UAE series: Misbah unhappy with Kami, Afridi after loss

Skipper blames under-performing lower-order after Pakistan goes down to Australia in opening ODI.

SHARJAH:

Skipper Misbahul Haq regretted his team’s long-term batting problems and hoped his players learn quickly to avoid another series defeat.

Pakistan lost the first One-Day International (ODI) against Australia by four wickets on Tuesday after another batting collapse saw them bowled out for 198 in 45.1 overs, their last six wickets going for just 38 runs. In contrast, Australia fought hard through skipper Michael Clarke’s resolute 96-ball 66 and George Bailey’s responsible unbeaten 57 off 88 deliveries, winning in 48.2 overs after Pakistan spinners threatened to spoil the chase.

Misbah showed disappointment for scoring big despite including seven regular batsmen in the side.

“I think the strategy to include seven batsmen was obvious from the collapse, we are struggling with our batting since the England series and then in Sri Lanka so that is why we kept seven batsmen,” said Misbah. “At one point we thought we can make 230 and considering our spin bowling, it’s a good total but a lot of players are new and, maybe, because some senior players are not there, we couldn’t reach that point.”

Misbah singled out lower-order batting as the main cause of concern.

“We were not able to read the match situation well. Our lower-order is not contributing, which is essential. We needed 30 to 40 from the lower order and that is why we kept Kamran Akmal and Shahid Afridi in the lower order.”

Pakistan are now 1-0 down in the three-match series. They have lost their last two ODI series 4-1 against England in the UAE and 3-1 in Sri Lanka.

We stuck to our plan: Starc

Lanky left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc returned career best figures of five for 42 to derail Pakistan batting. The man of the match believes his side reaped rewards of sticking to their plan against the Pakistan bowling attack.

“We knew it was going to be difficult with the spinners,” said Starc. “They know the conditions well and use it to their advantage. We knew if we took it right to the end with that total to chase, we had a good chance. The three spinners were going to be their key bowlers. We just stuck to our plans really well on the day.”

Starc hoped Australia would continue to negotiate spinners wisely.

“They are three bowlers we’re going to have to look at and try to minimise the damage they cause on us. If we can find a way to score as many as we can off them without losing too many wickets, it would probably go a long way to winning a game.”

Meanwhile, skipper Clarke credited their good handling of the conditions for the win.

“Their spinners bowled well,” said Clarke. “Ajmal’s quite hard to pick. We will look at footage of him and look to play him better. I thought it was a bit cooler tonight. I think we handled the conditions well and that helped us.”

The second match will be played in Abu Dhabi tomorrow followed by the third in Sharjah on Monday.

Misbahul Haq

“We were not able to read the match situation well. Our lower order is not contributing which is essential. We needed 30-40 from the lower order and that is why we kept Kamran and Afridi there.”

 Mitchell Starc

“We knew if we took it right to the end with that total to chase, we had a good chance. The three spinners, we knew they were going to be their key bowlers. We just stuck to our plans really well on the day.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2012.