In cricket, expect the unexpected, always

Deja vu: Wade evokes memories of Hussey magic in T20 WC semifinal in 2010

By K.R. Nayar from Dubai

Pakistan’s defeat to Australia was unexpected since every Pakistan fan at the stadium had come with the hope of cheering their team into the final. No one expected that Australia’s wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade would wade into their dreams and crush it right in front of them.
Before Shaheen Afridi bowled the penultimate over, Australia needed 22 runs from the last 12 deliveries. Wade hit up all those runs in six deliveries proving that for a man possessed with the intense desire to win, any target would have been achieved. If not, how could Wade play those unbelievable shots especially before a packed stadium cheering vociferously for Pakistan? It was a stupendous exhibition on how to focus only on your goal, backed by a strong will to fight all odds and achieve it.
Without a doubt, Pakistan played great cricket; but the Australians played superior cricket under mounting pressure. David Warner, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis did not waver despite their skipper Aaron Finch falling for a duck and experienced Steve Smith scoring just five runs.
Many may attribute Pakistan’s defeat to Hasan Ali dropping Wade just before he played those stunning shots. But the Australians too dropped some chances. Fortune favours the brave and what Wade did was to bring out the fighting spirit in him, something that has been part of his life’s journey. For a man who had fought a battle to live at a very young age, nothing is an obstacle. Wade was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 16 and had received chemotherapy before he was cleared of it.
To play those shots, especially the scoop against Afridi who is one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket today, is nothing but stupendous.
Australians are known to be bad losers and that is why they are infamous for sledging. They have a culture of fighting tooth and nail till the end. This by no means is to say that Pakistan was inferior in their desire to win, but the Australians were far superior in this aspect. It is often said that a united Pakistan team is the toughest to beat. On Thursday, Australia proved that their determination rides over every odd.
A look at the performance of both the teams will reveal there weren’t many differences. The knocks from Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman were of the highest standard. Their bowling too was splendid with Shadab Khan leading the way. Then how did Australians sail into the final? In a close battle especially of equal strength, there wouldn’t be much to choose between the two teams. But the team that spots the loopholes and exploits them walks away as the winner.
England and Pakistan’s exit in the semifinals has also proven that the tag of favourites is of no value. So the final will now be a battle between the brave. Players like New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell and Australia’s Wade make cricket unpredictable and glorious.