It was a second nail biter of the tournament, or should I say this one was a finger biter rather. The nails had already gone in the game between Ireland and United Arab Emirates. Even for those who had nails, the nails would have been long gone before the game ended. And...Guess What? This was again a head-to-head between the associates, like the previous game. But this was really really close.
Afghanistan won the toss and decided that they will bowl. Gardiner came in place of Coleman for Scotland. In Afghanistan, Gulbadin Naib had come in place of injured Mirwais Ashraf.
Scotland started their innings knowing that they have not scored more than 200 in world cup. Playing against an associate and with high scores being posted so far in the tournament, they would have thought this was their chance. Similarly, they were also looking for an elusive world cup win.
Afghanistan started with Shapoor and Dawlat. Dawlat as he did against Sri Lanka struck in his very first over dismissing Calum MacLeod. Scots then laboured through the powerplay scoring 38/1. After putting in all the hard work, both Hamish Gardiner and Kyle Coetzer got out in space of 3 balls. Scotland were now 40/3. Machan and skipper Mommsen added 51 runs in 61 balls but both of them fell in succession soon. Scotland once again faltered after having a solid partnership. Scotland were 95/5 in 22.2 overs. It was not such a bad score but Scotland already had half of their team back in dressing room. Another partnership blossomed between Cross and Berrington. Once again they lost two quick wickets, Cross and Davey this time. Afghanistan were right on top and their domination was to be seen with the areas that the bowlers were bowling.
When the poweplay started in 36th over, Scotland were 142/7. Berrington and veteran Haq, who was not a novice with the bat, were at the crease. If they could stay till 50 overs, they could still end up in a reasonable total. In the 37th over, Afghanistan's consistent bowler Dawlat struck again removing Berrington. Scotland were now 144/8 and their dream of going past 200 in world cup looked unlikely. Majid Haq and Alasdair Evans batted with purpose and determination, just hung around and ensured that Scotland did not bundle up before their full quota of overs. They not just succeeded in that but also took Scotland past 200 for the first time in the world cup. Their previous best was 186, against South Africa in 2007. They also added 62 runs for the 9th wicket which was a record for Scotland in ODI for the 9th wicket.
Afghanistan were not able to close the innings after such a spirited performance initially. They were also guilty of bowling very ordinary towards the death. In 48th and 49th overs together they gave away 23 runs. On top of that they gave away 25 runs as extras of which 12 were wide. Now the target for Afghanistan was 211, which was a modest one.
When Afghanistan started the chase, they would have definitely thought that the win was theirs. Only that they had to put a method to the chase and more importantly execute that method. On the other hand, Scotland would have been high on confidence after their first total of 200+ in a world cup. It was for sure there was going to be some contest.
Ahmedi and Mangal started for Afghanistan and for the first two overs, Mangal did not get a strike and Ahmedi also did not look up to the mark. But in the overs to come Ahmedi changed the gears gradually, striking the ball well. Ahmedi was scoring almost run a ball. In the 8th over, Afghan's chase was jolted by none other than Evans, who even in batting combined for that 9th wicket partnership. By the time 8th over ended, Mangal and Stanikzai were back in pavilion. Afghanistan were 46/2.
Shenwari came in and he put down the anchor while Ahmedi continued in his free spirit. Afghanistan looked cruising. At the end of 18 overs, Afghanistan was 85/2 and in the meantime, Ahmedi had completed his brisk run a ball half century. It seemed that this pair will take them through. But then Ahmedi, who was playing with maturity and control simply blew it away giving a simple catch to Machan off Berrigton. It seemed Afghanistan had no answer to Berrington's and Davey's accurate bowling. Afghanistan nose dived from 85/2 to 97/7 in 23.4 overs.
Shenwari was the only recognized batsman left and the remaining three were the bowlers. The game had been turned on its head once again. When Afghanistan were bowling, they let the Scotland recover from 144/8 to 210. Now they offered them this collapse. Scotland would have already started celebrating their first ever world cup win. But Shenwari had something else in mind. He had not lost and he was not there to lose. He assessed the situation very well and probably drew inspiration from what happened in Scotland 's innings. He understood that if they were there at the crease till the 50th over, they had an outside chance.
He just hung in. Scoring just one an over and two an over. From 25th to 30th over, the runs scored in each over were 1, 0, 2, 1, 4 and 2. First big over for them came in 31st when they scored 9. Shenwari looked calm, in control and seemed to know what he was doing. Dawlat was supporting him in that cause. In the next 4 overs, they scored 1, 7, 2 and 6. Right before the powerplay started, came the moment of madness. Dawlat, in a rush of blood, attempting to go over the rope, mistimed the hit for an easy catch to Mommsen. Even before the catch was taken, Shenwari looked gutted. His frustration and outburst was for every one to see. Together they had accumulated 35 runs in 68 balls and now all that was gone. It seemed with this wicket, any chance of Afghanistan coming closer to the target was also gone.
