Cricket Update - Pakistan fights back with a surprise win
Pakistan held its reputation of most unpredictable side of the world when the cricket team defeated in-form England team within 4 days of Oval Test. This is Pakistan’s first victory on English soil since 2001. It also provides http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 and its fans some relief from painful memories of infamous 2004 Oval Test.
Pakistan showed same resilience at Oval, which enabled them to level series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 earlier. After being beaten ruthlessly twice by hosts, Pakistan fought back to keep their chances alive in the series. Keeping its precedent alive of flattering in face of even small run chase, Pakistan showed some cracks before they overcame their nerves to record a historic win. James Anderson and Graeme Swann produced some inspiring performance on the fourth day as the balance of the match kept on swinging on both sides. Amir, who was phenomenal with ball earlier, showed calmness in tense situation as he along with Umar Akmal steered Pakistan to victory on a ground where they forfeited the match four years ago due to ball-tempering row. With this defeat, England’s six-Test winning streak also comes to end.
Pakistan started the match confidently despite losing http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yasir-Hameed-c2811 earlier in the innings. Farhat steered Pakistan’s innings early in the day with some positive stroke play and positive approach. He punished both Anderson and Swann, as Pakistan looked comfortably poised to reach the target. He was removed by Swann when he mistimed his sweep and was caught plumb LBW. With dismissal of Farhat, Salman Butt came to crease under immense pressure to perform with the bat. He has impressed critics with his captaincy but has failed miserably with bat. His scores of 1, 8, 7, 0 and 17 in the series are self-explanatory of his performance with the bat. However, he started his innings positively as he played with both fluency and command. He punished Broad with three boundaries in a single over through his delicate cut shots. He looked in command but was trapped by Swann as he edged the ball to slip to get out on 48. At the time of Butt’s departure, Pakistan needed below than 50 runs with veteran Yousaf on crease.
It showed stark resemblance to Pakistan’s victory against Australia at Headingley where Pakistan found difficulty in wrapping up the match. At lunch, Pakistan needed just 33 runs with seven wickets in hand which would have been an easy ride for any other team but Pakistan is master of complicating things. They showed this once again when Azhar Ali’s run out sparked Pakistan’s batting collapse and England’s return into the match. Yousaf was cleaned bowled by Anderson through a brilliant yorker. Even experienced Yousaf could not do anything about the yorker that was bowled to perfection. It looked as if history would repeat itself as Pakistan started to succumb under pressure in a similar fashion in which they collapsed in Sydney, in January. Kamran Akmal kept his dismal form continued as he struggled to find his way. His shot making was restrained by England before Swann removed him. After his dismissal, England produced five consecutive maidens that put immense pressure on young duo of Akmal and Amir. At that moment Pakistan needed only 16 runs but it seemed improbable. But in the end youngsters showed their nerves as they steered Pakistan to their first victory on English soil in nine years.
With this victory, Pakistan has brought life back into the series, which looked dead after hosts won first two matches with utmost comfortably. Pakistan’s revival can be attributed to comeback of Yousaf and some neat catching on behalf of fielders. Pakistan bowling performed to perfection especially Saeed Ajmal and Amir who bowled brilliantly. On the other hand, the only positive for England is revival of Alastair Cook’s form who secured his berth in this year’s Ashes with an impressive knock of 110 in England’s second innings.
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