World Cup 1992 Moments : Akram’s 3 Wicket Burst

Cometh the hour, Cometh the man. Chasing 25o for the victory, England after being reduced to 69-4 were cruising towards the target through a 72 run partnership off just 14 overs between  Allan Lamb and Neil Fairbrother and Pakistan’s hopes were diminishing with every run scored.

The ball was already 34 overs old when Imran Khan tossed it back to Akram, and then the rest, as they say is history. He was virtually unplayable under lights and had the pace to complement his vicious swing. Allan Lamb, batting on 31, took strike to face his first ball from Akram. Bowling round the wicket, Akram thudded it in just short of a length, swinging it in at searing pace to shatter his stumps. Chris Lewis was up next. Akram this time pitched it fuller, curving the ball beautifully through the air. Caught in two minds, he guided the ball to his stumps and the death rattle started resonating in the English camp. He later removed Ian Botham through another master class of reverse swing as Pakistan wrapped up the innings for 227 and took the silverware home for the first time.

Akram was deservedly named the Man of the Match.

Edited by Shivang Aggarwal