A repeat of 1992 World Cup final at MCG
Rex Clementine
in Melbourne
This cricket is indeed a funny game. If you remember Sri Lanka’s tour of England in 2006, Mahela Jayawardene’s side was mocked and ridiculed at Lord’s after they conceded over 500 runs and were made to follow on in what was a flat deck. Geoff Boycott ran down the tourists saying that they didn’t deserve to play a three match Test series in England. After all, this was the England team that had regained the Ashes only the previous year after being in the doldrums for decades.
What followed from thereon was a remarkable fightback. Sri Lanka came up with a 500 plus score in their second innings to save the Test against many odds and that turned out to be one of their most successful tours of England. Not only did they go onto win the Trent Bridge Test match but humbled England in the ODI series that followed with a 5-0 cleansweep. The hammering in the last game of course coming in Boycott’s hometown in Headingley.
A week ago, if anyone had told you that Pakistan and England would reach the finals of this World Cup, you’d have laughed off. Babar Azam’s side looked to be heading home early after defeats to India and Zimbabwe. But then South Africa choked against Netherlands giving Pakistan a sniff and they went through to the semis with a convincing win over Bangladesh. Then in the semis, they knocked out tournament favourites New Zealand to book a ticket to MCG.
England in the meanwhile were in a spot of bother after losing to Ireland and their game against Australia was rained off. Although they got their campaign back on track, their fate was in Sri Lanka’s hand heading into their last Super 12 game. A win for Dasun Shanaka’s side would have eliminated England and sent Australia into the semis. However, Jos Buttler’s side managed to beat Sri Lanka in the last over in Sydney. They took on India in the semi-final and massacred them with a ten wicket win with four overs to spare in one of the most one-sided clashes in an ICC event. Hence, a much anticipated India versus Pakistan clash was dashed.
There are no clear favourites in the final. Both teams are equally matched. Their top orders are too strong. Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are the key for Pakistan’s batting and so are Buttler and Alex Hales for England.Both teams’ middle order are vulnerable but England have the edge having someone in the caliber of Ben Stokes in their ranks.
England would be hoping Mark Wood pulls through. The quick who has sent down the fastest ball in the tournament so far clocking 154.7 kmph didn’t feature in the semi-final due to injury. He has an amazing strike rate of 13 balls per wicket.
What we will witness today is a repeat of 1992 50 over World Cup final where Imran Khan’s ‘cornered tigers’ humbled Graham Gooch’s side. Pakistan have won the T20 World Cup once in 2009 when they beat Sri Lanka at Lord’s. England won the title in the West Indies in 2010.The game could be hit by rain today and in that case, there’s a reserve day for Monday.
