The Gaddafi Stadium at Lahore was buzzing with excitement in anticipation of Pakistan’s maiden World Cup final entry after being losing semi-finalists in 1979 and 1983. The stakes were indeed high for Imran Khan’s men to win the World Cup playing in their own backyard, and it was in this backdrop that Pakistan took on Australia, one of the most underrated teams at the 1987 World Cup.
It was Australia who pulled the early punches through a 73-run opening stand between Geoff Marsh and David Boon and ensured the hosts were kept at bay after Allan Border called it correctly. Boon consolidated the Australian innings in association with Dean Jones after the run out of Marsh as they prospered to 155 before the hosts tasted some success. Part-timer Saleem Malik had Boon stumped by makeshift wicketkeeper Javed Miandad, standing in for the injured Saleem Yousuf, followed soon by the departure of Jones.
In fact, Australia at one stage seemed to put up a score in excess of 300 but it only due to Imran’s penetrative three-wicket spell at the death that their scoring spree was kept in check, as Aussies finished at 267 for 8 in 50 overs.
A solid opening start was the need of the hour chasing 268 for victory but the Pakistan top-order made a mess of things, leaving the most experienced pros in the side – Javed Miandad and Imran Khan to turn around the fortunes of Pakistan. The duo milked the Aussie bowling nicely finding the occasional boundary to keep Pakistan in the running.
The general feeling around the Stadium was that Pakistan could pull this match off as long as Miandad and Imran were at the crease, as they raised 112 for the fourth wicket before Imran fell to rival skipper Border.
Pakistan’s hopes for a final berth, was dealt a killer blow when Miandad was cleaned up by Bruce Reid. The tailenders did their best to take Pakistan close to the Australian target but they always had their backs to the wall.
McDermott polished off the tail to bag a brilliant 5-for and condemn Pakistan to a 18-run defeat.
Pakistan’s defeat smacked off a sense of overconfidence in their ranks. This stems from the manner in which former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas took a swipe at the Australians on the eve of the World Cup semi-final calling them “schoolboys; mere club cricketers” in his newspaper column.
No wonder, Australia were fired up for the occasion and wanted to prove a point or two.
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