Going back to the New Zealand vs Pakistan Semi-Finals Back in 1992

The 1992 World Cup was probably Pakistan’s most significant moment. As a result, whenever Pakistan goes into a World Cup, Comparisions and parallels are taken to that tournament. This time around, the parallels are stronger. Like in 1992, Pakistan struggled to make the top four, barely scraping their way in. New Zealand though were among the table toppers. The tournament is in Australia again, with the Final at Melbourne, while New Zealand and Pakistan took each other on in the Semi-Finals, as they will in a few hours again.

From Pakistan’s point of view, after the first week they were all but done. An amazing turn of events though threw them into the semi-finals. Their batting has struggled with their best players failing, while the middle-order has saved them. Pakistan though is rarely about batting strength. Like in 1992, and the decades to follow, their bowling strength continues to impress. In Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan has two bowlers who can carry the attack with Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim for support.

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New Zealand, like in 1992 has a number four who is in good form, with Glenn Phillips doing the job in the ongoing tournament. Their bowling is also really good, as the bowlers are carrying them forward nicely, along with an aggressive opening pair in Finn Allen and Devon Conway. In 1992, during the Semi-Finals though, New Zealand’s opening pair didn’t get them off to a start as expected. Martin Crowe though, stepped up as he did all tournament. He battled hard against Wasim Akram. Waqar Younis was out with injury, and Wasim Akram battled well. Some good middle-order batting took New Zealand to 262, a good score back in the day.

In response, Pakistan started cautiously with captain Imran Khan taking his time to allow the game to go deep. The top four got starts, and played out a few overs, leaving Pakistan in the game, but also giving New Zealand a sniff. Towards the end though, Pakistan, who looked down and out found a hero, just as they seem to be finding Mohammad Haris this time around. A young Inzamam Ul-Haq came out and absolutely hammered the bowling attack.

He made 60 off 37 to take the game away from New Zealand, as Pakistan won in the Final over. The Sem-Finals then was in Auckland. This time, they are in Sydney. Back then a young Inzamam Ul Haq turned out to be the hero. With the middle-order doing well this time, it will be interesting to see which of the talented lot turn out to be heroes.

With hours left to go, the prospect of a New Zealand vs Pakistan semi-final sets the air buzzing. There are a lot of internal match-ups with Shaheen Shah Afridi vs Finn Allen likely to be at the centre, considering how both young talents are going. New Zealand has a decent record of making Finals in recent times. However, making a tournament Final after facing Pakistan in the Semis may seem tough as Pakistan are a side known to play around with the script.