LAHORE: Pakistan crushed India with a lethal dose of seam bowling to win the fourth and final one day interactional by 38 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium here Friday, Dee 22nd.

The hosts wrapped up the four match series by A 20 margin after wiping out Indian hopes of drawing level with 62 overs to spare.

‘The first match in the series was abandoned without a ball being bowled while Pakistan won a truncated second contest by more seven runs. The third at Karachi on ‘Wednesday was also Abandoned after the crowd erupted violently when Pakistan ‘were 28 for three in the 15th over.

The Indian Batsmen singed the surrender pact without a whimper as they were all dismissed for 112 runs in 302 overs in fading light as Pakistan maintained their record of not having lost a series on home soil since 1982.

The only signs of Indian Dexterity came from Tailender Vivek Razdan after the innings was left in sixes and sevens by Aquib Javed (three for 28), Imran Khan (two for 11) and Wasim Akram

Wickets toppled like nine pins after Raman Lamba (7) was trapped leg before by an in cutter from Imran Khan halfway through the seventh over.

The total was only 15 and it was the beginning of a quick and sad end of Indian Aspirations.

Three runs and two overs later, Sidhu spooned ball that seemed to stop on his way to the bat for Imran Khan to accept. return catch, The Pakistani skipper checked his follow-through, dived on his right to take a fine catch. Imran’s opening spell read SL.

Though the devil in the pitch showed up. in snatches, the order was not so tall as the Indian batting made it out in finishing whopping 38 runs behind.

Aquib Javed, took his first wicket in the 18th over of the Indian innings, consuming Manjrekar with a late out swinger that took the edge of the bat on its way to Yousuf’s gloves.

Yousuf was at his brilliant best, claiming three catches and effecting a stumping.

Manjrekar’s dismissal left the Indian innings in dire straights but it was Srikanth and Azharuddin’s fall that Swung the scales Pakistan’s easy, seramingly Irrevocably.

Azharuddin, who played nine balls in26 minutes for his four runs flicked a harmless delivery from Aquib into Saced Anwar at Midwicket to leave India tottering at 70 for five in the 22nd over.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 29, 1989