Another World Cup, another defeat to India. Little appears to have changed for Misbah-ul-Haq.
Four years ago in Mohali, he made 56 and watched as the semifinal slipped away from Pakistan’s grasp. At the Adelaide Oval in Sunday it was more of the same.
Misbah’s 84-ball-76 never seemed to threaten India at any stage, and will go down as little more than a footnote when the story of this match is told years down the line.
“I think the game is gone now, so we have to just concentrate on the next one,” he shrugged. “I don’t know. This is just happening. You can’t do anything about it. Today, it was a thoroughly professional performance from them; so full credit to them.”
Pakistan’s middle-order collapse was not acceptable, Misbah said.
“They were bowling well, but still I think we should have just survived those balls. It was a little bit of pressure (that got us out). We should not have lost those wickets…300 was pretty much chaseable for the kind of pitch it was. The ball was really coming on to the bat well. We just lost three quick wickets in eight balls, and from there we lost our way,” he said.
Misbah praised India’s batting in the middle overs, which had been a complete contrast to Pakistan’s.
“The pitch was very good, but still the way Shikhar and Virat played without taking risks, rotated and struck boundaries; because of that, the entire game went India’s way, the way they built their the stand.”
