Cricket Report: Pakistan fails to make full Use of the Oval track in the fourth ODI
The Pakistani team, beset with problems on and off the field, failed to make the most of perfect batting conditions in the third ODI against
England at the Oval today. The team posted a below par total of 241 runs after opting to bat first in the crucial match. This game is vital as the Pakistanis are 2-0 down in the five match ODI series.
Pakistan got off to a poor start for the first time in the series as opener Mohammad Hafeez edged an absolute peach of a delivery from James Anderson into the gloves of wicket-keeper Davies. The right hander
had scored only one run. It was to become worse for the men in green as the other in-form opener, Kamran Akmal, played an innocuous ball headed way down the leg side onto his stumps. He departed after posting a meager five runs.
At this stage Pakistan hoped for some defiance from the veteran Mohammad Yousuf and he got off to a promising start hitting a sumptuous four before falling LBW to a sharp in swinger from
Anderson. He had scored 16 runs off 22 balls.
Fawad Alam and Asad Shafiq looked set to help their team make a spirited comeback, only for the diminutive http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shafiq-c89281 to fall with 95 runs posted on the board by the 25th over. He had scored 40 runs with
four boundaries.
Fawad Alam continued to hold one at end as the batsmen on the other end tried to up the scoring rate.
However another batsman fell after playing himself in; this time it was the immensely talented Umar Akmal who had scored 14 runs before being caught by Swann off pace man Tim Bresnan.
Fawad Alam then found an able ally in skipper Shahid Afridi. The two went about their task of accumulating runs at a quick pace and added 60 runs in only 51 balls.
The two looked set to take Pakistan to a big total but once again a tame shot led to the demise of a batsman at a crucial time.
The man to go was left handed Alam, who had played exceedingly well for his 64 run knock that came off 86 balls and included three hits to the fence. The lack of luck on
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482’s departure for 37 runs. He was dismissed when he had almost coasted home and completed a run, but was given out as he took evasive action and the ball bounced
off the bat and crashed into the stumps at the non-strikers end. It was a slapstick dismissal for the unfortunate Pakistani captain.
Abdul Razzaq and Umar Gul tried to take the hosts to a reasonable total and that is all that they achieved as the men in green finished with 244 on the board in the allotted overs.
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