Cricket: Pakistan and Australia regain form ahead of T20 clash
The Australian bowlers and especially, fast bowler Shaun Tait made sure their team got their second conciliatory victory in the 5th and last match of the Natwest series. However winning the last two was important for their self image and that is exactly what the mighty Australians have managed to save.
The Australians won by 42-runs at the home of cricket, Lords. Their bowlers bamboozled the English batsmen and thus finished the series at a respectable 3-2 score. The Australians, batting first managed to put up 278 runs with great help from none other than their ace hitter Michael Hussy who took to the English bowling attack. The English batsmen never looked in the running when they came out to bat as Shaun Tait made sure that he kept a check on the men in blue as he took two quick wickets to reduce the hosts to 19 for the loss of two wickets. England never recovered.
Paul Collingwood was the only English batsmen who seemed to be trying. He made 95 runs, but unfortunately could not find a stable partner on the other end.
Shaun Tait who remained the pick of the bowlers ended with bowling figures of four for 48 runs as England was bowled out for 235 runs.
On the other side of town, Australia’s opponents for tomorrow, Pakistan also continued their supreme form. Their new found opening batsmen, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 during the Asia Cup and thus hitting 42 runs from only 13-balls.
The Pakistanis eventually beat the county team comprehensively by 6 wickets.
So with the Pakistanis having won their warm up games and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 also finding their lost form in the last two one dayer’s, the stage is set for a thrilling series against the two cricketing giants.
Pakistan will take on the Australians today (5th July 2010) and day after (6th July 2010) in two Twenty-20 matches followed by 2 tests matches.
However in an interesting turn of events the Pakistani’s who wanted their hosting rights in terms of deciding the playing pitch have been refused by the Lords curators. On the simple reason being that even England are not given that particular luxury. It turns out that the Pakistani’s wanted a pitch that would support the spinners and also be good for batting.
The ICC has clearly stated that till 2015 no international match has been scheduled in the ICC calendar for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ehsan-Mani-c55791 has given his own view point by suggesting that it would not be possible for cricket to restart in Pakistan. Until and unless the Pakistan Cricket Board submits its report on the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore.
Mani has thus blamed the PCB for putting their own country in such a situation since they have not acted in over a year to explain to the world what happened that very day and why the promised President level security was not present for the touring team.He believes that until this gap is not cleared by the PCB he saw no hope of international cricket returning to Pakistan.
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