Wasim Akram had made his international debut three months ago, but remained unimpressive. In his first two One-Day Internationals (ODI) he failed to bag a wicket.
After being dropped for the last two ODIs against New Zealand back home, the lanky pacer, however, was drafted in the squad for the World Championship of Cricket tournament in Australia.
Coming from a loss in their first match of the seven-nation tournament against India, the Javed Miandad-led Pakistan needed to make a strong comeback to secure a berth in the final.
Made to bat first by the Aussies, Pakistan put 262 on board, courtesy 141-run partnership between Mudassar Nazar and Mohsin Khan.
The mighty Australian lineup had all the ingredients to achieve the target, however, the chase derailed in the second over.
Akram sent Robbie Kerr’s off-stump cart wheeling with a sizzling in-dipper as Australia went one wicket down with just four runs on the board.
Kepler Wessels, who watched Kerr’s stump take a walk from the other end, followed his opening partner back to the pavilion 11 runs later when Akram’s good-length delivery uprooted his off-stump.
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Dean Jones, who now coaches Islamabad United alongside Akram in the Pakistan Super League, was dismissed on his 11th ball by his colleague. Jones after hooking Akram's back-of-the-length ball for four, played on and left Australia in tatters at 3/37.
The legendary Alan Border’s stay at the crease was curtailed to just 17 balls when he dislodged the bails with his back-leg, trying to prod Akram on the leg-side for a single.
Akram had reduced a powerful batting force to 37/4 in front of a 20,000-strong crowd, yet his hunger for wickets was insatiable.
Then 18-year-old Akram banged a short-ball into Kim Hughes to invoke an edge that landed safely into the hands of Tahir Naqqash positioned at the cover region.
Akram sent half of the Aussie lineup back into the pavilion in his opening spell to register his maiden 5-wicket haul.
He finished the match with a staggering 5-21 at an economy of 2.62 runs and received his maiden Man of the Match award in ODI cricket for the phenomenal display.
Miandad's Pakistan won the match by 62 runs and got the much-needed momentum that bagged them a spot in the final against India.
