Last Ball Six By Brendon Taylor To Win A One Day Game Against Bangladesh

Brendon Taylor has hit a six off the last ball when five runs were required for a win to win a One Day match against Bangladesh. It was the 3rd match of the 5-match one day series between two minnow of World Cricket. Both the sides have won a match apiece going into the 3rd One Day International of the series. Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to field.

Bangladesh compiled 236 runs losing all their wickets in 49 overs. Rajen Saleh compiled a sedate 54 Aftab Ahmad blasted to a swashbuckling 53. Zimbabwe made a good start and looked cruising to the target before lost their way in the middle of the innings. Brendon Taylor remained stubborn on one side of the wicket and found support from T Mupariwa who was eventually run out on the penultimate ball of the last over. 

Zimbabwe required 17 runs off the last over. Mupariwa managed a single off the first ball of the last over being bowled by Mushrafe Mortaza bringing Taylor on strike. The second ball of the over, a full toss by Mortaza was gleefully hit by Taylor for a might six. Now the margin was reduced to 10 runs required off the last four balls. On the third ball Mortaza succeeded in bowling a dot. Mortaza then bowled a wide providing Zimbabwe some relief. Next ball, Mortaza bowled second full toss of the over, which was promptly dispatched to the ropes by Taylor. The fifth ball resulted in a dot and a run out of Mipurawa as Taylor refused a single. The game has come down to the last ball with 5 runs for a victory for Zimbabwe. Mortaza refused to learn from his previous mistakes and bowled another full toss and Taylor obliged. Taylor hit the full toss from Mortaza over midwicket for six to seal a hard-fought victory.

Low Country Blues

Last Ball Six By Klusener To Win A One Day Game Against New Zealand

There have been few better finishers of the game than Lance Klusener when quick runs were required. There was a period during the late 90s when Klusener was the best finisher of the one day games. His exploits in the 1999 World Cup were spectacular to say the least. Had he managed the win in that fateful Semi-Final against Australia that would have been one of the most spectacular performances in the history of  World Cup tournaments. Klusener gave a demonstration of what was coming in the World Cup in one of the one day games against New Zeeland. Klusener played the role of a finisher to the perfection in a one day game against New Zealand. Klusener hit one of those famous sixes off the last ball to secure a win when 4 runs were required for victory against New Zeeland.

The occasion was the fourth one day International of a six-match series. New Zeeland scored 193 and South Africa made mess of the chase and when the last over dawned on them they required 11 runs to win the game. The last over was bowled by Dion Nash. When the match came to the last ball South Africa required 4 more runs to win. Klusener was the man on strike to face the last ball of the match. Klusener successfully hit  the ball over the bowlers head into the stands for a mighty six to seal victory for South Africa. Klusener scored 35 runs off 19 balls in that particular game.

The Hangman's Daughter

Last Ball Six By Asif Mujtaba To Tie One Day Against Australia

There have been a few sensational sixes on the last and penultimate ball of the game to secure the victory. The most famous of them was the SIX by Javed Miandad when four runs were required to win the Final of the Australasia cup, a tournament equivalent of Champions Trophy. The next in significance was probably the six by Wasim Akram when six runs were required off the last two balls to win the final of the Nehru Cup, a World series tournament involving six major teams.

That kind of a situation arose in a one day game of the World Series.  Australia batted first and scored 228 with a stylish 53 from Dean Jones being the highest contribution. Pakistan began poorly and lost their openers cheaply. After a seesaw performance by the middle order, Pakistan were in a desperate situation midway through their innings before Aisf Mujtaba and Rashid Latif got together to resurrect the innings. At the twilight of the game, Pakistan required 17 runs off the final over to win the game with two wickets remaining. Pakistan managed 10 runs off the first five balls of the over that left them to get 7 runs off the last ball for the victory.

Asif Mujtaba was on strike. Steve Waugh was assigned bowling the last over as he had reputation of being good at doing the same. Steve Waugh bowled a full toss on the last ball, which Mujtaba deposited in the crowd leveling the score and earning and unlikely tie for Pakistan and sharing the points with Australia.

The King Is Dead

Kapil Dev's Four Sixes To Save Follow-On

Javed Miandad's six off the last ball and Wasim Akram's six off the penultimate ball of the game to win two prestigious one day tournaments are well documented. Kapil Dev has such similar feat to his credit. He had the ability to hit a six on demand.

