Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
1

Lara confident of claiming finals berth

The West Indies are confident of securing a place in the one-day cricket finals series with a win over Pakistan at the WACA ground in Perth on Tuesday.

The winner will meet Australia in a best of three match finals series, starting in Melbourne on Friday.

Captain Brian Lara will take part in the match against Pakistan, despite being troubled by a wrist injury.

Pakistan head into the match on a high after upsetting Australia by three wickets in Perth on Sunday.

But Lara is confident his side has the talent to overcome Pakistan.

“Hopefully it’s time for one of the other players to come good. We haven’t seen Chris Gayle yet or (Shivnanrine) Chanderpaul going to get three figures, so it’s time to cheer for others I think,” he said.

“Eleven players are going to beat the other 11 tomorrow. It’s not going to be one versus the other.”

Lara was reluctant to look ahead to the finals, but when quizzed about the possibility of Michael Clarke replacing Matthew Hayden in the opening role for Australia, the West Indies skipper said his side would be prepared for whoever they face.

“On his day Matthew Hayden is a match winner and he might be struggling now but we all know it’s going to come to an end at some point in time, he’s going to start getting runs,” he said.

“First of all let’s concentrate on tomorrow and that’s our main focus, to get to the finals first.”

2

Re: Pak v WI - VB Series.

ab sab kee pahtee hogeeee :hehe:

3

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

The match starts at 2.30 AM GMT, which is 9.30 PM (EST).

4

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

^ & 7:30 AM PST :slight_smile:

:bravo:

5

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

What B-Lara is saying, also applies to Pakistan. Razzak had some dismayed performances before he came out right to deliver.
Other guys are now over due for their tags; Salman Butt, Younis Khan (He might return to Pakistan due to his Father's sad demise) Yasser - Needs to pick up on his fielding and score some runs, or scoring runs against India only won't help him in the side. :D
Inzimam is due for a bigger innings not 50-60's,,,

6

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

we need to keep the momentum, good tight bowling and fielding + batting ofcourse, make sure windies 12th batsmen EXTRA doesn’t get into double figures and :insha:] we’ll make the best of 3 finals.

7

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

I hope we keep the same bowling combination that worked so well. Trio Rao, Rana and Khalil worked well enough and with Razzaq and Afridi in good bowling form we dont need Hafeez. Rather I would strengthen the batting and keep Yasir Hameed in the squad.

8

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

Must be a good match, hopefully as boys must have gained tones of confidence after winning that match against the aussies

9

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

I agree. Though WI will like to repeat what happened in last game, :insha: Pak won’t let it happen. As Lara said that its time for one of other WI players to rise, :insha: other Pak players will raise their level as well and won’t be as butter fingered :smiley: . It will be tough competition, but hopefully Pakistan will win it (:insha: )

10

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

That’s what I’m afraid of actually… our team gets “overconfident” all too easily. I hope they realize that even though the bowling dept. performend well, the batting was quite simply inadequate, and fielding sucked!!! - also most of the credit for victory can be attributed to Razzler’s feat in both bowling and batting. Hopefully Bob would have reiterated the mistakes and reinforced some lessons learnt as feedback.

11

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

*Lara injury worry for West Indies *

West Indies are hoping skipper Brian Lara will be fit to play against Pakistan in Tuesday's VB Series game with a place in the finals at stake.

Lara is expected to play in Perth despite a wrist injury, with the winners taking on hosts Australia.

Pedro Collins (thigh strain) and Ramnesh Sarwan (bruised elbow) are also injury concerns for the Windies.

Pakistan are without leading bastman Younis Khan, who has flown home following the death of his father.

Their skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq believes the three-wicket victory over Australia in Perth on Sunday will give his side the upper hand.

He said: "Definitely we have the advantage because we have played one Test match and played in Perth for 15 or 16 days before that.

"This track is totally different and West Indies are playing for the first time here.

"This win has definitely helped us for the coming games. Hopefully we will play the final and we will win," he added.

Inzamam is wary of the in-form Lara after he belted 156 off 138 balls in a victory over Pakistan in Adelaide last Friday.

But he said his team had bowled better against Australia and warned Lara would need to be on top of his game with medium-pace bowler Naved-ul-Hasan and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq showing better form.

"I think he realises the bowling was not good in the last game. I think especially Naved and Razzaq have worked hard in the nets and they are good here."

Lara conceded Pakistan may have the advantage but pointed out there were plenty of players within the West Indies squad, including himself, who had played at the Waca ground before.

"We've got some batsmen that have played here and we know exactly what the track is doing," said Lara.

"It is more a mental game than the physical side and who has had more experience at the Waca.

"What I am worried about with Pakistan is that they are going to be playing three games in five days," he said.

"Hopefully that can play on their mind and we will have a tired bunch."

12

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

Better late then never, tourists find fight

THEY'VE barely fired a collective shot all summer, but all of a sudden the West Indies and Pakistan are brimming with confidence.

Both touring sides have been buoyed by wins at their most recent appearances in the triangular one-day series, in Pakistan's case a morale-boosting win over Australia on the eve of the finals.

The two sides play today at the WACA Ground in Perth. The winner will claim the spot against Australia in the VB Series finals starting on Friday at the MCG.

While many sporting teams try for the underdog tag, the Windies and Pakistan have been jostling for favouritism for the final qualifying match.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said his side were in the box seat because of the number of matches they have played at the WACA this season.

