Down memory lane: When Pakistan shook the World Champs

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Pakistan are all set to face the West Indies for an ODI series, with a new skipper. Sir ‘Viv’ Richards saw a ‘Javed Miandad’ in Sarfraz Ahmed while mentoring Quetta Gladiators in Pakistan Super League.

It was Javed, under whose captaincy Pakistan rose to the occasion, inflicting the first defeat to the mighty West Indies in a limited overs game in their prime. It was in Australia in Nov-Dec 1981 that Pakistan and West Indies were facing each other in the opening match of tri-series. It was the 4th such match under the leadership of Javed Miandad. Earlier, both had played six ODIs in as many years. Pakistan always gave a tough fight but victory eluded them. On this tour, Pakistan ended the losing streak against the World Champions.

Miandad won the toss on 21st November 1981 and decided to field at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Desmond Haynes, the hard hitting opener, was dropped by ever-reliable Iqbal Qasim in the slips, off Imran Khan, when on nought. The ‘life’ was enough for the opening pair to put on a century partnership, until Haynes was bowled by Mudassar Nazar for 84.

A rare batting collapse from 200/1 made West Indies 224/6. Sir ‘Viv’ Richards got bowled by Imran for 17 and Sarfaraz Nawaz removed Faoud Bacchus and the centurion Gordon Greenidge to slow down the scoring. Imran cleaned up Joel Garner and Andy Roberts for ducks while in the last over, Sarfaraz got Clive Lloyd and Larry Gomes, with West Indies setting Pakistan a target of 246 to win.

In reply, Pakistan lost their first wicket at 53, when Garner got debutant Rizwan-un-Zaman for 14. Javed Miandad put on 67 runs for the 2nd wicket with Mudassar, who was dismissed after completing his 50. With the fall of Mansoor Akhtar four runs later, Pakistan required 122 more runs to win in 21 overs. Majid Khan and Javed Miandad made that look easy with a fine stand of 88.

With the target in sight, Javed Miandad, at 74, was caught behind off Andy Roberts. Imran Khan was out first ball and the pressure increased on the senior Khan. Pakistan required 25 runs off 9 deliveries.

Batting at 56, Majid tried to hit Roberts over the top, but was caught at mid-wicket. Pakistan eventually lost by 18 runs, registering their seventh straight loss. Wasim Raja was unable to guide his team to victory with the bat, but two weeks later, he was the star when Pakistan avenged all previous defeats in a low-scoring encounter.

The next meeting between the two sides was a complete anti-thesis of the Melbourne match. Clive Lloyd won the toss and put Pakistan into bat. Mudassar Nazar and Mohsin Khan started slowly against a pace attack comprising Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Malcolm Marshall. When Mudassar got out at 16, six overs had been bowled. Mohsin was run-out when he and Zaheer Abbas ended up at the striker’s end. From 27/2, Pakistan became 35/5, with Raja, Miandad and Imran back in the pavilion.

Zaheer Abbas steered the innings and put on 28 runs for the sixth wicket with Ijaz Faqih. The 57 runs he added for the 8th wicket with Sarfaraz Nawaz proved valuable in the end. Zaheer batted so patiently that his first boundary came after 69 deliveries. He got out for 46 in the 45th over. Tahir Naqqash was run out from a brilliant throw from ‘Jeff’ Dujon, into the hands of wicket-keeper David Murray two runs later and Pakistan were eventually dismissed for a mere 140 in 49 overs. Sarfaraz, with his big hitting, remained not out at 34.

It seemed a piece of cake for the World Champions, who lost a handful matches since Clive Lloyd took over. West Indies started badly and lost Greenidge and Richards, due to clever bowling by Sarfaraz. Desmond Haynes was caught behind, chasing Tahir Naqqash’s pathetic ‘down-the-legside’ first delivery for 7. Tahir was unlucky as Faoud Bacchus got a life when Wasim Raja misjudged a catch and later, Clive Lloyd’s top edge was dropped by Javed Miandad who, until the last moment, thought that Imran Khan was going to catch it. Finally, the partnership was broken at 85, when Tahir at backward square leg caught Lloyd off Ijaz Faqih for 28. Over-confidence paid its price and West Indians fell like nine pins.

Whoever claims that leg-spinners were not used before 1983 World Cup, must watch this match. Wasim Raja, with his mixed deliveries ruined the remaining batting line-up. Asked to bowl after 25 overs, Raja had Dujon bowled for a duck. Top scorer Bacchus was gone for 37 while David Murray followed in the same over. West Indies required 27 runs from 15 overs with 3 wickets in hand. Marshall was the last batsman to become Raja’s fourth wicket after scoring 20. Raja’s 4/25 from his 7 overs, sealed the fate of the match. Imran Khan took the last two wickets and Pakistan won the match by 8 runs with 7 deliveries left.