IT would be churlish to express some heavy thoughts on the decision of Inzamamul Haq to gamble on the dew factor. The dew factor did kick in but it allowed Pakistan only a late rally.
Pakistan had effectively lost the match by then. There is an irony of a cruel sort that it was Irfan Pathan who destroyed Pakistan's top order. Pathan's meteoric rise to a front-line strike-bowler has been facilitated by the coaching tips he got from Pakistan's Wasim Akram. He would have been my man-of-the match.
I have heard Imran Khan describe Mohammad Sami as the brightest fast-bowling prospect in the world. Surely, he would have to include Irfan Pathan who is only 19-year-old as an equally bright prospect. He's going to get better and his batting will improve and his fielding is brilliant. He is a strong challenger to become the world's best all-rounder.
In both the ODIs at Lahore, Pakistan seemed to have lost the plot. But in the so-called final, it was the batting that let them down. Pakistan had batted with great gusto throughout and 294 that was needed did not seem daunting.
In fact, at the end of the Indian innings, the Pakistan bowlers were entitled to feel that they had done their job, if not with distinction, at least with a measure of efficiency. And they had cut down on the wides and no-balls.
Pakistan had gone in with only five bowlers, which appeared to be risky. Pakistan is not the world's best fielding side and Vangipurappu Laxman was given a life when he was 52 and he proceeded to make a masterful hundred, playing mainly bonafide cricket shots, proof that you don't have to go wild to make runs, he made 107 off 104 balls.
Again, India's late order batsmen were able to plunder valuable runs because Pakistan had no bowler left who could have taken the pace off the ball. Good old Lakshmipathy Balaji was able to strike Shoaib Akhtar for a perfectly respectable straight drive that went for six.
Pakistan needed to keep wickets in hand till the dew factor arrived but this bit of strategy did not seem to a part of the batting plan. Yasir Hameed, the in-form batsman seemed to feel that he was already set and was bowled through the gate, playing airily.
Yousuf Youhana got a terrible decision from David Shepherd, he got a big inside edge but he was playing the same shot that had got him out in the previous match. He probably doesn't see videos of how he gets out.
Taufiq Umar felt he had a point to prove and played a few thundering drives but not for the first time was bowled round his legs, having no idea of where is leg-stump was.
And it continued in this vein but Inzamam was still there and Pakistan's supporters were in good voice but this time he was defeated by a stunning catch by Sachin Tendulkar and long before the dew arrived, the match had gone.
Shoaib Malik and Moin Khan raised some hopes and the dew was taking its toll but it was too late and the asking-rate was in double figures. India did not choke as they were expected to do but it was a below par performance by Pakistan's batsmen who continue to remain an enigma.
Bit it was a wonderful series all the same that went to the wire and will have given a great impetus to the Test series that lies ahead. The crowds have been wonderful and there was not a single incident of rowdiness.
The matches were close and hard fought but the conduct of the players has been impeccable. It's not easy to keep one's cool, particularly in matches involving rivals but the only show of temper shown was by the captains and it was directed at their own fielders!. The Test matches too will be tough but they will not be frenzied as one-day games can become.
