Pakistan’s remarkable journey to the finals

Pakistan are the No. 8 ranked ODI team in the world and barely just qualified for the ICC Champions Trophy. That they will end up being in the finals, their first ever in 8 Champions Trophy participations, sounds like an aberration. Pakistan’s bowling has always been really good but their batting is perennially rickety.

There is something about ICC events which prompts the Men in Green to punch above their weight. In the road to the finals, Pakistan has smashed the No. 1 ranked ODI side South Africa; tournament hot favourites England; and a resurgent Sri Lanka side, who shocked India earlier in the tournament. Owing to the brand of cricket they play, the first two wins, and arguably the tougher ones, were more clinical than the Sri Lanka one, where they almost floundered the game in chase of 236. This sums up Pakistan cricket, they are more likely to win against big sides in big games barring India, against whom they have a pathetic record in ICC events.

It was their arch-rivals India who gave them a pounding in both teams first group game in the tournament. Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh all smote half centuries in this clash at Edgbaston and were helped by some lax bowling on occasions coupled with some shoddy fielding. As a result, India sauntered past Pakistan by 124 runs, repeating the litany and the general consensus was that that was it for Pakistan in the competition.

But they had a stomach for a fight. From there on, every game was like a knockout encounter for them. South Africa was a stern challenge but Pakistan were equal to the task. It was a great toss to lose as Sarfaraz’s bowlers were on the money. From 60 for 1, South Africa dilapidated to 118 for 6. South Africa are vulnerable in big tournaments and were also defeated by Pakistan in the 2015 World Cup. Handy contributions by Miller (75*), Morris (28) and Rabada (26) could get their score to 219. Pakistan were solid in their chase and required 101 runs from 23 overs with 7 wickets in hand until the rain arrived and the D/L method awarded them the game by 19 runs. Hasan Ali’s contribution to Pakistan’s success has been colossal as he turned the heat on the Proteas, returning with 3/24 and was awarded the Man of the Match.

After the remarkable win, Sri Lanka were next and a semifinal berth suddenly started looking within the realms of possibility. Pakistan’s magic with the ball construes during the middle overs. On this occasion, it was the 32d over. Sri Lanka were cruising at 161-3 and suddenly the wicket started behaving outlandishly. Maybe it was the skill of the fast bowlers to get the ball to reverse on a dry Cardiff wicket. Four overs later the score read 167-7, Pakistan were well and truly in the contest. The Islanders were eventually bowled out for 236. Pakistan’s chase was sharp early on when Fakhar Zaman, playing just his 2nd ODI, along with Azhar Ali provided the best possible start in a small chase. Pakistan careened. From 92-1 they were 162-7 and victory seemed a farfetched dream. Their skipper was at the cynosure of the chase and he rode his luck to script one of Pakistan’s most memorable wins. Their chase wasn’t clinical nor professional but was a classic one which Pakistan are usually associated with, giving their fans fraught and panic attacks.

With two successive wins, Pakistan were now in the semi-finals and scheduled to be pitted against hosts England, the tournament favourites. Pakistan giving the hosts a run for their money did not seem plausible. They bowled first on a ‘used pitch’ where England wanted to make a statement by scoring quickly. Their batsmen hadn’t sussed the pace of the wicket and wanted to score 300 plus, a familiar theme with England in the last 18 months. The bowlers again chipped in with wickets in the middle overs. From 80-1 England had slipped to 181-7 and a berth in the finals looked unlikely. They were finally bowled out in the last over of the innings for 211. England fancied their chances as they knew the rickety batting order of Pakistan could collapse anytime. Pakistan though came out all guns firing. Zaman and Azhar were again at the forefront and made an early headway into the chase. The former’s knock was frill-free and filled with aggressive shots while the latter was cool and calm. The hosts never challenged Pakistan in the chase. It was as clinical a chase one could imagine. There was no collapse, the game never nipped and tuck. It was Pakistan all the way as they completed the formalities 77 balls earlier than their allotted overs with 8 wickets unused. It was not the typical careened chase where at the cusp of win they lose a flurry of wickets and are squeezed for runs.

Pakistan have sewed up three fine wins on the bounce which has now put them in the finals of the Champions Trophy. Do they have another magical performance in store for the big day? While the world will be hoping that India goes past Bangladesh to make it an Indo-Pak final, Pakistan must not get bogged down by the occasion.