England vs Pakistan - 4th test, Day 3 Report
Pakistan team slumped to yet another low total against England in the 4th test at Lords. After having England at 102 for 7, they let them get away and score 446. Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad managed to score their career best scores of 186 and 169 respectively. It was expected that Pakistan may be able to make use of the early morning moisture and get rid of the last 3 wickets quickly, but it was not to be and the home side managed to add more than 100 runs in the first session. Pakistan were mentally drained out following the world record 8th wicket stand between Trott and Broad and could not withstand the English attack. The whole team fell like a pack of cards and was all out for an embarrassing score of 74. Falling short of England’s first innings score by 382 run, England quickly enforced the follow on and things did not change. Pakistan team has the ability to outdo themselves in terms of playing awful cricket. In their 2nd innings they managed to lose 4 more wickets for just 41 runs. When rain stopped play, they were on the verge of yet another appalling innings defeat.
Pakistan attack that that had England on the mat on day one, looked simply toothless and had no penetration with Broad and Trott at the crease. Out of ideas and out of spirit they were just going through the motions and the chance of levelling the series had gone out of the window on day 2. What followed on morning of day 3 was just the final nail in the coffin.
The England team was finally dismissed after lunch, Stuart Broad fell just before the break after scoring his career best 169, and fell short by 4 runs which would have gotten him the distinction of having the highest test score while batting at number 9.
When England were all out eventually for 446, it was obvious that Pakistan had no chance of winning the game and the series had gone out of their hands. Imran Farhat and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 did not even manage to get into double figures. It took England just 33 over to clean up the fragile Pakistan line up for just 74 runs. Pakistan were asked to bat again as they had followed on. Things did not change much; the opening duo once again came and went without anyone noticing. Salman Butt came in at 3 with a look that said ‘why me, please take me away from here’. He looked like a beaten man and could hardly concentrate on what was going on in the match. He was put out of his misery by Swann who got him out LBW. Mohammd Yousuf, the man who was brought into the side after asking him to take back his retirement summed up the Pakistani lineup. With the team going nowhere and a massive defeat looming large, the veteran played a needless hook shot with 2 men placed in the deep for that specific purpose. He was caught easily and Pakistan were stranded at 41 for 4. When heavens opened, and play was called off soon after, Pakistan team would be praying that it continues to pour for 2 more days, but sadly for them forecast is not that heavy for the next 2 days and the inevitable innings defeat awaits them at Lords.
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