When one talks about ICC World Cup 2015, images of a rampant Wahab Riaz tormenting the Australian batsmen are constructed in the minds of cricket fans. It was a spell from Riaz, which made even the greats of the game like Wasim Akram and Brian Lara proud. The sheer hostility displayed by Riaz was simply impeccable as he made Australian all-rounder Shane Watson in particular, tremble with fear.
The occasion was the third quarter-final of the 2015 World Cup and Pakistan, led by Misbah-Ul-Haq were defending a moderately low total of 213 in the do or die game. The hosts were going great guns in their chase before Riaz removed the dangerous David Warner in the 9th over. Riaz soon got rid off Australian skipper Michael Clarke with a gem of a delivery.
In walked Shane Watson, and little did he know that he was about to be literally tormented by the belligerent Riaz. Delivery after delivery, Riaz bowled some unplayable jaffas to Watson, who seemed to be completely intimidated by the bowler’s undying fury. Riaz made it a point to also let Watson verbally know about the proceedings and how scared the batsman looked.
The game ended with an easy victory for Australia, but Riaz’s heroics surely won the hearts of millions of cricket viewers. On his 31st birthday, we relive the brilliance of that spell from Riaz in the video below.