World Series Cup
MCG, 1997
Historical context: possibly the ugliest ODI season in Australia's history. This was one of just three World Series Cups where Australia failed to make the finals. The first was the inaugural one - 1979-80 (I was minus four years old). This was the second. In short, captain Mark Taylor was not suited to the 50-over game and didn't consider it as important as Tests. It showed in his team's efforts this year.
This match is a dead rubber - the Pakis have already made the finals v the Windies. Shahid Afridi is described as a promising young player. Wasim Akram won the toss and batted.
Rod Marsh commentating. Cool. Andy Bichel gets some treatment from Imzaman Ul Haq.
Sohail holes out to Darren Lehmann - on ODI debut! - off ... Anthony Stuart? Righto. The first drop Zaheer Alahi holes out too. 2-20.
Ijaz Ahmed in. Glenn McGrath is bowling first change. Jesus.
Stuart gets Ijaz caught by Heals. Three fa. Mohammad Wasim in ... I have a feeling he won't be here long. Yep. Carbon copy. Anthony Stuart on a hat-trick. Funny as.
Moin Kahn nicks one straight to Tubby at first slip. Crowd goes off its tits. I'm guessing they still served full strength beer at the MCG then.
Akram in at 5-29. Stuart gets a standing O from the crowd. Wasim run out in farcical circumstances by Bichel. 6-92.
Afridi in. 50 for Inzy - he could bat. But he lost the plot and slogged one straight to Stuart. He's having a fair day at the office. Pity he was made redundant about a week later.
Saqlain mushtaq in now ... Another up-and-comer. C Stuart B Bevan combo comes up trumps again. See ya, Boom Boom.
Mushtaq Ahmed in now. He was only 26 then. Runs at Bevo, stumped by a week. Bevo had a mad wrong 'un.
Somehow, the Pakis survived 50 overs for 9-181.
Tubby gets a brute off Waqar first up. He's opening with Greg Blewett, who gloves one to Moin. One fa.
Tugga at first drop? Sick! Akram bowled bullets. Tubby wasn't good enough to keep him out here. Peach. LBW.
Bevo in at four. I like this. But Tugga gets out to the doosra. Three down.
Stu Law at five. Meh. Didn't hate him, but didn't queue up for his autograph either. Channel 9 whip out the old snake graph. Looks a bit dated.
Darryl Hair turns down a legitimate caught behind. Law caught trying to pull Waqar.
Boof Lehmann strides out. Legend. He definitely smoked durries at the non-strikers end. Bevo gets 50. No highlights from him til the shot to bring it up.
Australia look to be cruising - 50 off 15 overs. Then Wasim gets Boof LBW. Freak. It swung a mile.
Heals!!! Oh. Bowled off his pads second ball.
Warnie in. Bevo works one perfectly. Warnie scampers two. Then he's LBW. Shit!
There is an Ansett logo on the sightscreen. Funny as.
Bichel in. Could be trouble. Australia need 30 off seven overs. Bevo scampers a two where there was only a single. 20 off 30 balls. Bichel four over mid ph.d. Gutsy.
Afridi throws one into the fence. Australia need 11 from four overs. Bevo doing a great job of finishing.
Game over. Australia home by three wickets with three balls left. Bevo was the difference. 79 not out.
This match was a great moment for Stuart and another example of Bevo being the best ODI bat in the world.
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