da jogodeouro： S Rajesh provides the Plays of the day from the match between Australia and Pakistan
da stake casino： S Rajesh in Johannesburg18-Sep-2007
Shoaib Malik produced a wonderful knock to derail the Australian attack © AFP
Awesome Afridi
Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds were running away with it, scoring atnearly ten an over after eight, when Shahid Afridi, after going for13 in his first, did the incredible, bowling a wicket maiden and having achance missed. The first three balls were all outside off, and Pontingmissed two cuts and a sweep. Next ball, Ponting charged madly, missed, andso did Kamran Akmal. A bye was taken, which turned out to be a bad movefor Symonds, as next ball he charged, didn’t connect, and was bowled. Andwhen Mike Hussey played a dot ball next, Afridi achieved the rare feat oftaking a wicket in an over without conceding a bat run.A drought of sixes
Usually, an Australian hitting a six in a Twenty20 game would hardly meritmention, simply because you’d expect so many in an innings. MichaelHussey’s straight hit off Afridi which hit the sightscreen deserves towritten about, if only because it was the only six of the innings. It wasa superb hit, straight and clean, but you’d have expected many more ofthem from Australia.On the ball, in the field
Pakistan’s fielding has never been their strongest suit, but in this gamethere were two moments of sheer inspiration. Only one produced a wicket,but both were worthy of celebration. First, Imran Nazir scored in frommidwicket as Brad Hodge and Hussey attempted a risky second run.Pakistan rejoiced as if they had nailed a wicket, and even though replaysshowed otherwise, the celebrations were justified just for the quality ofthe throw. Afridi then went one better, knocking down the stumps frompoint to send Michael Clarke on his way for a duck. Inspirational, andvery unlike the usual Pakistan outfit.The battle of the metronomes
Mohammad Asif and Stuart Clark have both, at various times in theircareers, been touted as the new McGrath. This game pitted them against oneanother, and there was no question about who won the battle: with cleverchange of pace and control, Clark winkled out three batsmen and gave verylittle away; Asif, on the other hand, was subdued and largely listless andwent at 8.50 runs per over.Captain, my captain
With Pakistan falling slightly behind the eight-ball, Shoaib Malik decidedthat the way to go was to lead from the front. In the 12th over, fromClarke, Malik stepped it up, clouting two fours over the bowlershead and a stunning inside-out blow over extra-cover. The captain had madehis move, and Pakistan were on their way.Deft touches, meaty blows
The captain made the first move, but his partner stepped it up to an evenhigher plane. Misbah-ul-Haq virtually decided the game in Pakistan’sfavour in the 15th over. A reverse-sweep, a cut and a pull off AndrewSymonds all beat the fielders and found the boundary. Add a couple oftwos, and it enough to plummet the asking rate from eight to 6.20. Fromthere the winner was never in doubt.
