Daily Cricket News

Pak reach WC quarters with win over Zim

Pallekele: At 34 going on 35, Ray Price’s provincial career would have had to start in the mid-1990s. The sad story is how politics – Zimbabwe style – put an end to a promising Test career. It also disrupted his ODI career.

He missed out on the 2003 in southern Africa and the 2007 Caribbean odyssey which gave the event such a dog-eared image, lasting far too long.

When anyone questions his rise in the International Cricket Council ranks to second before the start of CWC11, all they need to do is look at the statistics. Inside info is that his highly competitive attitude has had a positive effect in what is a young side and unfortunately all too often out of their depth this tournament.

Pakistan were going to reach the quarterfinals anyway, it is now a matter of where they will end after playing Australia at Khettarama on Saturday. Getting into the quarters is one thing, it is knockout stages and depends who they draw.

Yet Price’s input in a losing cause, such as Monday night’s game against Pakistan, reduced to a Duckworth/Lewis formula because of late afternoon and early evening rains, it was always going to be no-win situation for the Africans and their persistence for the 4/5 field because of a weak support attack for Price’s off-spin.

With rain and dew, the ball was always going too hard to handle and Pakistan this time had batsmen around who were able the handle the conditions. Had Zimbabwe lost fewer wickets – they were 151 for seven when rain curtailed the innings a second time – it might have helped the red-clad hopefuls. Defending the D/L adjusted 162 total in such conditions, and against a Pakistan side mauled in their media after losing to New Zealand, was always going to be a tough challenge.

Brendan Taylor’s early dismissal meant whatever competitive total they hoped to put together went with his first over departure to Abdul Razzaq. Craig Ervine put together a solid half-century, yet without the top-order support, Zimbabwe were always treading water against Pakistan.

Even a late charge by Elton Chigumbura with 32 failed to ignite the innings the way that was needed. Pakistan’s bowling had shown far more discipline and as such two wides and a no-ball was major improvement to the 1.2 overs extra bowled against New Zealand where they were taken apart without ceremony.

This time Kamran Akmal, the butt of so many jokes ("Can I drop you somewhere?" being one of the favourite pick up lines in New Delhi) explained the humour and ribald comments of his efforts against the Kiwis. As these were repeated more than once during the rain stoppages, and the now well-known scowl accompanied the dropping of Ross Taylor then on four, it is easy to imagine what went through his mind.

Having been castigated over his Sydney Test performance, now under suspicion because of allegations involving bookie and player agent Mazhar Majeed, whose case is to be heard this week, Akmal's life at times has been far from easy.

It was man of the match, Umar Gul, the only Pakistan bowler to perform well against New Zealand, who wrecked the Zimbabwe innings. His first wicket that of Regis Chakabva, trapped in front although hitting leg, offered an interesting moment of whether to challenge the decision, but after a brief consultation with Tatenda Taibu, thought the better of the challenge.

With two gone in two overs and rain always threatening it was always concern. Gul then ended Vusi Sibanda's torment where Mishbah-ul-Haq takes the catch and the innings is on the slide to nowhere.

What better game or way to give the 25-year-old Asad Shafiq his debut to ease him into the side. He played some nifty shots and looked to be a batsman itching to get a chance to prove himself which is what the selectors and team management wanted.

Price took out two wickets, but there was not a big enough total to support him or the Zimbabwe bowlers, and where with the conditions in mind, the Pakistan batting were able to absorb the early loss of Ahmed Shehzad and later Shahid Afridi, aka Puff-Puff not Boom-Boom.

Both fell to Price.

Right-handed Shafiq batted sensibly and with Younis Khan to nurse him through whatever bugs might have bothered him in the middle and latter stages of the innings, it was the response expected from a veteran batsman.

There were no early nerves and that meant edges as such and as his stay at the crease lasted, so did his ability to pick the length of the ball on a pitch that is good for batting, if it needs some work to get a few runs together. There were a few wristy cuts and steely drives as well. Good for the future, and a name to remember.