Forums > Sports Talks > Power performers of 2015
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lescol


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Subject : Power performers of 2015
It's the last breath of December, the kind of time when people in northern parts of Pakistan shiver with cold and hang on to every piece of extra-warm clothes they can find. Whereas, folks belonging to southern areas like Karachi wonder what to do with their comforters, as winters in Karachi are mostly illusionary, that rush away as swiftly and unnoticed as the mistrusted promise of government relief.

This is also the time when sports journalists indulge in the hectic work of statistics gathering in an effort to pen down the best and worst of their sports in the year gone by.

It would be difficult to describe Pakistan's performance of 2015 in a single word, but if terminologies like disappointing and frustrating are all used too often to paint it’s time and again below par performance, try using distasteful this time.

But in a year that fans would mostly want to rub off their memory due to one bad result following another, there were still few moments of glory, few stellar at the top that kept chins up and heads from dropping.

Let’s revisit the year for Pakistan cricket in all three formats in an attempt to pick the best power performances by our supremely talented, but often under-firing players. The selection for this purpose comprises of performances coming at crucial times, their effect on team morale, and match result.


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Posted on January, 02 2016 11:27:05 AM


lescol


Age: 36 Male
4142 days old here
Total Posts: 6369
Points : 68

Location:
Quetta, Pakistan

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Test Cricket Power Performer - Batting: Younis Khan, 171* against Sri-Lanka at Pallekelle.
Pallekelle test will go down in the record books as the highest target achieved in a test match by Pakistan. Requiring a mammoth 383 to win, Pakistan started terribly, receiving early jolts in form of Ahmed Shehzad (0) and Azhar Ali (5). Bleeding at 13/2, Pakistan yet again needed their man of crises Younis Khan, who stepped in and started the rebuilding work with Shan Masood. Both manufactured a crucial 242 runs partnership that sailed Pakistan out of murky waters. Shan lost fuel at a career best 125 while Younis went out to make 171* and seal an iconic victory for Pakistan. For his stellar act, I rate his innings as the power performance of Pakistan Test Cricket 2015.

Runners-up: Shan Masood 125 vs Sri-Lanka at Pallekelle, Muhammad Hafiz 151 vs England at Sharjah, Asad Shafiq 131 vs Sri-Lanka at Galle test.

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Posted on January, 02 2016 11:27:31 AM

lescol


Age: 36 Male
4142 days old here
Total Posts: 6369
Points : 68

Location:
Quetta, Pakistan

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Test Cricket Power Performer - Bowling: Yasir Shah 7/76 against Sri-lanka at Galle

No surprises here, it had to be the wrist magic of Yasir Shah. Galle test was Pakistan's first major battle of the year. Yasir could only manage 2 scalps in the first innings, but reserved his best for the second innings. He rattled the Islanders with career best figures of 7/73, giving Pakistan only 92 to pocket the game. Thankfully, this time the openers responded without any horrors and Pakistan gained an early lead in this all important series.

Runners up: Imran Khan 5/58 vs Sri-Lanka at Pallekelle, Shoaib Malik 3/26 vs England at Sharjah, Wahab Riaz 4/66 vs England at Dubai

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Posted on January, 02 2016 11:29:26 AM

lescol


Age: 36 Male
4142 days old here
Total Posts: 6369
Points : 68

Location:
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ODI Power Performer - Batting: Sarfaraz Ahmed 49 against South Africa at Auckland
ODI results in 2015 were nerve shattering. Apart from Zimbabwe, Green Shirts struggled everywhere, 17 losses in 29 games says it all. But in all this gloom and doom, there were a few who were able to rise and shine when it mattered, and no one left an impression more impeccable than the gutsy Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Finally, included under immense public pressure in the crucial game against South Africa, it was do or die situation for both Sarfaraz and Pakistan, pushing the yet to play keeper in a survival situation. The Protease won the toss and put Pakistan into bat on a tricky Auckland wicket.

But the street smart cricketer displayed probably his smartest innings under pressure. Striking a foundation laying 49 with the help of three sixes and five boundaries, Sarfaraz made sure Pakistan travelled into the quarter finals. For his rock solid nerves and never say die attitude, I rate him as the power performer for 2015 in ODI.

Runners up: M. Rizwan 75 off 74 vs Zimbabwe at Harare, Shahid Afridi 67 off 29 vs NZ at Wellington, Wahab Riaz 54 off 46 vs Zimbabwe at Brisbane.

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Posted on January, 02 2016 11:30:58 AM

lescol


Age: 36 Male
4142 days old here
Total Posts: 6369
Points : 68

Location:
Quetta, Pakistan

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ODI Power Performer - Bowling: Sohail Khan 5/55 against India at Adelaide.

Most people will disagree with my selection and draw out their swords for not including Wahab’s fired spell against Shane Watson. My defense is that Wahab’s spell is now iconic, rather part of World Cup folklore. Thoughtfully, it would be better to give others a chance.

Nothing brings more laurels to a Pakistani cricketer then a power packed performance against the Indians. Sohail Khan, the tough and rugged fast bowler had heard that all his life, it was now time to put it to test. He bowled his heart out against the Indians in the opening World Cup match and claimed a 5 wicket haul including the price wicket of century maker Virat Kohli, whom he had targeted even before the Mega Event.

Sadly, an inevitable batting collapse overshadowed his brilliance, but for me, his resilient show in this game of nerves makes him the power performer of ODI bowling 2015.

Runners up: Bilal Asif 5/25 vs Zim at Harare, M. Irfan 3/35 vs England at Abu Dabhi, Wahab Riaz 4/45 vs Zimbabwe at Brisbane.

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Posted on January, 02 2016 11:32:39 AM

lescol


Age: 36 Male
4142 days old here
Total Posts: 6369
Points : 68

Location:
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T-20 Power Performer - Batting: Shoaib Malik 75 off 54 against England at Sharjah

The final T-20 of the year brought out the best of the experienced Shoaib Malik. England posted a fighting 154 on board and Pakistan in response, like most occasions, shambled at the top losing their top 3 batsmen for just 11. All eyes were now on Malik who stood solid against a threatening English attack and almost stole the game. His spirited, yet calculated innings of 75 helped Pakistan level the game and take it to super over.
Runners up: Anwar Ali 46 off 17 vs Sri-Lanka, Mukhtar Ahmed 83 vs Zimbabwe at Lahore, Shahid Afridi 45 off 22 vs Sri-Lanka


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Posted on January, 02 2016 11:33:42 AM

lescol


Age: 36 Male
4142 days old here
Total Posts: 6369
Points : 68

Location:
Quetta, Pakistan

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ODI Power Performer - Bowling: Imad Wasim 4/11 against Zimbabwe at Harare.

Facing Zimbabwe in their own backyard, Pakistan were bundled out for 136, a score that could hardly justify the immensely talented Afridi-11. The 27 year old left arm spinner from Islamabad was tossed the ball and he immediately returned dividends by removing Chibhabha on duck and a further 3 scalps. Thus, not only helping his team pocket the game but also registering the best bowling figures for Pakistan in 2015. A commendable performance is enough to crown him as the best T-20 performer of the year.
Runners up: Shahid Afridi 3/15 vs England at Dubai, Sohail Tanveer 3/29 vs sri-Lanka at Colombo, M. Sami 3/36 vs Zimbabwe at Lahore.


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Posted on January, 02 2016 11:35:10 AM

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