For me in the past few weeks it has been a case of so much cricket, so little time and so little worth commenting on.  However, last night’s match between Australia and Pakistan did provide a moment.  Australia won the match but they crucified the final over of their innings in grand style. 

Australia started the final over poised to break the 200 barrier against Pakistan.  In Haddin and Mike Hussey, two of the best hitters in the game were at the crease and the score was 5/191.  Pakistan and Mohammad Aamer proceeded to set some sort of record, not to be beaten I expect.  A five wicket maiden.

That is correct, the final score was all out for 191.  The 5^th ball was the only delivery not to produce a wicket.  We had four wickets in four balls but no hat tricks – balls three and four were run outs.  How extraordinary.  How hilarious!  Shane Warne has been quoted as stating that surely this was the best over of cricket he has ever witnessed.

For your enjoyment, I have reproduced the mayhem, courtesy of Cricinfo Commentary.  For the record, the 5^th ball was an air swing.

http://www.cricinfo.com/world-twenty20-2010/engine/current/match/412683.html

19.1

Mohammad Aamer to Haddin, OUT, 83.7 mph, gone! No mistake from Sami at short third man, it was full and outside off, Haddin throws his hands at it, gets an edge and neatly taken. Dot ball is what matters at this stage, but the total is already imposing

BJ Haddin c Mohammad Sami b Mohammad Aamer 1 (2b 0×4 0×6) SR: 50.00

Australia 191/6   MEK Hussey 17* (8b 1×4 1×6)   Mohammad Aamer 3.1-0-23-1 

19.2

Mohammad Aamer to Johnson, OUT, 87.9 mph, Aamer strikes! Lovely yorker and Johnson can’t get his bat down in time, it crashes into middle stump, lovely bowling

MG Johnson b Mohammad Aamer 0 (1b 0×4 0×6) SR: 0.00

Australia 191/7   MEK Hussey 17* (8b 1×4 1×6)   Mohammad Aamer 3.2-0-23-2 

19.3

 Mohammad Aamer to Smith, OUT, 87.7 mph, well it’s three wickets in three balls, but not a hat-trick! Another good yorker, Smith swished and misses, they attempt to run a bye to get Hussey on strike, Kamran is quick with the throw and Hussey is run out

MEK Hussey run out 17 (8b 1×4 1×6) SR: 212.50

Australia 191/8   SPD Smith 0* (1b)   Mohammad Aamer 3.3-0-23-2 

19.4

 Mohammad Aamer to Nannes, OUT, well, what have we here!? Is it four in four!? Another yorker, another swish, another attempted bye, and yes, another run out. Good stuff from Pakistan in this final over, a touch farcical out there, it must be said.

SPD Smith run out 0 (1b 0×4 0×6) SR: 0.00

Australia 191/9   DP Nannes 0* (1b)   Mohammad Aamer 3.4-0-23-2 

19.6

Mohammad Aamer to Tait, OUT, gone this time! Bowled him! How utterly extraordinary and bizarre. Decent length and line, Tait gives himself room and it cannons off his pads on to off stump. So we have a five-wicket maiden, yet Australia are completely on top.

SW Tait b Mohammad Aamer 0 (2b 0×4 0×6) SR: 0.00

Australia 191/10   DP Nannes 0* (1b)   Mohammad Aamer 4-1-23-3