A view from the Gully (30 May 1999)

30 May 1999

A view from the Gully

By Tawfiq Aziz Khan

Shahid Afridi was brilliantly 'caught' at deep square leg by team-mate Shoaib Akhtar off the bowling of Dion Nash. But the problem was the 'catch' was taken beyond the boundary, at the stands.

Fleming started confidently by winning the toss and then took two quick decisions that proved him wrong - by inviting Pakistan to bat on a firm wicket on a blustery but bright day and then opening the attack with Dion Nash instead of Geoff Allott, his most successful bowler. This offer of a olive branch to Pakistan at the start of the match, which was of great importance for the Kiwis, allowed Anwar and Afridi to clobber a dozen runs from the first six deliveries. It was good feeling for any batsman going through a drought. Akram was happy losing this toss.

Derbyshire's reputation as a bowling force took root in their first first-class match at Manchester in 1871 when Lancashire, the only opponents deigning to meet them on equal terms, were routed for 25, according to Wisden. To this day it is their lowest total in county cricket. Two years on Nottinghamshire, apparently succumbing to the lavish hospitality of a wine merchant at Winksworth, staggered to 14 all out, an ignominy redressed to the course of time at Trent Bridge with Derbyshire dismissed for 16.

The country's pride has been in its strain of pace bowlers. But times change. Now it is more likely to be a phone call to the Caribbean to recruit a Holding. Who would have thought a West Indian and a Dane, Ole Mortensen, would be the new-ball successors to the Pope brothers, Rhodes, Jackson, Hendrick and Co.

The ground occupies part of the former Derby racecourse and was known as the Racecourse Ground until officials became anxious that it be termed the County Cricket Ground. For racing Derby boasted a straight mile and a grandstand complete with a copper-domed viewing cupola and stables. The grandstand was built in 1911 as is defined on a stone tablet below the county crest. The ground now occupies an area of 17 acres and in 1982 a lease of 125 years was purchased from the owners, Derby City Council.

The initial flurry of the Pakistanis were brought under control by more accurate bowling and two quick wickets, also responsible was Abdul Razzaq who wasted as many as five overs himself before scoring. Such slow tactic ultimately puts the later batsmen under pressure. But the Pakistanis wriggled out of that crunch situation through the batting of Inzamam, Ijaz, Moin and Azhar. Again Inzamam grafted the innings beautifully, running out Ijaz and dashing down Dion Nash, remaining unbeaten and achieving his second consecutive man-of-the-match award.

The Kiwis were faced with a daunting task against the fierce and potent Pakistani attack. Two quick wickets by Shoaib 'expresses' and one by Wasim drove the Kiwis to the backyard. With half the side back in the dressing room for only 70 on board they had little chance of overtaking Pakistan's total of 269. The Kiwis' inched towards the two hundred mark against top class bowling and reasonably good fielding. By virtue of this win Pakistan are now safely in the 'Super Six' with an unbeaten record so far and will round off their engagement for time-being with a match against Bangladesh on 31 May at Northampton.

Source :: The Daily Star