The perfect tragedy

Pakistan narrowly missed out on the third ODI due to a number of factors

It had all started so brightly for Pakistan on the tour of New Zealand with that impressive 16-run win in the first T20I. The grand old Pakistan, it seemed, had finally returned. But instead, the same old Pakistan arrived and the visitors gave a thorough lesson in the number of different ways in which to lose a match.

By the time television sets were switched on a lazy Sunday morning for the final and deciding ODI of the series, the match had been all but lost as Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson were yet again busy destroying the Pakistani bowling.



But it wouldn’t be Pakistan if it wasn’t theatrical; often that ends in tragedy but every now and then, in moments of great delight for the cricket-mad country, they produce a divine comedy.



The scene has been set. Cue the dramatics.

Skipper Azhar Ali, who has seen his captaincy come more and more into question in recent times, brought himself on to try his luck.

Within a few overs, he did what arguably the game’s greatest fast-bowling attack couldn’t — dismiss both Williamson and Guptill. The 30-year-old had two wickets in 32 matches before this. He doubled that tally within a few overs to give Pakistan a look in.

Fellow part-timer Shoaib Malik, albeit less ‘part-time’ than Azhar, then decided to join in the fun and dismiss Grant Elliott. The protagonists, fighting the good fight, refused to give in.



Suddenly, hope. But like every good tragedy, it lasted only fleetingly. The heavens opened and rain delayed the match. With every passing minute, New Zealand’s revised target decreased. Meanwhile, the tension among the audience increased, so did the feeling of helplessness. Surely, it couldn’t be this anti-climactic?

Then the covers came off and New Zealand needed 53 off 45 balls instead of the 81 off 87. The odds kept stacking up against our protagonists.

Some tight overs later, the match hangs perfectly in the balance. 41 off 30 remain, the prize wicket of Corey Anderson seemingly all that stands between Pakistan and a series-levelling victory. Rahat Ali, the weakest link of the four-man pace attack, runs in to ball.

The perfect David and Goliath scenario; a devastating batsman in superb form against a nervy man trying to dip his toes back in international waters. Anderson slashes at a wide one, he edges it. Sarfraz Ahmed, behind the stumps, takes a simple catch and screams in delight. Rahat, similarly jubilant, turns around and appeals to umpire Billy Bowden to raise his finger; a foregone conclusion.

He appeals and he appeals. Bowden never moves. Deep down, with a sinking heart, the audience realises this particular story might be a tragedy. Like the perfect pantomime villain, Anderson — who had acted so innocent after edging that, complete with the shake of the head to Bowden to indicate he hadn’t nicked it — smashes the next two deliveries straight over the bowler’s head for back-to-back sixes.

The match turns on its head once again but yet the Men in Green continue on. A few more tight overs follow and six runs are required off the last over. The final act.

Wahab Riaz comes running in; he holds nothing back, leaves nothing in the tank. Mitchell Santner simply carves it through cover for a four. The Men in Green, valiant but out-played, are reeling. Just one more blow and it will be over.

Santner provides that two balls later. As the ball races towards the boundary, the audience ponders over the plethora of what ifs that define every tragedy. What if it hadn’t rained, what if Anderson had been given out, what if Mohammad Hafeez hadn’t dropped Luke Ronchi.

The ball touches the rope. The match ends. The camera pans to our fallen heroes, and the curtain falls.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st,  2016.

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