Afghanistan now required another 79 run in 90 balls. It was a feasible equation but the only thing that Afghanistan did not have was wickets. Hamid Hassan joined the crease with Shenwari and apparently he too was given the same instructions as had been given to Dawlat. Hamid seemed to be a keen student and followed the instructions to the letter. Shenwari reached his 50 but barely celebrated. His mission was not over. Both of them added another 21 runs in the batting powerplay.
Afghanistan required 58 runs off last 10 overs. Shenwari was not just farming the strike but at times, he trusted Hamid to face as well. From over 41 to 45, their scoring pattern was 1, 1, 6, 7 and 2. Afghanistan now required 41 runs of 30 balls. This 9th wicket partnership reminded us of the 9th wicket partnership in the other innings. Even this like the other 9th wicket partnership in the match was proving to be a crucial one. It was still not evident when Afghanistan would launch an attack.
Afghanistan added 3 more runs to their total in the 46th over. Now the equation was 38 runs off 24 balls. Afghanistan still held back the attack. Having no other choice left, Mommsen had to bring in Haq for his last over at this point of time. Shenwari decided that this was the over that he will take on as it was now or never. He hit three sixes in 4 balls bringing the equation to 19 runs off 20 balls. In an attempt to take the chase further closer, Shenwari attempted for another maximum only to be caught at deep mid-wicket.
Haq had the last laugh. Scotland camp went into celebrations. Both the dressing rooms were engulfed in contrasting emotions. If the events happening in the field were not good enough for the excitement, the third umpire added spice by asking Shenwari not to leave the field. There were doubts on if Scotland had the right number of fielders inside the circle. There was no twist to the tale, Shenwari had to leave. His brave fight back came to an end with his personal score of 96.
It seemed as if he had gone for one too many. Even if he had not attempted that six, the equation could have still been manageable with he there at the crease. But there was no reason to blame him as he was the one who brought the match to this stage. He was justified in attempting to close the match soon. Shenwari was devastated. He did not even go to the dressing room. He just crossed the boundary and sat dumbstruck. He was not able to believe that he could not clear the rope on that occasion. 9th wicket stand between Hassan and Shenwari was 60 runs off 71 balls. Just like for Scotland, this was their highest for the 9th wicket in all the ODIs that they have played so far. But those record did not matter to him. Whatever mattered most, he could not achieve.
Now it was left to Hamid Hassan and Shapoor Zadran to take Afghanistan over line. Scotland needed just one more wicket. Afghanistan needed 19 runs off 19 balls. The fight was for the first win in world cup. Evans bowled the 48th over. The two batsmen did not try anything fancy looking just for singles. Their approach said that they wanted to push it to the last few balls before they tried anything fancy. Evans conceded 5 runs and the equation came down to 14 runs off 12 balls. They seemed to be doing the right thing.
Berrington, hero for Scotland with the ball bowled the 49th over. Hamid and Shapoor were still dealing in singles. A very mature approach to the game by the two so-called tail-enders. The pair added 4 more runs in 5 balls. The match was going to the wire. Afghans needed 10 off 7 balls. Last ball of his over and in attempting to bowl away from Shapoor, Brrington bowled a wide. That gave Afghans one more run and one more ball and Afghans made it count. The last ball was bowled a little short, Shapoor shuffled across and pulled it away down to the fine leg getting the much needed boundary. Now Afghanistan needed 5 runs of 6 balls. Scotland needed just one wicket. It was not over, it was still anybody's game.
Wardlaw was the bowler to bowl the last over. Hamid Hassan took a single off the first ball and now 4 were needed of 5 balls. Shapoor nudged the next ball on the leg side and immediately set off for a run that was not there and was rightly sent back by Hamid. Mommsen picked the ball and threw at the striker's wicket in an attempt to run out, Shapoor dived full stretch and the ball missed the stumps. Had it hit, it would have been curtains for Afghanistan. The equation now was 4 out of 4. Tension built up on both the sides, so was it building up among all those who were watching the game. Wardlaw in an attempt to bowl a yorker ended up bowling a low full toss on the leg stump which was picked up by Shapoor and the ball went past the short fine leg fielder and they knew that they had done it.
The most exciting match of the 2015 cricket world cup was over. It left the Scots heartbroken and Afghans into frenzied celebration. It was pity that one of the teams had to lose today, a tie would have been a fair result. Afghanistan team known for its resilient character showed it up again.
When everything seemed lost, one man believed in his ability and sought support from his bowlers, though could not finish it himself but put them in a position where they thought that they could do it. It was such a selfless innings on his part. When he attempted that 4th six in that over, he was on 96. Had he not attempted that six, he could have easily scored his 100 and may be still won the match. Even if Afghanistan had not won, no one would have complained. But he put his team first. For his selflessness, team spirit and match-defining innings he was rightly adjudged the man of the match.
The defining moment:
 |
| Shapoor Zadran after hitting the winnings runs. ©ICC |
No comments:
Post a Comment