England vs Pakistan - 4th ODI; first innings report
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 once again let go off a relatively good start but did get themselves to a decent total in the end. Pakistan finished at 265 for 7 in the allotted 50 overs in the 4th ODI against England at Lords. Careless batting
and lack of planning once again was the reason for the downfall of Pakistan’s middle order. Captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch that was looking favourable for batting. The dry pitch at Lords did offer some assistance to
English bowlers. James Anderson and Tim Bresnan moved the ball around and made things difficult for Kamran AKmal and Mohammad Hafeez. The 2 right handers took the cautious approach and made sure they do not give away their wicket early on. As the shine of
the ball faded away Kamran and Hafeez started using the long handle. Kamran dispatched Bresnan for a brilliant six over square leg. He picked the ball from just outside the off stump and flicked it over the ropes. In the very next over Hafeez clipped a loose
ball from Broad off his hips for a six. The opening stand lasted till the 14th over and the duo put on 62 runs. Stuart Broad pitched, one, in one short and Akmal while going for a pull edged one for an easy catch inside the circle. Kamran scored
28 run from 32 balls with 4 fours and 1 six. The promising young batsman Asad Shafiq was in at number 3. He could not make much of an impression and was cleaned up by a brilliant flighted off spinner by Swann. Mohammad Yousuf did not last longer either and
he was Swann’s 2nd victim for just 3 runs.
Fawad Alam and Umar Akmal came together in the middle order to resurrect the innings, and Alam in his typical lazy manner continued to play at snail’s pace. The left hander just does not seem to have the ability to get the ball
to the boundary with any velocity. He was finally put out of his misery when Swann bowled him for 29 from 52 balls.
Shahid Afridi came in and started using the long handle; he did give the innings some impedance. But for some reason the captain refused to take the powerplay that may have saved his wicket. In the 45th over Pakistan
had not taken a powerplay and Afridi went for a wild swing getting caught in the deep, he scored 37 from 22 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Had he taken the powerplay, the field would have been in and he may have gotten away with it. Umar Akmal also followed
soon and skied one in the very next over. Umar scored 21 runs from 40 balls.
Abdul Razzaq produced a cameo in the end scoring 44 from 20 balls. Pakistan finally ended the innings at 265 for 7. Pakistan would think that they are 20 runs short from where they should have been, and will have to bowl well to
defend the target and level the series.
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