Hat-trick from Saqlain seals Zimbabwe's fate

THE OVAL (Pakistan won toss): Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 148 runs

WINNING the toss, attacking uncompromisingly with bat and ball and putting their mid-tournament stutter firmly behind them, Pakistan seized the semi-final place that is indubitably their due by beating Zimbabwe handsomely at the Oval yesterday. A true, hard pitch was much to the liking of both their strokeplayers and their fast bowlers but it was the off spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq, who administered as flamboyant a coup de grâce as anyone could wish to see, finishing the game with a hat-trick, only the second in seven World Cups.

The immediate consequence was the elimination of India, whose victory at Old Trafford on Tuesday had forced Pakistan to take a deep breath and reassess their campaign. Not without luck against this spirited but by now weary-looking Zimbabwe team, they built a total that was close to being unassailable on the back of Saeed Anwar's sixteenth one-day international century and bowling by Shoaib Akhtar of a pace not often seen at the Oval since Michael Holding's famous performance here in 1976. Although the sturdy and talented Neil Johnson held firm once more, Shoaib's speed, at around 90mph, forced Zimbabwe actually and metaphorically on to the back foot when they were in need of a brisk start if they were to have any chance of making the required 272.

It became apparent all too soon that Zimbabwe's best hope was simply to make as high a score as possible to force New Zealand to beat India by a distance today. Whatever the outcome of that match, Australia will need to beat South Africa tomorrow or Zimbabwe would qualify, a shade fortunately, on the strength of the point that they got, with the help of the weather, against New Zealand earlier this week. It is possible to admire Zimbabwe's spirit and all-round ability and at the same time to feel that they are not truly worthy of a semi-final place.

Pakistan, on the other hand, have the talent to beat anyone. Their large and loyal band of England-based supporters, swarming on to the outfield in their thousands yesterday evening, celebrated as if the the World Cup had already been won. In fact, two places in the semi-finals, let alone the final at Lord's tomorrow week, are still unresolved.

There was hardly a moment's doubt yesterday that Pakistan would reassume control of their destiny, although Saeed needed some luck. On 20, he was badly missed at slip by Campbell, when aiming a slashing drive at Mpumelelo Mbangwa, whose bowling figures represented a noble recovery after Saeed had battered him for two fours in his first over.

Saeed hit nine more fours, none better than the flowing off-drive with which he reached his hundred, but at 59 he escaped two more chances to the wicketkeeper off Adam Huckle.

Huckle was one of two leg spinners used by Zimbabwe on a pitch offering both bounce and turn. Zimbabwe were handicapped on the day, however, by the fact that Johnson could not bowl because of a variety of leg injuries sustained against Australia.

Wajahatullah Wasti had outscored Saeed in a 19-over opening partnership of 95 until he fell to a sliced drive and a fine running catch at backward point. Ijaz Ahmed sacrificed himself three overs later when Saeed sent him back, but Saeed pressed on regardless and with Inzamam-ul-Haq striking the ball with dozy grace, a total of 300-plus looked more likely than not until, at 183 for two in the 37th over, Inzamam was stumped by Andy Flower despite the fact that he had dropped the ball. He had the presence of mind to pick it up and remove a stump with ball in hand. A brilliant pick-up and throw by the other Flower, Grant, nipped the dangerous Moin Khan in the bud, leaving Shahid Afridi to make sure that the innings did not deteriorate seriously.

Various delays meant that Zimbabwe had only 49 overs, not 50, to make 272. They never even threatened. Grant Flower's stumps were rocked by a yorker even as his bat completed its downswing and Abdur Razzaq swept through the gate that Shoaib had burst open by force. Abdur had three for six at one point. It was plain sailing for Pakistan after that, although Johnson worthily maintained his tournament average of 52, before hitting across Azhar Mahmood.

The young ones took over then. Azhar held a brilliant slip catch off a snick from Shoaib that must have been travelling at 100mph and Saqlain completed the triumph with two flighted, dipping deliveries to defeat gargantuan swings to leg, followed by a leg break that struck Mbangwa's back pad and drew a smiling affirmation from umpire Bucknor.

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