Cricket Update: Pakistan on a high, reaching 5th ODI after defeating England
Pakistan has made this ODI series alive. After being 2-0 down in the series they have somehow, managed to keep their focus. It has been a remarkable comeback by the Pakistan cricket team under their talismanic captain, Shahid Afridi.
The off field issues have over shadowed this cricket series between England and Pakistan. Pakistan’s win at the Oval was under the eye of suspicion that the match was being fixed. A lot has been said about the match at the Oval. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 blaming English
cricketers for match fixing. Pakistan’s performance at the Oval was overshadowed by fixing controversies. There has been an altercation between Wahab Riaz and Jonathan Trott. Andrew Strauss, the English captain demanding his troops to keep focus.
These off field issues have not disturbed the spirits of Pakistan cricketers. They have managed to keep their spirits high. After being 2-0 in the series, they have struck back with a great comeback, courtesy to some brilliant team performances.
Opening has been a problem for Pakistan, since the last couple of years. Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal have fit in this role quite well. They have added more than 50 runs in this series, 3 times. Kamran Akmal has 2 half centuries to his name and a well
made 28 runs in the fourth ODI. Mohammad Hafeez has been getting to some starts with a 30 in the first ODI and a 43 in the 2nd ODI, and finally getting to a well made half century in the 4th ODI.
Asad Shaffique has shown some promise with a bat. A well made 50 in the 2nd ODI, and a gritty 40 in the 3rd match were quite crucial to Pakistan’s cause. Some of the shots he played have shown that he has a fair bit of ability to play
at this level.
Fawad has played well in bits and pieces. On occasions, he has looked as the most consistent scorer of them all, but still hasn’t been able to impress. Scores of 39, 20, 64 and 29 have made him a permanent member of this squad. These consistent scores have
not come at a potent strike rate. He might not have strokes to play with, but can score runs consistently. Pakistan, if suffers from an early collapse Fawad Alam is the man they look forward to.
Umar Akmal, the most talented batsman in the Pakistan team is yet to stamp his authority. He has shown some glimpses of form, but still not at his best. Pakistan has to rethink his batting position. Your most talented batsman should not play at number 6.
Afridi and Abdul Razzak have shown some shadows of the past. Shahid Afridi has cracked some form in the last two matches. He has to think about his power play strategy. Abdul Razzak looted the English bowling attack in the last two overs of the 4th
ODI at Lord’s. A target that was looking like 240 was made a 265 by Razzak’s brutal batting display. Razzak made 44 runs of 20 balls, 40 of these runs came in 10 balls.
Bowling, as it has always been, is the main architect of their last two victories. Shoaib Akhtar has bowled with pace in his first spell, and comes back at the end with some reverse swing in his armoury.
The spin twins, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 and Saeed Ajmal have managed to keep stranglehold on the English batsman. They both come in the middle of the innings. They strike early, and keep the run rate intact.
Umar Gul has been the real star for Pakistan. The reverse swing king has reversed England’s fate in the last two ODIs. A career best in the 3rd ODI with 6/42, and a 4/32 in the fourth ODI have made Pakistan’s hope alive in the series.
Pakistan after winning the last two ODIs are on a high. They say that the ball might swing at Southampton. Pakistan has the team to surprise England. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 last won an ODI series in England was in 1974. This is Pakistan’s chance to repeat history.
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