Pakistan, who fell agonizingly short in 2007 and have been through so much strife as a country in the two years since, have pulled off a magnificent victory. Lord's is a sea of roaring green. Spare a thought for the Sri Lankans who were unbeaten right through the tournament. they've played brave and innovative cricket and were felled by an inspired side. It's Pakistan's moment though ... and aren't they enjoying it. Malik's generous in his praise for Shahid bhai but he played a crucial innings too, staying calm at one end, scoring at just over a run a ball. I can hear the horns blaring in St. Johns Wood already, it will go on long into the night. It was emotional at Trent Bridge a few days ago, I can't imagine what it will be like today. "An ultimate tournament to watch. True learners-Pakistan. They wee runner ups last time and they have done it this time. A great show by Sri Lanka, Ireland and Windies," says Rahul. It's presentation time ... | |||||||||||||||
18.4 | Malinga to Shahid Afridi, 1 leg bye, he's done it! Afridi misses the yorker and it hits him on the pad and the ball goes on the off side, it's a leg bye but who cares, Afridi raises his arms in triumph, what a player, he's delivered when it mattered most, the players rush on to the ground to mob him and Malik, such joy, there are hugs all around | ||||||||||||||
Afridi on strike, how fitting if he hits the winning run.. brace yourself... | |||||||||||||||
18.3 | Malinga to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, yorker, single, Malik digs it out towards short fine leg, | ||||||||||||||
Pakistan are two away ... from being World Twenty20 champions. Move over India! | |||||||||||||||
18.2 | Malinga to Shoaib Malik, FOUR, four! four! Malik nudges the ball off his pads past the man at short fine leg, no stopping that, Pakistan are two runs away, Malinga lost control of that slower one
| ||||||||||||||
18.1 | Malinga to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, full ball on off and middle stump, Afridi flicks through midwicket, sensible sensible innings, barely a risk taken | ||||||||||||||
The noise is unbelievable, they love it when Pakistan win, they love it more when Afridi's the one winning it for them. Malinga will bowl, can he pull off the impossible? Will Afridi go for glory? What a finish to the tournament ... stay with us. | |||||||||||||||
End of over 18 (19 runs) Pakistan 132/2 (7 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.33, RRR: 3.50)
| |||||||||||||||
17.6 | Udana to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, Afridi digs the yorker down the ground for a single | ||||||||||||||
17.6 | Udana to Shahid Afridi, (no ball) FOUR, high full toss ... it's a no ball for being over waist height, Afridi whips it off his body past short fine leg, four! Afridi reaches his fifty! What a player! What an innings ... He's won it for Pakistan today
| ||||||||||||||
Pakistan need 13 off 13 | |||||||||||||||
17.5 | Udana to Shahid Afridi, SIX, is that the game breaker? Afridi winds up and unleashes the most monstrous of hits, he's whacked the slower ball way back into the stands at midwicket, Lord's goes berserk ... | ||||||||||||||
17.4 | Udana to Shahid Afridi, 2 runs, excellent ball, in the blockhole, Afridi squeezes it down the ground and Malik is running frantically for the second, Afridi struggles to make it back for the second run | ||||||||||||||
17.3 | Udana to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, full and straight, Malik drives the ball hard into the pitch and the ball bounces over the bowler's head, they settle for the single | ||||||||||||||
17.3 | Udana to Shoaib Malik, 1 wide, that's too wide outside off stump, Harper takes his time but eventually signals it | ||||||||||||||
17.2 | Udana to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, full ball outside off stump, Afridi slogs and hits it towards deep square leg, only the single, we haven't seen a boundary in a while | ||||||||||||||
17.1 | Udana to Shahid Afridi, 2 runs, yorker, and Afridi swings hard to muscle the ball through the leg side, he returns for the second | ||||||||||||||
Pakistan need 26 off 18 ... Pakistan are ahead but another good over will turn it Sri Lanka's way. It's tense! Udana's back, he bowls clever slower ones, will Afridi go after him? | |||||||||||||||
End of over 17 (7 runs) Pakistan 113/2 (26 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.64, RRR: 8.66)
| |||||||||||||||
16.6 | Mendis to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, Afridi makes room but mis-times the drive to cover, the 50 stand is up between these two.
| ||||||||||||||
16.5 | Mendis to Shahid Afridi, 2 runs, full toss and Afridi heaves it into the gap at deep midwicket! Has he got four? No he hasn't, two runs though ... | ||||||||||||||
16.4 | Mendis to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, Malik gets out of his crease again and hits the ball to long on for one | ||||||||||||||
16.3 | Mendis to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, Mendis fires in the yorker and Afridi digs it out towards t he bowler for a single | ||||||||||||||
16.2 | Mendis to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, Malik jumps down the track and chips towards long off for a single | ||||||||||||||
16.1 | Mendis to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, full ball on the pads, Mendis follows Afridi as he makes room, flicked through midwicket for one | ||||||||||||||
Pakistan need 33 off 24 ... this is getting tight. Sri Lanka have quality bowlers left. Here's one of them, Mendis will bowl his last. Can he bowl a good one for Sri Lanka? The margin for slip-ups is disappearing fast! | |||||||||||||||
End of over 16 (3 runs) Pakistan 106/2 (33 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 6.62, RRR: 8.25)
| |||||||||||||||
15.6 | Malinga to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, flicked of the pads towards midwicket, there's a bit of a mix-up between the batsmen but the fielder fumbles! Pressure! | ||||||||||||||
15.5 | Malinga to Shahid Afridi, no run, fantastic yorker, Afridi stays in his crease and plays it back to the bowler | ||||||||||||||
15.4 | Malinga to Shahid Afridi, no run, Afridi makes room to hit on the off side by moving outside leg, Malinga responds by firing a full toss wide outside off stump, Afridi can't reach it even though he lunges | ||||||||||||||
15.3 | Malinga to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, Malik chops a yorker into the pitch hard and they run a single | ||||||||||||||
15.2 | Malinga to Shoaib Malik, no run, the slower ball outside off stump, Malik tries to play the late cut but can't | ||||||||||||||
15.1 | Malinga to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, a fast swinging full toss, Afridi stands his ground and flicks towards square leg | ||||||||||||||
Pakistan need 36 off the last five overs ... will this be decided in the final over? Will Misbah get a chance to exorcise the ghosts of 2007? Or will these two finish it? Malinga's running in ... chants of "Afridi, Afridi" echo around Lord's. | |||||||||||||||
0 comments:
Post a Comment