By SS
December 1 2003

2 out of 2 in Lahore as a close initial match was followed up by a one sided affair today. Razzaq has shone in both matches whilst Sami destroyed the Kiwi's today. Decent efforts too from Yasir, Imran, Youhana, Moin and Saleem with the bat, whilst Shabbir has been consistent with the ball. Two contrasting matches in Lahore but both with the right result for Pakistani fans. In match one, the fat lady was just clearing her throat to start singing, when Abdul Razzaq and Mohamed Sami produced a scintillating and awesome array of hitting to plunder the Kiwi attack to all parts of Qadaffi Stadium. At 227 for 7, against a team where six players were making their debuts, Pakistan were all but down and out, but Abdul Razzaq is an enigma that Pakistani fans know can turn a match in the space of a few deliveries whilst bowling or a couple of overs whilst batting.

Abdul Razzaq’s career of late has been up and down to say the least, but this was him at his best. No fear, just hitting the ball as hard as he can and clearing the stands with consummate ease. Make no mistake this is a player who can hit the ball to any part of the ground, not just sailing over long on. He has the ability to take on any bowler and seems to be a confidence cricketer. He was ably supported by the, more than capable Mohamed Sami, who has proved time and again that he has all the basic ingredients to become a decent lower order batsman.

Earlier in the day Chris Cairns took his team to what seemed a match winning score of 291, when all along about 250 seemed to be what Pakistan would be chasing. A combination of superb power hitting and some ordinary bowling enabled Jacob Oram and his skipper to smash the hosts attack, with Kaneria being treated harshly by the Kiwis.

Yasir, Youhana, Inzamam and Moin all played well and scored between 42 and 52, but when Moin and the skipper were out in a short space of time, all seemed lost. The young Kiwis probably could not believe their eyes as the match slipped out of their fingers as bowler after bowler suffered at the hands of Razzaq and Sami.

That Pakistan won with 2 overs to spare was a remarkable achievment and chasing 292 to win in any form of cricket deserves exceptional praise, especially for a team that has been labeled as poor chasers.

Match 2 started well for Pakistan as replacement skipper Yousuf Youhana won the toss and elected to bat. Openers Imran Farhat and Yasir Hameed enjoyed an excellent opening stand of 115 in 24 overs as both played with flair and combined this with superb timing. An ordinary middle order effort from Youhana and Misbah brought the Kiwis back into the game, as Pakistan struggled to 171 for 4 after 38 overs. A score around 250 was looking like all that Pakistan could achieve, but sudden impetus was provided by Shoaib Malik, Saleem Elahi and once again it was our man Abdul Razzaq who took Pakistan to a commanding 281 for 6. Razzaq once again enjoyed his stay at the crease and smashed 42 runs off only 16 balls. In the two matches that have been played he has hit 89 runs off 38 balls and the New Zealanders must be sick of the sight of him already. Saleem Elahi deserves a mention as he hit a nicely paced 70 off 69 balls which included 6 fours.

The Kiwis started slowly and at 36 for after 12 overs were struggling to combat Sami and the successful Shabbir who has bowled well in both matches so far.

Chris Cairns once again tried to inject some urgency into the run rate, but superb fielding by Imran Farhat ensured he was run out. The Pakistan fielding it must be noted in both matches has been razor sharp and the catching today was excellent.

At 155 for 4 after 36 overs, the Kiwis were not totally out of it, but they needed a Razzaq type innings from one of their lower order. What followed was an amazing piece of bowling from a young man who is just getting better and better as he matures and gains experience. Mohamed Sami is a hungry and tenacious cricketer, who wants to do well for himself and wants to do well for the team. He is a 100% effort man, who just wants to win. He has made remarkable progress in his batting and his fielding and this must be attributed to hard work. Whilst not the finished article as a bowler, he is improving at a fair rate of knots. Sami took 5 for 2, including 4 wickets in one over, in a spell which absolutely tore the shreds out of the Kiwi lower order. Pace, aggression and swing as the stumps took one helluva pounding time and time again.

Pakistan can be well pleased with their efforts in the first 2 one dayers, especially the all round performance today and with Shoaib Akhtar waiting in the wings, the Kiwis can expect some more chin music in Faisalabad on Wednesday.