ODI Final Australia Vs Pakistan, Lord's

After the game on Tuesday night at Trent Bridge I was expecting all sorts of carnage, both on the ground and off it.

With scalpers tickets being sold for at least 400% of their face value the masses trying to obtain tickets for the final were extraordinary. Even the few who could afford the exorbitant scalpers prices were subjected to the most stringent security checks we have seen since India.

A few beers or wines in cans or bottles were allowed to pass through the gates but a flag pole and more to the point a flag was not. Unbelievable !.

A visit to Lord’s during a game, especially an international is always very special. Watching the game on the hollowest of all cricket turfs is a must for all cricket fans. Even though this game was very one-sided, much like the 1999 World Cup Final between the same two teams it was still a great thrill just to be there. Perhaps the only thing that beats watching a ODI at Lord’s is watching the full five days of an Ashes test!

After the game on Tuesday night at Trent Bridge I was expecting all sorts of carnage, both on the ground and off it. Pakistan collapsed to make only 152 thanks to some superb bowling, fielding and captaincy from Australia. The Pakistan supporters were extremely quiet throughout their teams innings and although I agree they did not have much to cheer about it was almost like a deathly silence had overtaken them. The Australian bowlers shared the honours and the team must have been full of confidence as they left the field for an early lunch.

In the Australian innings Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh soon stamped their authority on the game and even though Mark Waugh was unfortunately run out Australia cruised to victory with more than 22 overs to spare. Once again Gilly paved the way with an unbeaten 76 and Ricky Ponting continued his marvellous tour thus far cracking an unbeaten 35 off only 23 balls.

Naturally there was a pitch invasion at the completion of the game but unlike Trent Bridge it was quite controlled, if there is such a controlled way to invade a cricket oval. Maybe the English Cricket Board need to adopt a fine system similar to that used in Australia to stop people running onto the oval after the completion of a days play.

After the players had left the field spectators either left the ground or wandered out onto the oval to watch the presentations. I went onto the ground and met up with quite a few Australian supporters who we toured with in India this year and it was great to see them again. Talk of an Indian reunion was high on the agenda.

During the presentations a can of beer was thrown up at the players who were lined up along the balcony of the Lord’s pavilion. The match had been unbelievabley trouble free and this marred the occasion. The can struck Michael Bevan in the face and half way through the presentations Steve Waugh lead his team from the balcony. The Pakistan team followed and the remainder of the presentations were held behind closed doors. My pick for man of the series was Ricky Ponting and he must have been a trifle unlucky when it was awarded to Pakistan Captain Waqar Younis. Waqar had taken 13 wickets in the games leading up to the final and thoroughly deserved his award. The Australian rotation policy would not have helped Ponting’s caused either.

Following this match report is a story from Wendy Dray who was also present at the game on Saturday. Wendy also toured with us in India and it is always good to get other people’s view of the day’s events. Thanks Wendy !! Sparrow is off to Arundel tomorrow for the tour game so we can look forward to a report from him soon. Thanks for clicking on our site during the ODI Natwest Series and we hope to have you onboard during the real cricket, The Ashes, coming up very soon.

Darren Moulds 24/06/2001 23:42:24