Pakistan V WI iccct

[Richard Jenkins]

Well, the West Indies have Pakistan on the ropes, 116 for 8. West indies have still got to bat, but it's looking grim for pakistan. Sami 's in, Gayle bowls his first over.

[Occasional Fan]

The skipper said a couple of days ago he didn't like the look of the pitch. Was there really anything wrong with it? Whatever, WI have to use the same one. Chasing 132 they must feel fairly confident. Seems like a pretty woeful performance from Pakistan, sadly.

[Zainub]

This is proving to be shocking decesion by Inzi up till now, but that might well change (fingers crossed). Forgive my for being loyal/optimistic but I still feel we have a chance. Not saying this just for the sake of it, I genuinely beleive we are in with a reckonnning even with just 131 on the board. Conditions are very tough out there.

[Occasional Fan]

Surely nothing to forgive, Zainub. Stick with your team! You say conditions are tough out there - is that the pitch, the weather or something else? I'm "blind" here in Prague, with neither radio nor TV coverage available.

[Zainub]

Occasional,

It's both the pitch and the weather that have collectively made conditions tough, especially against the skiddy medium pacers, which unfortunately West Indies have quite a few of. But we gifted a few wickets as well. Two run outs as this level are just down right unacceptable. I know the second one could have gone our way, but we've been absymal in that department off late. And there are no excuses for that.

On a whole I'm really disapointed with our efforts, especially with Yasir Hameed, who top scored with 39. On a wicket like that once you get in, you have to make it count, but he got him self run out after being well set. He's made that a bit of a habbit really, he tends to lose concentration once he enters his 30s and is nearing the 40s. I hope Woolmer works on that, because he certainly is making too many starts and not converting enough of them into something worthwhile, which is unfair to all the talent he has. Shoaib Malik hasn't got runs outside the subcontiment batting in the top order, and that is a worry. I think we should reconsider our batting line up for the finals if god willling we make it through today. I also don't see the point behind suddenly giving Salman Butt a go. I know for sure that he's a very talented young bloke, and I'm all for giving him a chance. But if you bring in a youngster into your side, striaght in a big game like this, and remember he's not played in any of our warm up games as well, he's bound to struggle.

Some questional decesions all in all, but every thing could be put aside if we win. Here's hoping we do.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

I also don't see the point behind suddenly giving Salman Butt a go. I know for sure that he's a very talented young bloke, and I'm all for giving him a chance. .

Along with the choice to bat, I also thought that was a barmy decision...Why do it now, why not against the smaller team... I couldn't really get that.

The Toss was also mad, no team has thought of batting first all tournament, Lara must have been overjoyed, but then the way they batted. Barmy just barmy.

I also couldn't understand why for the first tine they opened up with Akhtar, I know they needed wickets but who got all the wickets against India?

[Occasional Fan]

Well, all over at a canter. Disappointing performance by Pakistan, but congratulations to the West Indies.

I read on the BBC's site that Brian Lara took a fast one on the jaw (cricinfo said the back of his head under the helmet). Either way, it sounds painful and dangerous. Any word at all on his condition? Will he be able to turn out on Saturday?

[flanflinger]

OF,

Not too sure about whether he will play, but he went down like a sack of spuds....

Aktar ran down the pitch immediatly to see if he was OK. He looked very groggy, but apparantly was feeling better later...Gower said on TV that he will play inthe final

Well WI have won, England have played them a few times this year. But they seem much more comfortable in ODI's their batting is looking in great shape. But do England have the Psycological advantage?

In ODI's in 2004 England have played the WI's 10 times and lost 4, winning only 3... I would say that maybe they don't - but this ODI team looks to have a better balance....We shall have to wait and see

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Along with the choice to bat, I also thought that was a barmy decision...Why do it now, why not against the smaller team... I couldn't really get that. The Toss was also mad, no team has thought of batting first all tournament, Lara must have been overjoyed, but then the way they batted. Barmy just barmy. I also couldn't understand why for the first tine they opened up with Akhtar, I know they needed wickets but who got all the wickets against India?

The idea behind bowling Akhtar up front probably was because of his pace he is more likely to give Pakistan the sort of start they were looking for to stand any chance in the game. Credit to him, he bowled his heart out, and was the first time in a long while I've seen him bowl that well, unfortunate we never put up enough runs on the board, by the looks of things, even 200 would have been competetive. You are right about the toss though, I don't think Inzi under rated the opposition as such, his view was probably that if we can bat out the 15 overs safely (which he did ironically) there are plenty of runs in this wickets, he said at the toss he though the wicket had turn which could be exploited later on (which it did, Malik bowled tidely and got some sharp spin). What was most surprising was that yesterday he him self came out and spoke about how he thought this surface was not an ideal one-day wicket, and than he knew too that West Indies have been chasing well of late, so even if his side does get a big score on the board, the windies would be in with a chance.

NEVERTHELESS, I've always stated matches are not won or loss because of the toss of the coin, they only affect the result, in the end, it is ultimately how you play determines the result. We didn't bat enough well enough and that's why we lost. Credit to the windies though for bowling in the right areas and then finishing it of quite clinically after the loss of those two early wickets. I hope Lara is alright though, looked in pretty sevior pain when he left the field. Any one has any news on weather he will be fit for the final or not? Also it will be interesting to see if West Indies pick Dillion if he gets fit after all the seamers did so well today.

[Occasional Fan]

Zainub - weather forecasting in England more than about twenty minutes in advance is mostly guesswork, but, for what it's worth, the BBC is presently forecasting a sunny day on Saturday in London, maximum temperature 17 deg C. If I were going, I would take a T-shirt and shorts, two pullovers, a pair of long trousers in case it gets cold, another pair of long trousers in case the first pair gets rained on, an anorak, a woolly hat, an umbrella, plenty of sun-block cream, an Eski full of cold beer and a Thermos or two of hot tea and soup. That's the only way to be sure in September. (And in fact you could easily use all of it.)