Jamshed, Junaid set up clinical series win for Pakistan
What was special about Nasir Jamshed’s knock was his resolute attitude, which meant that Pakistan ended up posting a healthy 250 despite suffering a middle order collapse. -File photo
Nasir Jamshed and Junaid Khan were the heroes yet again as Pakistan handed India a comprehensive 85-run defeat at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, and sealed the three-match series 2-0.
The tourists’ total of 250 in the second ODI proved enough as India managed just 165 in reply.
As expected, Pakistan’s bowlers easily outshined India’s. What was not so predictable, however, was another solid performance by Misbah-ul-Haq’s batting line, which not only upstaged MS Dhoni’s celebrated order but also provided the one-two combo to give Pakistan a clinical series win.
The clinical bit, it can be safely said, has also comes as a bit of a pleasant surprise. It is not often very often one also sees a very reliable fielding effort by Pakistan to go with the runs and wickets. Morale and energy were also commendable and clearly the visitors had a few more miles in them than the home side.
It started with Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez coming out to bat as if they already had fifty in the bank and gained a psychological edge very early on.
While Hafeez succumbed in the same vein at 76 off 74 balls, Jamshed kicked on to stretch his tally to 106 off 124 balls. What was special about this knock by the left-handed opener was his resolute attitude, which meant that Pakistan ended up posting a healthy 250 despite suffering a middle order collapse.
In the last couple of games, Shoaib Malik’s assured presence in the middle has provided the perfect foil to the batting line which is prone to sliding often. Although his 24 runs in Kolkata may not seem as massive on the scoreboard, his stay at the crease shielded the tail for a bit longer even as they were eventually wiped out in 48.3 overs.
The chase from India was a strange one as Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag both struggled against the steepling bounce and swing of Mohammad Irfan and Junaid Khan.
Sehwag, clearly under pressure, was very much unlike himself, and it seems he can no longer just rely on hand-eye coordination. Gambhir followed a similar fate. His 11 from 25 balls seemed the most indecisive knock for a batsman of his caliber. Junaid ended his misery and also accounted for Virat Kohli (6) through a brilliant diving catch by Kamran Akmal behind the stumps. Umar Gul ended Sehwag (31) and Yuvraj Singh’s (9) stay.
At 4-70 it was always going to be tough and, perhaps, Dhoni, India’s best batsman in the series, should have come in earlier. His 54 from 89 was a resigned innings at best and his few adventurous strokes at the end could have come in a little earlier.
Dhoni’s ‘tuk-tuk’ just delayed the inevitable as Junaid returned to clean up Ishant Sharma and end with match figures of 9-39-3. With the win, Pakistan maintained their unblemished record against India at Eden Gardens, and have now made it four out of four. They also became the only side other than Australia to hand India a home series defeat in ODIs in the previous 10 years.
The two teams will now head to New Delhi for the third ODI, where Pakistan can further test its bench, a fast bowler in Anwar Ali and a talented left-handed batsman in Haris Sohail.
Someone here said,Nasir jamshed = Saeed Anwar..
Infact, NJ is just a Passing cloud in front of Anwar..he has to show some quality against Aus,eng & SA bolwers to prove he is Anwar’s class..
Earlier it was two W’s and now a days, its two J’s. weldone Team Pakistan!!
Our selectors when they sit for selecting team India, in fact they forget they are selecting Indian team,they have interest of their zone,if Indian team is to be selected, select the best irrespective if all players are from one zone.Afte all they representing India
This is a trial and test mode for India…everything is not bad for indian cricket…Look at under 19 cricket world cup which India won in Australia….this proves we have good young blood coming in.
we beat pakistan in the under 19 world cup…I think junaid is a very good bowler but Indian batsmen got out due to their mistake..virat was unlucky 9 out of 10 time he would hit that ball for a four…gambhir played on to a ball that was way outside the OFF stump…
a good days come back pakistan world champion in snooker asian champion hockey and cricket upset defeat to india.
Pakistan team deserves all the credit in the world for an excellent series. Their team work and individual contributions made this series win so easy. My heartiest congratulations.
I do hope that Indian cricket board and players rethink about the way they are making cricket game a money making process. It is time to bring ‘cricket game’ back to the drawing board and start all over gain.
Ban IPL games please. Until and unless we do that, Indian cricket will have no future.
Congratulations to Pakistan team. Pakistan, according to my view, prevailed India in this series due to Mohd Irfan and Junaid. Fantastic bowling display. I wonder how they would bowl in SA and Australia and England.
Pakistan should now give the chance to Haris Sohail inplace of Azhar Ali. Misbah and Azhar Ali should retire from ODI and only limit and focus for Test Cricket..
wonderful victory for Pakistan. And a message to all the critics here who are against Inzimam.
NJ is reminding Saeed Anwar
agree with kricketwals … tendulkalr, laxman, dravid, ganguly as well as virendar sehwag .. sehwag was always techinically on the weak side but had brilliant reflexes and eye hand co ordination … with age not on his side anymore, his reflexes are fast slowing down, resulting in dismal performances consistently ….. indian bolwing has always been a concern and now with these big batters not in the team anymore, this bowling weakness will only be exposed more…
Congratulation to Pakistani team
I Pray that Pak will Win third ODI also
All The best
failed to understand why junaid didnt play in t20 matches?? is sohail tanvir better bowler than him ?? strange
This also shows the damage ‘Sifarish’ culture has done on Pak cricket. Players like Nasir Jamshedpur were kept out to accommodate Imran Farhat who is son in law of a PCB official. Also Sohail Tnaveer kept playing inspire of terrible performance just because he is relative of a PPP minister and that meant no match opportunity for Junaid. Imran Farhat and Sohail Tanveer were still sent to India, they should be banned from cricket before the politics spoil career of Nasir Jamshed and Juaid
Hi Ali, if that is the case then it is really terrible. What a talent Nasir and Junaid have. Hope politics stay out of India and Pakistan cricket teams.
Hi Ali,I am Ravi from India,politics prevails in Indian team selection also. Look A.Rahane is very talented batsman and suited for ODI as well as T20s but his selection is always over looked . Non performers like Rohit Sharma are tried time and again. Ravi Arora Mumbai
Great cricket by ‘ Professional ‘ Pakistan. ! Congrats ! See the fun soon. Now the IPL will make all forget this loss. See how all unfit and out of form players will be fighting fit and performing. IPL is the main culprit.