Read the article of Australia vs Pakistan 2nd Match Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 1984 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the 2nd ODI match played between Pakistan and Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney in 10th January 1984.
A grand return to form by Kepler Wessels' brilliant 92, Allan Border's classy fifty and Rod Marsh's whirlwind half-century before Carl Rackemann's three-wicket haul and A superb fielding display helped to Australia comfortable 34-run victory over Pakistan in the second match of a Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
Australia scored 264-8 in 50 overs with top scorer by Kepler Wessels struck 92 off 123-balls - who fell eight-run short of his century - Including 9-fours.
Rod Marsh hammered a 66 off 48-balls including 7-fours & a six, Allan Border hit 54 off 73-balls included 5-fours and David Hookes 25.
Pakistan best bowler by Sarfraz Nawaz claimed a 4-wickets for 27-runs in 4-overs, Azeem Hafeez took 2-wickets and one for Rashid Khan.
Pakistan scored 230-9 in 50 overs with top scorer by Javed Miandad cracked a 67 off 93-balls including 5-fours.
Imran Khan scored 39 off 64-balls including 5-fours, Mansoor Akhtar hit 33 off 38-balls included one-six & a four and Mudassar Nazar 17.
Australia best bowler by Carl Rackemann picked up 3-wickets for 35-runs in 10-overs including two maidens, Greg Matthews took 2-wickets and one for Geoff Lawson - Rodney Hogg.
This match reported by Mike Coward (Third Party Reference from The Age)
Kepler Wessels slipped the hangman's noose just after high noon and inspired Australia to a 34-run win over Pakistan in a Benson and Hedges world series cup match at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Rather than being axed from the XI as had been generally expected, Wessels won the man of the match award with a brilliant hand of 92 which enabled Australia to score 8/264 at a rate of 5.28. This was beyond the modest re-sources of the Pakistanis.
The tourists were again unable to cope with the pace and accuracy of the much-vaunted Australian fast bowlers, this time splendidly led by Carl Rackemann who has at last regained favor with the Australian selectors.
The Australians, widely criticised for their poor fielding when they lost to the West Indies in Melbourne on Sunday, turned the encounter to their advantage by running out Imran Khan and Javed Miandad, the only two Pakistan batsmen seriously to threaten the Australian superiority.
With their demise Pakistan simply could not withstand the pressure exerted by the pacemen who were splendidly supported in the field.
Miandad, rarely a favorite with Australian crowds, hurled his bat to the ground in disgust after he was adjudged run out by umpire Steve Randell to a magnificent throw from Greg Matthews deep at third man. It was a desperately close call, but close examination of television replays showed that it was an outstanding decision by Randell, standing in his first international.
The crowd did not enjoy Miandad's petulance and jeered him as he returned to the pavilion after a 93-ball stay for 67. With Imran, and then Mansoor, he had applied himself diligently to haul Pakistan out of the mire of 3/33 after Geoff Lawson and Carl Rackemann had both had successes in fiery open- ing spells.
Early in his innings Miandad had difficulty timing the ball and reluctantly played a lesser role in a fourth-wicket partnership with Imran which produced 86 runs in 84 minutes.
However after Imran's departure he began to time the ball sweetly, which he demonstrated perfectly with a square drive off Matthews, who was hard pressed to contain the batsmen.
Perhaps the withering look Miandad received from Imran who was run out for 39 from 64 deliveries, was the signal he needed to take charge of the innings.
Indecision by Miandad cost Imran his wicket. Having pushed John Maguire to Hughes at mid-on, he aborted two calls before finally sending Imran back. But it was too late as Hughes ran in to remove the bails. Imran's fury was obvious to the crowd of 30,315.
With help from Mansoor Paki
stan was able to push the scoring rate ahead of the Australians after 35 overs, and there was some anxiety in the Australian camp when light rain began to fall in the 38th over. However, the showers passed quickly and the Australian pacemen continued their relentless assault on the Pakistan middle order.
Wessels's transformation from an insecure and vulnerable occupier of the crease to an authoritative and convincing stroke-maker was astonishing.
Aware that he was fast losing favor with the selectors, Wessels totally lost his introspectivity and played with a confidence not before seen this season.
He was not at all disconcerted by the early loss of opener Wayne Phillips and captain Kim Hughes. In fact, he enjoyed the responsibility of being in charge of the innings, and tore to his half-century from 82 balls in 88 minutes.
He became more confident as his innings progressed. He cut and drove beautifully, rarely lofted the ball and his judgment between wickets was exemplary.
When he moved into the 80s he eclipsed his previous best score in this type of competition - 79 against New Zealand last
summer.
In Allan Border, who was thought to have replaced him as an opener in this match, Wessels found a partner just as intent on the destruction of the pedestrian Pakistan attack.
Their adventurous third-wicket stand was worth 140 in just 93 minutes and gave Australia the chance to establish its imposing total of 8/264 at the very healthy scoring rate of 5.28 an over.
Only once in 12 matches last summer did Australia accumulate more 302-8 in the second final with New Zealand at the MCG.
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Border, who top scored against the West Indies in Melbourne on Sunday, again played with poise and authority.
Wessels, when in sight of a splendid century, lost concentration and returned to a standing ovation, with 92 from 122 balls to his credit.
It was at that moment that Marsh, who has been under extreme pressure in some quarters of late, decided to play his biggest innings in one-day cricket and boost his aggregate of runs in limited-over internationals past 1000.
Marsh, who will not be travelling with the Australians to the West Indies next month, ripped 66 off just 48 balls with seven 4s and an on-driven 6 off poor Nazir.
Marsh's previous best return in this type of cricket was 54 against Pakistan in 1981-82.
When he reached his 50 Marsh turned to the Press box high in the M. A. Noble stand and lifted his bat in an upward motion - no doubt a gesture intended to silence his critics.
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