Dubai: Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq once again played the role of a match-winner for Capricorn Commanders against Sagittarius Strikers in a thriller in the Masters Champions League (MCL) on Saturday night at the Dubai International Stadium.
The veteran of many an exciting battle for Pakistan in international matches was in a familiar situation - needing to bowl the last over with Sagittarius just nine runs away from victory and five wickets in hand. He bowled intelligently to pick up the wicket of aggressive Michael Carberry with the second ball of the over and gave away just five runs as his team won the match by three runs.
When Gulf News asked how it was to be in a situation that he was once used to and whether memories of playing for Pakistan came flooding back, Razzaq said: “It was a splendid feeling and once again I did it for my team. For me, it does not matter if I am playing for Pakistan or Capricorn or any other team. I am really happy about what I have done for my team and for winning the match.”
When asked about the pressure of bowling the last over, Razzaq said: “It wasn’t a kind of pressure because I was confident that I can defend those runs. I was thinking when the 19th got over if there will be eight or seven runs left then maybe I will have to come in and bowl. It was really good I got nine runs at my disposal and after the first two balls I got fully confident and I knew that then we can win that match,” said Razzaq whom Capricorn skipper Paul Collingwood entrusted with the last over. Incidentally it was the only over he bowled in the match.
It was also Razzaq’s fighting knock of 39 and his 64-runs partnership in 7.5 overs with Saleem Elahi (43n.o) that gave Capricorn a challenging total of 146 for 5 in 20 overs. When asked about his knock, Razzaq said: “We struggled in our first match because of our poor batting so I am happy that I was successful today. Once again I played that knock for my team and hence it is a good feeling for me. We all know that we have to perform really well if you want to stay and win this tournament. “
Sagittarius skipper Adam Gilchrist who cracked a fighting 57 runs was very forthright about his team’s defeat. “I think we opened the door to our opposition and they took their opportunities. I thought we were in control of it but Jeetan Patel who took two wickets in an over turned the match. He bowled a nice delivery to me and I just was not good enough. We were in control but then that is the beauty of Twenty 20.”
To a query about his half century, Gilchrist said: “Feel very fit and probably four years since I batted that long and I was probably cramping up a little bit but feeling good and it was fun.”
