Point of perspective Click here for more on this story Posted: Wednesday June 23, 1999 04:44 PM Truth is surely a judgement call in sport. How else can the players at the Cricket World Cup have had such a different take on the final from the spectators? Billed as a classic between the tenacious and talented Australians, and the gifted but mercurial Pakistanis, it was clear from the start that only one team had come to play. Pakistan's swagger, that had been so evident as they cut a swathe through the earlier rounds of the tournament, just never materialized in the final, as batsman after batsman failed to rise to the occasion. With Pakistan all out for 132 in just 39 overs, the lowest ever total in a World Cup final, the result was never in doubt. The only question for Australia and its fans, was how long would it take the Aussies would get their hands on the Cup? The answer just 20.1 overs. Now my reading of that fact, a view shared by the media and fans I spoke to alike, was that the game just hadn't lived up to expectations. The Pakistanis froze, allowing the Australians to not so much win the Cup, as have it handed to them on a silver platter. Don't get me wrong, undoubtedly the Aussies fought a great war. Indeed, with one draw and six wins to take the title, their fighting spirit is without question. But the ultimate battle was no more than a skirmish, rife with anticlimax. To Aussie captain, Steve Waugh, however, the match was all about what Australia did. Shane Warne's Man of the Match winning bowling figures of 4-33, allied to some great fielding, having rocked the Pakistanis back on their heels from the start, never letting them recover. "We saved our best until last," he said. "All the guys really wanted it today. We talked about taking half chances and today we pulled it off. Today we were close to playing all-round cricket, that was the best win of my career.' Wasim Akram was equally adamant that his young team was simply beaten by a better outfit. The fact that only one of his batsman made it to 20 runs, and that his previously lethal bowlers took just two wickets seemed to be of no relevance. "We did not freeze in the final, " he told me. The boys are mentally tough and have been through tough games before, but Australia showed their mettle today,' he told me. "Things didn't work out well in the end." So there you have it. I stand corrected. Sunday's match was a classic. Either that, or the quickness of the quote deceives the eye.   Related information Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI.

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