Shane Watson Accept That He Was Lucky To Escape Pakistani Bowler Wahab Riaz

Shane Watson Accept That He Was Lucky To Escape Pakistani Bowler Wahab Riaz

Ali Hamza 07:18
ADELAIDE: Shane Watson admitted he was lucky to escape Wahab Riaz's classic spell of intimidatory, eyeball-to-eyeball speedy bowling in Friday's World Cup quarter-final between Australia and Pakistan.Watson ended the game on an unbeaten 64 off 66 balls but he was dropped on by Rahat Ali at fine leg off a 145kmh Riaz bouncer as the veteran Australian all-rounder was under physical siege.

"Wahab gave it everything, he was right on the money and there were some disagreeable balls in there," said Watson, after his team's six-wicket win at the Adelaide Oval which set up a semi-final clash against defending champions India.
"I was lucky to get through that spell."

Riaz charged in, peppering the batsman with a series of short-pitched deliveries and sarcastically applauding and even blowing the 33-year-old a kiss at stage.Australia captain Michael Clarke share Watson's view.

"I am happy. It was a close game in the finish our bowlers did a great job and they were strong in the field. Credit to Pakistan, and Riaz in particular, for the way they bowled. It was the quickest spell I have seen in a long time. You are under pressure the whole time and the way Watson hung in was fantastic."
"(Rahat Ali's dropped catch) was an important moment. They would have had Watson and a wicket to put more pressure on Australia," Riaz told Sky Sports.Riaz completed with for 54 but they ought to have had more wickets, with Sohail Khan displaying similar butter-fingers to Rahat when they dropped Glenn Maxwell late in the innings.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq hailed the fiery Riaz.

"We watched how the Australia guys play and had a chat before the game and put designs in place. I knew Watson was not so nice with short balls so I knew I had to assault. The designs were successful sometimes but regrettably they could not win the game."

"He bowled his heart out and was a different kind of bowler throughout this match. I have never seen a bowler bowling like that and if that catch had been taken who knows what could have happened?" said Misbah.


EmoticonEmoticon

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)