But West Indies skipper Brian Lara countered by claiming that the Pakistanis would be fatigued when they played their third game in five days.

Lara also said both sides had closed the gap on the previously unstoppable Australians heading into the finals.

The Pakistanis spent the first two weeks of their tour training and playing in Perth and have played a Test and Sunday's one-dayer at the WACA Ground.

It will be the first time the West Indies have played at the venue this season, and Inzamam said that added experience would be a determining factor in today's match.

"Definitely we have the advantage because we have played one Test match and had 15 or 16 days in Perth," he said. "The track is totally different and the West Indies are playing for the first time here in the series."

Inzamam said the win over the Australians was also a timely confidence boost for his side

Lara praised the Pakistanis for their upset win over the Australians, but doubted whether they could maintain that form.

"What I am worried about with Pakistan is that they are going to be playing three games in five days," he said. "Hopefully that can play on their mind and we will have a tired bunch."

Lara, coming off a superb 156 in Adelaide, dismissed concerns about his side's lack of experience at the WACA.

"We've got some batsmen that have played here and we know exactly what the track is doing," Lara said.

"It is more a mental game tomorrow than the physical side and who has had more experience at the WACA."

Lara also said his side would take great confidence from their 58-run win over the Pakistanis in Adelaide.

The left-hander conceded his sore left wrist was still troubling him and said it was unlikely to get any better on this tour.

He played several one-handed shots in Adelaide and spent an extended period in the nets yesterday using only his top hand to strike the ball.

The Windies also have injury clouds over pace bowler Pedro Collins, Ian Bradshaw and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

The Pakistanis will be without batsman Younis Khan, who returned home straight after Sunday's win after learning of his father's death. He will be replaced by Kamran Akmal..

13

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

Pak have edge over WI

Having tasted the joy of beating Australia for the first time in the on-going VB Series, Pakistan go into the crunch match on Tuesday against West Indies with a slight psychological edge. That might bring a smirk on the face of one Brian Lara who slammed an astonishing 156 off just 138 deliveries against Pakistan a few days back. But beating Australia at Perth is the best possible aphrodisiac that Inzamam and his boys could have hoped for. The tour Down Under has been a nightmare for Pakistan and the win might just buoy them up to a sterling performance ahead of the VB finals.

The match between Pakistan and West Indies at Perth is a virtual semi-final to decide who plays Australia in the best of three finals. The pressure will be on the Windies who will be playing at Perth for the first time in the series. Interestingly, India’s performance went downhill after the one-dayer at Perth against Australia last year. It remains to be seen whether the Pakistan pace battery or the less glamorous West Indies bowling lineup come up trumps in the bowler friendly wicket at Perth.

Lara, who is suffering from a painful wrist injury, will find it tough to make a meal of the Pakistani bowlers unlike the way he did at Adelaide. Medium-pacer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Abdul Razzaq are much improved bowlers after the last match against Australia. But the absence of the injured Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami will tell on the Pakistani bowling effort.

What goes in Pakistan’s favour is that they won a match against the hosts while chasing. All-rounder and Man of the Match Abdul Razzaq scored a responsible 63 not out and took 4-53 to lead Pakistan to a three-wicket win over Australia. Yousuf Youhana top scored with 72 runs as the winners moved ahead of the West Indies and into second place in the tri-series standings. Australia reached 265 from its 50 overs but Razzaq, Youhana and a late burst from Shahid Afridi — 30 off 13 balls — steered Pakistan to 268-7 with 16 balls to spare.

For Pakistan, the lower middle order has been performing like a dream with the move to bat Afridi lower down a masterstroke. But fatigue after a grueling and largely unsuccessful tour might be Pakistan’s biggest worry. This was true of the Indian team also who had a great tour of Australia last year but seemed to suffer with tiredness at the height of the VB Series. Not to mention that Pakistan will be playing their third game in five days.

West Indies are also plagued by injuries with the fitness of left-arm swing bowler Pedro Collins suspect. Prolific scorer Ramnaresh Sarwan is also suffering from an injured right elbow.

The toss will be of immense importance and though Pakistan won the match against Australia while chasing, they would like to bat first and put the Windies under pressure. The match promises to be a humdinger and Australia will be licking their chops even as they see whether a tired Pakistani outfit can put it across West Indies or another inspired performance from Lara powers Windies to the final.

Source: ( http://cricket.indiatimes.com )

14

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

^ Can you proivde link for your posts above.

15

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

ehsan bhai,,,^ Link is @ the bottom of his post,,,,quite an unusual balanced editorial
:D knowwhatImean

16

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

^ that is only for the last post. not the ones above it.

17

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

Quiz Time: What was the difference between yesterday's match (first win in this tour so far) and the rest of the tour matches Pakistan have played (all losses)?

18

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

Presumably Kamran Akmal will make a return as Younis is no longer available. It remains to be seen if Woolmer will want Akmal to open and relive his previous century against Windies, or will Yasir-Salman be opening for Pakistan with Malik coming one down. I don't expect any changes in the bowling line-up. Hopefully our fielders will not eat parathas before the match, or even if they do, they will wash all the oil/butter/ghee from their hands before entering the field... the match against Australia was a pain due to butter-fingered fielders.

19

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

we won yesterday :stuck_out_tongue:

20

Re: Pak v WI(Perth) - VB Series pseudo semi-final

heiN - heiN - heiN?? - arey yaar don’t discount our first win against WI! :stuck_out_tongue: