World Cup Highlights: Young Inzi blows away NZ in 1992 semi-final

The 1992 World Cup semi-final was the coming out party for a player who would go on to become a Pakistan cricket legend. It was clear Inzamam-ul-Haq was a major talent after he smashed a whirlwind 60 off 37 balls against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland, to power Pakistan into the final Pakistan had a roller-coaster ride through the tournament and somehow managed to reach the semis, in part thanks to the Rain Gods. New Zealand were favoured to win the game because it was in home conditions and they had won seven of eight matches in the preliminary stages. [caption id=“attachment_2068585” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File picture of Inzamam Ul Haq. AFP[/caption] After choosing to bat first, New Zealand posted a competitive 262 for 7 from 50 overs led by their captain Martin Crowe (91 off 83 balls) and Ken Rutherford (50 off 68 balls). Pakistan had successfully chased down more than 200 just once in the tournament. They lost Aamer Sohail for 14 in the seventh over before Rameez Raja and Imran Khan steadied the ship by adding 54 cautious runs but Rameez departed at a crucial juncture. Things slowed down considerably as Imran and Javed Miandad tried to resurrect proceedings. The pair added 50 runs before Pakistan suffered a jolt as Imran, who had consumed 93 balls for his 44, and Saleem Malik departed in quick succession. Pakistan needed 123 from 15 overs when 22-year-old Inzamam strode out to the middle. As Miandad recounted in an interview with ESPNCricinfo, “Inzi walked up to me for advice. He seemed nervous and overawed and looked like he had seen a ghost.” It wasn’t long before Inzamam got into the groove though. Full balls were lofted and slog-swept while anything just short of length was cut away. So confident was Inzy that he used his feet to spinners and seamers alike. Miandad played second fiddle at the other end but constantly motivated Inzimam as he watched the youngster bring up his 50 from 31 balls. Inzamam departed 36 runs short of the target, run out after a miscommunication with Miandad, probably the only way New Zealand were going to get him out. But the damage had been done. Together with Mianded, he had put on 87 from 10. Pakistan won the match with an over to spare. Though New Zealand missed their captain - an injury forced Crowe to watch Pakistan’s innings from the dressing room –it was Inzamam’s innings that was the difference between the two sides. Later, in a interview with ESPNCricinfo , Wasim Akram revealed how Inzamam came close to missing the game completely because of an illness. “The night before, Inzy had high fever and had been throwing up all night,” Akram said. “So he went to Imran Khan and said, ‘I’ve got fever and I don’t think I can play.’ Imran said: ‘Inzy, don’t think about anything else, just think how you are going to play this game.’ Emboldended by his captain, Inzamam took the field the next day and the rest, as they say, is history. Pakistan then went on to beat England in the final and lift the World Cup trophy.