Summer at Willow Lake
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.
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
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