It was the first test of the away series against England. The Indian captain Azharuddin won the toss and invited England to bat, a decision that was heavily criticized. The England captain made most of the opportunity and went onto make 333, but not before being dropped very early in his innings. England declared at 653/4. Indian batsmen too came to the party with Ravi Shastri and Mohammad Azharuddin scoring 100 apiece. Mohammad Azharuddin's 100 came off 87 balls and was considered one of the finest innings ever played. A notable personality from England was quoted as saying "I can die peacefully after watching this innings from Mohammad Azharuddin." Kapil Dev too batted well, but was running out of the partners at the other end.

When Kapil was left with the last partner, India at 430, still required 24 runs to avoid the follow-on. There was a risk of losing the last wicket if the tail-ender was exposed. Kapil was on strike against Hemmings. He did not score off the first two deliveries, and was left with four balls. Kapil decided to finish the matter without wasting much time. He struck four consecutive sixes and saw-off the follow-on. Each six was a clean hit and was bigger than the previous one. Even though India went on to lose the match,but the was Kapil avoided follow-on was amazing.

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The Penultimate-Ball Six By Wasim Akram In Final To Win The Nehru Cup

Summer at Willow Lake

Wasim Akram has produced some of the finest performances at the most opportune moment. Everyone knows about his two-wickets on two consecutive deliveries in World Cup Final in 1992 to take the game away from England. He also scored 33 vital runs off 18 balls in that final. Wasim Akram has produced such remarkable performances on many occasions, and the biggest ones at that.

One such magical performance was his six off the penultimate ball of the final over of the Final of Nehru cup against West Indies when Pakistan needed 6 runs off the last two deliveries. Many people know and talk about the six off the last ball of the match by Javed Miandad against India to win the final of the Australasia cup. But Wasim's six off the penultimate ball to register a win against West Indies in the Final of Nehru Cup was as much significant.

I still remember that day. I was in high school. We were in the ground busy playing some sport. One guy was listening to the commentary on the radio. We were talking among ourselves whether Pakistan will win or lose with six runs needed off two balls as Wasim Akram arrived at the crease. Everyone had their opinion. Suddenly the guy who was listening to the radio shouted, Wasim Akram has hit the six.

The six teams participated in the tournament and the two best one day teams in the World at that moment made it to the final. In the Final, West Indies won the toss and elected bat first. West Indies scored 273 led by Desmond Haynes top score of 107. Chasing down a target of 273 was quite a might task in those days and Pakistan had to it against mighty West Indian bowlers. In a tight chase, Pakistan lost one of their openers early. Ramiz Raja gave a good start at the top and Ijaz Ahmad, Salim Malik, and Imran Khan posted 50s. It all came down to the last two balls. When Wasim Akram arrived at the crease Pakistan needed six runs off the last two balls. Wasim Akram hit the first ball he faced and sealed the victory and Nehru cup for Pakistan. Even though Imran Khan was the man of the series and match of the match in the Final, the victory would not have been possible without the six by Wasim Akram off the penultimate ball.

Summer at Willow Lake

Last Ball Six By Javed Miandad Against India To Seal Australasia Cup And Its Impact on India Pakistan Cricket

Yes, I am talking about a single shot that has highest impact in the history of the game. The rivalry between India and Pakistan on the cricket field is the greatest source of entertainment, joy, and grief for cricket fans all over the world in general and the cricket fans from India and Pakistan in particular. This rivalry has produced many thrilling and mouth-watering cliffhangers between the two sides, and the final of the Australasia cup of 1986 between India and Pakistan was the epitome of the nail-biting contests between these two sides. It was in this match that Javed Miandad hit six off the last ball of the match to seal their major cup against arch-rival India. This last ball six by Javed Miandad is also single most popular shot in the history of the game.

Perhaps this was one of the most significant one day match in the cricket history between these two nations. And the feat of the last ball six by Javed Miandad is greatest feat in games played between these two nations with impressive cricketing history. The joy this six brought to the fans of Pakistan team is probably unmatched. The last ball six also effectively ended the career of Chetan Sharma and his social life for sometime.

Before this last ball victory the games between India and Pakistan were evenly contested and they had an evenly matched head-to-head record. After this victory achieved through the last ball six, Pakistan defeated India in 11 of the next 13 one day games between these two teams. After this last ball six win in 1986, Pakistan also defeated India in a test series in India in 1987. This domination could also be due to the arrival of Wasim Akram around the same time. Since 1986 last ball six, Pakistan has always maintained a better head-to-head record against India. India though has the distinction of winning all the contests between two sides in World Cup tournaments, including the final of T20.

The last ball six was the climax of one of the finest innings played in the history of the game. In fact, the entire inning was as impressive as the last ball six. The shine of the entire innings was lost in the sensation of the last ball six. In the circumstances that innings was played and the occasion that innings was played on, and the the finish that it had, probably makes it the finest innings in the history of one day game. What was more amazing was the fact that Miandad raised his bat the moment he hit the ball in the air. The innings and the last ball six were straight out of the fiction book.

