Specialist In Losing From Winning Position? Four Times Pakistan Lost From Winning Positions Including Failing To Score 2 Runs In Final Over

While Pakistan are being called the most unpredictable team in international cricket, they are fast making a reputation of being the team which can lose a game from any position. Their reputation as such a team has been further enhanced with the loss against England in the first Test in Manchester.

Defending 277, Pakistan had England reeling at 117 for 5. With the likes of Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope back in the hut, the Azhar Ali-led side was looking the favourites to win the clash. However, they failed to capitalise on their strong position as Chris Woakes (84*) and Jos Buttler (75) scored stunning fifties to propel England to a famous three-wicket win.

With Pakistan suffering yet another shock loss, we are taking a look at five games which they lost from winning position.

4. Australia vs Pakistan, Hobart Test 1999:

After being all out for 222 in their first innings, Pakistan were looking well out of the contest when Australia raced away to 191 for 1. However, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq helped Pakistan claw their way back into the game. The hosts lost their last 9 wickets for just 55 runs to be all out for 246.

Pakistan made the most of the momentum as riding on Inzamam-ul-Haq’s brilliant knock of 118, they posted 392 all out, thus setting Australia an improbable target of 369 in just over five sessions. A draw or even a win for Pakistan were looking like the likeliest results.

And when Australia were reduced to 126 for 5, Pakistan’s chances of winning the Test looked brighter than ever. The fall of the fifth wicket brought Adam Gilchrist, who had made his debut earlier in the series, to the crease while Justin Langer was at the other end. The duo somehow made it through to stumps on Day Four with Australia still needing another 181 runs to win.

On next day, the two scored at a good pace and went into lunch at 277 for 5. Pakistan players, who had almost taken the win for granted at the end of Day Four, were clearly showing nerves as Australia started sensing the win. After lunch, Langer reached his fourth Test hundred. Then, with five runs needed to win, Langer returned to the hut for 127 but it did not make much of a difference as Australia went on to win the game by four wickets against all the odds.

3. Australia vs Pakistan, Sydney Test 2009/10:

Riding on Mohammad Asif’s stunning spell of 6 for 41, Pakistan bowled out Australia for just 127. In reply, the went on to post 333 runs to put themselves in the driver’s seat. Thanks to half-centuries from Imran Farhat and Salman Butt, Pakistan got a lead of 206 runs.

Australia then put up an impressive display with the bat in the second innings. Michael Hussey and Shane Watson starred for the hosts, scoring 134 and 97 respectively to help the home side post 381. Pakistan were still the favourites as they needed 175 runs to register a Test win in Australia.

However, they once again threw a strong position to suffer another shock loss. Apart from Umar Akmal, who scored 49, the rest of the Pakistan batsmen were dismissed cheaply. Nathan Hauritz picked up a five-wicket haul, while Mitchell Johnson also chipped in with three wickets. Eventually, the visitors fell short of a victory by 36 runs.

2. India vs Pakistan, 2007 T20 World Cup final:

The defeat in the 2007 T20 World Cup against final is one such defeat that will probably hurt Pakistan cricket forever. Misbah-ul-Haq had the chance to become his nation’s hero but he undid all his good work with a disastrous shot that cost Pakistan the inaugural T20 World Cup.

Electing to bat, Gautam Gambhir scored 75 runs as India scored 157 for 5 in the allotted 20 overs.  In reply, Pakistan suffered an early blow when Mohammad Hafeez was dismissed in the first over, and Kamran Akmal fell for a duck soon afterwards. The hopes were all but dashed for the Men in Green when they lost Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi.

However, Misbah revived the chase and put Pakistan in touching distance of a historic win. With 13 runs needed in the final over, the match was slightly titled in Pakistan’s favour. Joginder Sharma started off with a wide delivery and followed it with a dot ball.

Misbah then hit the second legal delivery for a six, but on the very next delivery, he went for the scoop down the short fine leg and made Pakistan short of winning the title by just five runs.

1. Pakistan vs Australia, Abu Dhabi ODI 2014:

Nothing defines Pakistan’s knack of losing a match from winning position than the Abu Dhabi ODI against Australia in 2014. Chasing 232, Pakistan needed 2 runs from the final over with two wickets in hand. But to everyone’s utter surprise, they ended up losing the match with part-time spinner Glenn Maxwell bowling a double wicket maiden.

Australia decided to bat first and were all out for just 231. Pakistan, who had already lost the series, looked set to win the game as they needed only 2 runs in the final over with Sohail Tanvir and Zulfiqar Babar on the crease. They had faced more than 20 deliveries between them and it was almost certain that Pakistan would win the match.

But Maxwell went on to bowl all the six deliveries and Pakistan failed to score those runs while losing two wickets.

Here is how the over transpired: