Miandad Shows Form (26 Dec 1995)

Miandad shows fitness of form

Staff Correspondent

FAISALABAD, Dec. 26 Those thinking that Javed Miandad might not be able to regain his lost form and fitness badly bit the dust when the former Pakistan captain steered Habib Bank to an exciting six-wicket victory over Karachi Whites in the Pool B match of the 15th National One-day Championship at the Iqbal Stadium.

Miandad hammered six boundaries and two sixes in his undefeated 74 which came off 85 balls after the maestro occupied the crease for 92 minutes.

Miandad, later adjudged Man-of-the-Match, showed glimpses of why he is considered a brilliant one-day batsman. He took cheeky singles and stroked the ball with the middle of the bat. Miandad also proved his fitness when he remained in the field throughout Karachi Whites innings marshalling his fielders. He had gallant sprints after the ball and on a number of occasions dived to stop the ball. It was a tremendous sight to see a great batsman in full cry and at a time when a certain lobby is against his inclusion in the World Cup party.

Habib Bank, set a target of 203 for victory by Karachi Whites, were reeling at the ropes when Shakeel Ahmad (16), Sohail Miandad (3), and Shahid Nawaz (12) had returned to the pavilion with the scoreboard reading 55 in the 16th over.

Miandad came out, moving in confidence and the first ball he faced showed that he was out there to prove something. But when Mujahid Jamsheed departed in the next over to leave Habib Bank 68 for four in the 17th over, followers started thinking that Miandad will have to show his brilliance if he has to pull his bank out from the jaws of defeat.

Miandad did not disappoint his well wishers.

A great calculator he is, Miandad made a plan and not only followed it, also made wicketkeeper Tahir Rasheed follow it. Although after the conclusion of 30 overs the scoreboard read 89, Miandad by then was gaining confidence ball-by-ball.

Miandad played delightful and heart-stopping shots. His square cuts were as sweetly timed as were his cover-drives. His pulls and off-thetoe shots were a treat to watch. But Miandad might not have been able to pull his side home if Tahir Rasheed had not helped him. Tahir scored an undefeated 57 from 72 balls with the aid of six hits to the fence.

Together with Miandad, Tahir put on 135 runs to the unbroken fifth wicket partnership.

Earlier, Karachi Whites 202 for seven in 45 overs revolved around 74 by opener Malik Rasheed who struck nine boundaries in his 143-ball innings.

Test pacer Naveed Anjum picked up two wickets for 45 runs while Kabir Khan, Shahid Nawaz, Nadeem Ghauri and Akram Raza all picked up one wicket each.

Source :: Pakistan Dawn Service