Pakistan's victory at Sharjah a great achievement

By defeating, the indomitable South Africans by 16 runs and clinching the Coca-Cola Trophy, Pakistan earned its 12th invaluable Triumph at Sharjah, its most favourite hunting ground. Although there were complaints of scanty audience in the earlier matches, the final thriller was enjoyed by shouting and screaming sell out crowd of 20,000. By defeating the favourites South Africa twice in the tournament, the Pakistan's million-dollar trait of springing a surprise proved its worth. The team commenced the tournament by losing two matches but ultimately ended up as the champions.

By suffering a defeat at the hands of Pakistan in there second league match, the Proteas should have weighed Pakistan's strength in the right perspective. They remained complacent, perhaps considering the defeat due to the inclusion of five reserve players in their side. Defeating a full South African team with a depleted side on account of the absence of Saeed Anwar, Shoaib Akhtar and Saqlain Mushtaq was a great achievement by Pakistan. It was a magnificent team effort in which every member of the team contributed his eternal best.

Batting first, on a sporting track the Pakistan openers Imran Nazir (69) and Shahid Afridi (52) gave the team an excellent start of 123 runs. The two of them having occupied the crease for 22 overs, during which they severely punished the South African bowlers, laid a strong foundation for building the inning. The manner, in which they dominated the game, it looked as if Pakistan would touch the 300 run mark. It was, the dismissal of Shahid Afridi, through a sensational catch taken by Jacques Kallis at deep mid off that did not only break a formidable opening partnership but also retarded the irrepressible tempo of runs.

Shahid Afridi, the bold adventurer in the Pakistan side not being able to control his impulse of touching the sky, hit a skier off Lance Klusener's first ball. The ball was heading many yards behind Kallis who ran back and made a masterly dive to pick it up inches off the ground. It was the most dramatic event of the day and the best catch of the tournament.

Inzamam-ul-Haq (53) was the next batsman to hold the ground. Since three wickets had fallen, he was compelled to adopt an Un-lnzi like batting posture to save the inning from a possible collapse. His slow rate of scoring was a dire need of the hour. Keeping in view Pakistan's earlier victory over South Africa, the total of 263 was considered to be a fighting score.

The fall of the two star batsmen Gibbs (5) and Kallis (11) for only 30 runs on the board, though a matter of joy for Pakistan caused a serious blow to South Africa. Skipper Hansie Cronje (79) and Mekenzie (58), however, held the inning together. Boucher also played a bold inning and could have taken South Africa to victory, had Waqar Younis not struck with a bang. Waqar made short work of Boucher (57), Boje (0), Klusener (0), and Pollock (14), three of them falling within a space of one run. It devastated South Africa's hope of achieving the target of 264 runs required to clinch the Trophy. With the last man Hayward clean bowled by Razzak, South Africa was bundled out for 247 runs in 49 overs. Never before the Pakistan fielders had exerted so much to restrict the opponent's score. For a fiery spell of bowling in which he ousted four top players, Waqar Younis emerged as hero of the match.

Being the second win over South Africa in the last 16 encounters it was a great victory for Pakistan. With a dismal record of defeats against Australia and Sri Lanka, Pakistan badly needed a series win to rejuvenate its team and to boost up its morale. By defeating a strong South African outfit by sheer force and a commendable performance, the Pakistan team has regained its lost form, the ability to humble the strongest opponent and to some extent shed the element of unpredictability for which it is known.