cricket scaled great heights against its archrivals. Akhtar, the fastest bowler on earth, was dismissed faster than he would have imagined. Akhtar may not have encountered such humiliation and when he returned for subsequent spells, he was treated with increased disdain. They swatted him around like a club bowler, as Akhtar discovered once again that bowling was not all about throwing it fast. Tendulkar played some classical shots and his drives this day evoked memories of his domination of the attack a few years ago when he batted for Mohammad Azharuddin to receive one trophy after another. Today, he was crafting this innings as a gift to a captain hit by poor form. Ganguly, rarely a threat these days for quality bowlers, went first-ball after Sehwag too could not resist his temptation to drive the ball in the air. Two wickets in two balls by Waqar added to the excitement. The dashing Sehwag had done his bit by storming the attack in his inimitable style and deserved a pat for his brave attitude. Tendulkar, growing in stature with every stroke that spoke of his authority, stood between Pakistan and a place in the Super Six. Well, it needed a lethal ball from Akhtar to snare Tendulkar. The ball kicked as it landed on the seam and Tendulkar, his footwork hampered by cramps, fended it to gully. His dejected walk brought the spirit back into the Pakistani camp but Yuvraj and Dravid warded off any evil spells on their camp with some exceptionally sensible batting. Anwar, ever the scourge of Indian bowlers, rallied the Pakistanis with an innings of character. Flawlessly crafted, it showed Anwar's ability to adapt to the situation. He was hardly in discomfort and compiled his 20th one-day century with a lot of flair. The beard of a saint may have given him a different appearance but his treatment of Indian bowlers remained unaltered. The three-year gap that prevented any India-Pakistan interaction on the cricket field strongly re-ignited the rivalry between the teams, but through a very healthy course. The warm handshake before the game was meant for the galleries here and the millions of fans back home. It was a gentle reminder that it was nothing more than a game. Pakistan made a crisp start with Anwar and Taufeeq Umar picking runs with ease even as Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan toiled for accuracy. The inconsistency factor in the Indian attack returned to haunt the opening pair and the awful form of Ashish Nehra added to the woes. Zaheer was the pick of the bowlers as Ganguly used him in four spells. Nehra was clobbered as the Delhi seamer came a cropper in the absence of any lateral movement. Anil Kumble, preferred to Harbhajan Singh, failed to make an impression as India struggled to contain the Pakistanis in the slog overs. Inzamam-ul-Haq running himself out, for the 35th time in his career, was a gift to India from Anwar who sent his partner back. Yousuf Youhana and Younis Khan propelled the Pakistan innings. While Rashid Latif, struck by Zaheer on the helmet, came up with a useful contribution towards the end. He was later removed to hospital and rested despite no scare with Umar substituting as wicketkeeper. Nehra, however, did well to snare Anwar when the batsman threatened to cut loose, having reached his century. It was a splendid ball that slithered past the bat. It was a big wicket and gave India the room to close in on the opposition. But Pakistan managed to set up a competitive target, which, looked awfully short of making India earn its win. The contest was won by India as a matter of right with Pakistan looking tardy — beaten and disgraced — like never before. SCOREBOARD
Fall of wickets: 1-53 (Sehwag), 2-53 (Ganguly), 3-155 (Kaif), 4-177 (Tendulkar).
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