The Hangman's Daughter

India, Pakistan, Australia, and South Africa Will Make To 2011 World Cup Semis

It is just a matter of 18 days before we will be able to witness and revel in the spectacle of 2011 World Cup. Even though this World Cup is the most open of the World Cup tournaments played so far in the history of the game, I believe that India, Pakistan, Australia, and South Africa will make it to Semis. Each of these four teams is capable of winning thereafter, but my favorites to play the final would be South Africa and Pakistan. India Vs Australia is another likely Final. A Final between India and Pakistan cannot be entirely ruled out either and that would be perfect icing on the cake for all the cricket fans throughout the world.

India is probably slightly better team in the tournament overall particularly because of playing in home conditions. Hence according to the merit of the teams, India is favorite to win the World Cup. India has the best batting line up in the tournament with South Africa being other team with an equally stronger batting line up. Where India has a slight edge over South Africa is having more players with all round capabilities. Most of the front-line batsmen in the Indian team are also useful spinners who will be quite handy in the Indian conditions. The new-found form of Yusuf Pathan can be decisive. But like Afridi, Yusuf Pathan is unpredictable. Anyway, India will need Pathan only when most of the Indian batsmen will fail, which is unlikely in the subcontinent conditions. But whenever they need him, they will have someone capable of winning them a game from a desperate situation. They have a very capable bowling line up to complement their strong batting line up. Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, and Nehra with the supporting cast of Harbhajan, Yusuf Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, and Sehwag can defend any good score. But the pressure of high expectation from the Indian crowd might be the undoing for the Indian team. Yuvraj Singh's form will also be crucial for India's chances in the World Cup.

South Africa probably has the best bowling line-up in the tournament with the best fast bowling pair in their ranks, but they have to maintain a good line and length to be effective on subcontinental pitches. If they go wayward, the faster they will bowl, the faster they will be hit back by the opposition batsmen. South Africa also has an impressive batting line up that can match Indian batting line up. Moreover, all their batsmen are in great touch contrary to the Indian batsmen who are either coming back from injury or not in best form of their life. Hashim Amla and De Villiers will have to play an important role. Smith and Duminy will also be very crucial at the top and in the middle respectively to win the World Cup for South Africa. They have to devise a method to get over their choking habit at the important stage of the tournament. Nonetheless, they are one of the favorites to win the World Cup.

The Australian team is still quite capable of winning the tournament.  Remember a half-strength Australian team beating Indian team in a one day series an year or so back. The retirement of big players has affected their test team a great deal, but in one dayers, they have remained one of the strongest team in the World. Shane Watson will be pivotal for Australia. Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey will have to play important role with others in supporting cast. It will be an unprecedented and unmatchable achievement if Australia goes on to win this edition of the World Cup as it will be their four consecutive win in the World cup if they manage to do it this time.

These three teams India, South Africa, and Australia are three strongest teams in the tournament and can win the World Cup. But if there is any team in the tournament that has the talent and wherewithal to bamboozle these teams, it is Pakistan.

Pakistan team may not be the most dependable team in the tournament, but they have the talent and artillery, which is the most threatening in the tournament to say the least. What Pakistan needs is a bit of stability in the middle order. They must have a logical batting order. Kamran Akmal should either open the innings or he should bat down the order. Kamran Akmal is ineffective in the middle order. Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq should stabilize the middle order and try to play out middle over at reasonable strike rate. Misbah-Ul-Haq plays the role of the stabilizer and anchor to the perfection and can up the ante later in the innings. Younis Khan though need to control himself and look to play the role of anchor. Younis Khan often tries to match the other aggressive players in the team and gives away his wicket. There are too many World class hitters in the Pakistan and they do not require Younis Khan to play aggressive. Younis Khan's role will be to stabilize the innings with Misbah. Younis Khan can learn a few things from the way Javed Miandad and even Imran Khan played and used the other explosive players to up the ante. Umar Akmal will be the biggest threat alongside the regular threat from Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq down the order. Umar Akmal can also be promoted to open the innings, in which case if he gets going, he can take the game away from the opposition. Pakistan should not have much difficulty moving to the knockout stage, but once they reach the knockout stage, they have to play their best cricket. If Pakistan play their best cricket from the knockout stage, and some of their key players like Umar Akmal, Shahid Afrid, Abdul Razzak, and Kamran Akmal hit the purple patch, they can decimate even the best of the teams and can win the World Cup.