Revenge for Pakistan

Press, 23 November 1981, Page 38

Revenge for Pakistan

NZPA Melbourne Pakistan yesterday took revenge on Australia for its first Test loss in Perth, defeating the home side in the one day Benson and Hedges Cup match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Pakistan ended the game at six for 210 in reply to Australia’s nine for 209. Pakistan seemed destined to lose the match when it fielded extremely badly and dropped numerous catches to allow Australia a late recovery. But to the visitors’ credit their batting was superb with

the captain, Javed Miandad, scoring a dashing 72. He was well backed up by the opener, Mudassar Nazar, who made 44 and figured in a 105 run partnership with Miandad in only 97 minutes. Pakistan won the toss and sent Australia in to bat. Pakistan made a vital break-through when the Australian captain, Greg Chappell. was dismissed for three. Chappell lofted a ball to midon and was caught by Wasim Raja off the bowling of Sikander Bakht. The Australian vice-cap-tain, Kim Hughes, became the backbone of his team’s batting line-up, hitting a dashing 67, to help Australia to a respectable total. Australia could consider itself lucky to pass the 200 mark because of dropped catches. Darling was dropped by Sikander at two. and Ejaz Faqih later dropped an easy catch from Yardley when the Australian was 24. A few balls later Ejaz almost collided with Tahir Naqash when the pair both attempted to catch a lofted shot from Hughes.

On Saturday, the West Indies kept its unbeaten oneday record against Pakistan intact with an 18-run victory in the season’s opening Benson and Hedges Cup match at the M.C.G.

The brilliant batting skills in compiling a formidable 245 and tight sharp fielding of the W'est Indies team allowed it to contain Pakistan.