What happens when you pit a raging bull against another? What is the outcome when you place two imposingly built musclemen inside a ring? Furthermore, what transpires when a cricketing force defined by power and skill is confronted by another?
Truth be told, when this happens in the mother of all sporting battles, i.e., the Cricket World Cup, mega entertainment is what usually follows.
And so it did on May 31, 2019 where two strongmen of white-ball cricket, but one defined as much by skill as unpredictability met one another at Trent Bridge.
More than being a contest at the very highest annals of the game, the West Indies versus Pakistan ODI was about an unpredictable force meeting its true match.
And when a capricious power meets another, the result, inevitably, turns out to be capricious too.
But as is the rule of the game, there’s only one victor.
And exactly two years back, it were the West Indies who emerged with a mighty final laugh, Pakistan not so much, feeling akin to a bug that comes to be invariably crushed under a heavy boot.
Much like any modern day battle that serves incredible thrills, for instance every India versus Australia contest being centred around the theme of true dominance, whenever it comes to West Indies playing Pakistan, the contest is more about who’ll surprise the other. And by what measure?
Frankly speaking, given the way the Jason Holder-led side made light work of a Pakistan powered by Babar, Aamir, Fakhar, Imam and Wahab, the game’s greatest shock value was it’s duration.
Meant to be a full-fledged ODI contest, the second game in the 2019 World Cup, only 35 overs were bowled in the contest, of which Pakistan, batting first, lasted for no more than 21 overs.
Batting for what seemed were overs stipulated in a T20I, Pakistan managed just 105. In reply, West Indians came out all guns blazing, literally firing bullets and launching surface-to-air missiles in their quintessential T20-style wham-bam play, during which they took not even 14 overs to chase down a dainty ask.
Gayle, who failed at the latter stages of the tournament, having promised big numbers, got off to a flier, scoring a 34-ball-50. With big heaves over cover and the blazing hits down the ground- the Jamaican seemed busy in decimating Pakistan. As Hope and Bravo failed to get going, it was up to Pooran, one of the true finds of West Indies cricket to march the team home. Using depth of the crease to good effect, the Trinidadian was class meets power on a day where everything went the West Indies’ way.
The classy leftie charged at Aamir (who picked all 3 WI wickets) and Riaz in his 19-ball-34, during which he remained unbeaten, Hetmyer giving him company.
But before West Indies rushed back to the hotel, having opened their World Cup campaign in thunderous fashion, smashing 74 of their 108 runs through just sixes and fours (5 sixes, 11 boundaries), and in the process igniting hopes that destruction is what was on their minds in that campaign, there was one hero, in particular, who tore through Pakistan.
Not captain Jason Holder. Not the experienced Andre Rusell or Carlos Brathwaite; but young man Oshane Thomas who was playing just his tenth ODI for the West Indies then, and his maiden World Cup contest.
And he took no time whatsoever in making his intentions loud and clear getting the prized wicket of stellar bat Babar Azam, finding the great batsman’s edge on a swinging delivery with Hope taking, arguably speaking, the most stunning catch by a Windies man that tournament, a keeping effort that deserved more credits than afforded. Diving full length to his right, suspended two feet above the ground, the Bajan was rhythmic and in full control.
But by the time West Indies got Oshane Thomas into the attack, damage had already been done by Russell and spell-starter Cottrell.
The salutes had begun and the air of invincibility was taking centerstage- Imam and Fakhar back in the dugout even before the sixth over had been bowled.
Jason Holder chipped in as well, removing his opposite number with Shai Hope collecting a regulation catch. But Thomas wasn’t done yet.
The middle and the lower order was his pie of the cake. And he would bite it hungrily like a prey awaiting to rip the hunted.
But when Hafeez played arguably the shots of the match, a crunching cover drive of the blackfoot on Thomas, it did seem for a moment that a recovery could be on the cards. But he’d go for one risky shot too many, skying a straightforward length delivery to Cottrell in the outfield.
Thomas was overjoyed. But more was to come. Wahab Riaz, who’d fired Holder for a humungous six over deep mid wicket was whacking the ball, despite realising he was doing a bit too much too late.
The West Indians would have loved to see the experienced talent return back. So it was up to Thomas who aimed for his middle stump and disturbed Riaz’ timber- the right-hander gone for 18 off 10.
But Thomas had already done brilliantly before removing Riaz by sending back spinner Shadab Khan for a first-ball-duck, a performance so incredible for a West Indies first-timer, that too in the World Cup that it would draw a smile from King Curtly and the great Walsh.
But being West Indies can often mean being as stunning in the middle as disappointing on the pitch the very next game.
Despite having gotten off to a cracker of a start, when they should have capitalised having perhaps terrorised the others who’d have seen the kill joy they proved to be for Pakistan, Holder’s men allowed themselves to be slack.
They lost their very next game against Australia, a contest they should never have never let the Aussies get away with. Assisted by some harsh luck such as the washed out game against the Proteas, it was the old harrowingly mediocre Windies that took centerstage.
Think the loss to Bangladesh despite putting up a solid 300-plus total. Think also of the game against India where a line up with Gayle, Hope, Pooran, Hetmyer failed to put 150 on the board.
And when they did try to get back to old groove, nearly winning a nail-biter versus Sri Lanka, with Pooran reminding the world of what he truly was with Fabien Allen coming strong through, it was too good an effort but too late in the day.
But true to the charismatic and unpredictable ways of being West Indies, they were engaged in what can only be called one of the most heartening contests ever witnessed in a world cup where Carlos Brathwaite truly came of age in ODI cricket, nearly taking his side home, fighting single-handedly after Gayle and Hetmyer’s valiant fifties offered some early support.
Though even then, not keeping cool when it most mattered, perhaps out of fear of running out of partners the other end did the big man in and threw Windies on the verge of elimination.
But just imagine what might have happened to West Indies- one of the sentimental favourites of nearly every cricket fan- had they applied themselves and battled just as hard as they did against Pakistan when they took on the likes of India, Bangladesh and England, games they lost rather poorly?
