Cocky Pakistan bid adieu to final berth for third straight time

 

Australia vs Pakistan, Reliance World Cup - 1st semi-final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, November 4, 1987

 

Australia won by 18 runs

 

 

The Gaddafi Stadium at Lahore was buzzing with excitement in anticipation of Pakistan’s maiden World Cup final entry after being losing semi-finalists in 1979 and 1983. The stakes were indeed high for Imran Khan’s men to win the World Cup playing in their own backyard, and it was in this backdrop that Pakistan took on Australia, one of the most under-rated teams at the 1987 World Cup.

 

Australia vs Pakistan, Reliance World Cup – 1st semi-final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, November 4, 1987

Australia won by 18 runs

 

The Gaddafi Stadium at Lahore was buzzing with excitement in anticipation of Pakistan’s maiden World Cup final entry after being losing semi-finalists in 1979 and 1983. The stakes were indeed high for Imran Khan’s men to win the World Cup playing in their own backyard, and it was in this backdrop that Pakistan took on Australia, one of the most under-rated teams at the 1987 World Cup.

 

It was Australia who pulled the early punches through a 73-run opening stand between Geoff Marsh and David Boon and ensured the hosts were kept at bay after Allan Border called it correctly. Boon consolidated the Australian innings in association with Dean Jones after the run out of Marsh as they prospered to 155 before the hosts tasted some success.

 

Part-timer Saleem Malik had Boon stumped by makeshift wicketkeeper Javed Miandad, standing in for the injured Saleem Yousuf, followed soon by the departure of Jones.

 

In fact, Australia at one stage seemed to post a score in excess of 300, but it was only due to Imran’s incisive three-wicket spell at the death that their scoring spree was kept in check, as Australia finished at 267 for eight in 50 overs.

 

A solid opening start was the need of the hour chasing 268 for victory, but the Pakistan top-order made a mess of things, leaving the most experienced pros in the side – Javed Miandad and Imran Khan – to turn around the fortunes of Pakistan. The duo milked the Aussie bowling efficiently, finding the occasional boundary to keep Pakistan in the running.

 

The general feeling around the stadium was that Pakistan could pull this match off as long as Miandad and Imran were at the crease. The seasoned campaigners raised 112 for the fourth wicket before Imran fell to skipper Allan Border.

 

Pakistan’s hopes for a final berth, was dealt a killer blow when Miandad was cleaned up by Bruce Reid. The tailenders did their best to take Pakistan close to the Australian target, but their effort was not good enough.

 

Craig McDermott polished off the tail to bag a brilliant five-for and condemn Pakistan to an 18-run defeat.

 

Pakistan’s loss smacked off a sense of overconfidence in their ranks. This stems from the manner in which former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas took a swipe at the Australians on the eve of the World Cup semi-final calling them “schoolboys… mere club cricketers” in his newspaper column.

 

No wonder, Australia were fired up for the occasion and wanted to prove a point or two.

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