FIELDING WAS KEY TO INDIAN SUCCESS

Two vital factors which accounted for Pakistan’s down fall in the recent ODI series were; 1 Their complacency and rusty fielding and 2. Quality bowling and brilliant fielding by the Indians. The distinction between the performance of the two teams could be judged by an analysis that Indian bowlers claimed 36 wickets and fielders held 30 catches against 22 wickets and 13 catches taken by their counter parts. Pakistan had to pay the price being relaxed and over confident after their test series win. On the other hand Indians had regrouped and recouped their lost confidence and composure. Consequently they outclassed the home team by a convincing margin of 4-1.

Pakistan suffered an early shock as lack of fitness prevented their main strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar to participate. Still Pakistan started well by winning the first game at Peshawar and subsequently managed to post sizeable totals in three of the four matches followed (Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi). But barring Lahore where at one stage Pakistan was in with a chance. India comfortably chased and reached the targets. To their supporters dismay Pakistan bowlers lacked penetration, struggled and their fielders, floundered many chances. In contrast Indian fielders were agile and some of their catches were breath taking. Such was their dominance in the series that Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Youvraj Singh plundered Pakistan bowlers with respective averages of 219 and 172. Pakistan Cricket management should take a stock of the situation, the defeat is their wake up call. Now for their good fortune Pakistan under 19 team has successfully defended their ICC world cup title and that surely augurs well for the future of Pakistan Cricket. Keeping focus on the world cup 2007 there is an urgent need to groom young and rising new players to infuse new blood in the national team. Hereunder is a brief review of the One Day series:-

PESHAWAR 6TH FEBRUARY 2006

Chasing 329 to win Pakistan were 311 for 7 in 47 overs, before the bad light stopped play and were ahead on the duck worth Lewis scoring system which establishes a result when a one day match is not completed. Earlier India a massed a handsome score of 328. Sachin Tendulkar scored (101) his 39th it ODI century and also completed 14000 one day runs. The other two notable contributors were Irfan Pathan (65) M.S.Dhoni (68) and Yovraj Singh (39), Rana Naveedul Hassan took 4 for 62 and Mohammad Asif 3 for 30. Salman Butt (101) and Shoaib Malik (90 off 67 balls) were associated in a merry 151 run second wicket stand but that followed a sensational collapse the home team lost five wickets for 67 runs. Towards the end when fading light stopped play Pakistan were 311 for 7 and were declared as winners. Salman Butt was adjudged as man of the match.

RAWALPINDI 11TH FEBRUARY 2006

Electing to bat Pakistan were unable to collect a massive total yet their score of 266 was a challenging one. Shoaib Malik cracked 95 and Younus Khan Smashed 81 the two put on 102 runs off 125 balls. Irfan Pathan was the pick of Indian attack with 3 for 43 in 10 overs. Opener Virender Sehwag (67), Captain Rahul Dravid (56) and Yuvraj Singh (82 Not Out) scored half centuries to steer India to an easy seven wickets victory with 47 balls to spare. Yuvraj’s knock was sizzling 89 ball innings and composed with eight four and two sixes.

LAHORE 13TH FEBRUARY 2006

India won by 5 wickets after achieving the target with seven balls to spare. Put in to bat they were helped by a superb 108 by Shoaib Malik and equally brilliant 64 No by Abdul Razzaq which set India a target of 289. Irfan Pathan and R.P Singh claimed three wickets each. Sachin Tendulkar (95) laid foundation for Indian victory and after some anxious moments for the visitors Mahendara Singh Dhoni reeled off 72 quick runs off 46 balls and Youvraj Singh scored 79 off 87 balls to accomplish a magnificent feat. Excepting Mohammad Asif Pakistan bowlers were completely out of sorts.

MULTAN 17TH FEBRUARY 2006

To seal the fate of the series India won the match, yet again by a convincing margin of 5 wickets and Pakistan thus failed to square the series. They were bundled out for paltry 161 in 41.5 over including highest by Inzamamul Haq (49). Recalled placeman Mohammad Sami succeeded in claiming two early wickets including star batsman Sachin Tendulkar. India however never lost the grip over the match and with 17.3 overs to spare they out classed the home team. Man of the match Seamer Rudra Pratap Singh snared, four wickets for 40 runs. Irfan Pathan was the other most successful bowler to claim 3 wickets for 26 runs in 7.5 overs.

KARACHI 19TH FEBRUARY 2006

Pakistan suffered worst ever ODI defeat at home and India earned a well deserved and emphatic eight wickets victory. Put into bat Pakistan collected a healthy looking total of 286 for 8. First change Shanta Kumran Sreesanth took wicket each in first of three overs and ended with figures of 4 for 38 in 10 overs. Younis Khan (74 Not out) and Mohammad Yousuf (67) were the chief contributors. A superlative unbeaten 107 off 93 balls by Yuvraj Singh who later was adjudged as man of the match and of the series and an scintillating 56 balls 77 by Mahendra Singh Dhoni all the more made the Indian task easy and they eventually clinched the series 4-1 Rahul Dravid scored his 68th ODI 50.

At the end of the recent series result summary of India Pakistan One Day Internationals is as below:-

PERIOD	WON BY INDIA	WON BY PAKISTAN	NR
1978-79 to date	39	63	4

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2006 smyaserrafique@yahoo.com)