Pakistan team starts its England tour with a winning note
Pakistan team has started its England tour with a six-run close win over MCC XI at Lords cricket ground, London on Sunday.
Once again it was Umar Akmal's aggressive fifty, backed up by the restricted bowling from Rawalpindi express Shoaib Akhtar and Saeed Ajmal, that helped Pakistan to begin their summer campaign overwhelming MCC XI at Lord's. Chasing a formidable target Aiden Blizzard kept the hopes of MCC alive till the final moments of the match. He put on 94 with Brian Lara - who managed a 32-ball 37 on his return to competitive cricket - but his sparkling 73 off 59 balls went in vain as the middle order failed to support after Lara’s dismissal.
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, after winning the toss elected to bat first. On a sun-drenched afternoon, Pakistan started on a bright note with its Opening duo, featuring vice Captain Salman Butt and the young guy Shahzaib Hassan, setting a decent start for their side. The situation became alarming for the MCC XI when the Green Shirts passed fifty in just the fifth over. The new ball pair of Lankan Chaminda Vaas and Hamid Hassan of Afghanistan failed to impress Butt and Shahzaib. In the opening stand the visitors scored 52 runs in only 5.2 overs. Shahzaib Hassan lost his wicket to RG Querl in the sixth over when he was caught by Chaminda Vass behind the square. He played an aggressive innings of 34 runs off just 19 balls including six boundaries and a six.
After Shahzaib’s dismissal, Pakistan lost its two quick wickets of wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt. Akmal could add only two runs to the score card while Butt was sacked by CZ Harris after scoring 21 runs off 27 balls including a lone boundary. Yet the two quick wickets did not panic Umar Akmal. He unleashed his beautiful strokes in the middle order while flaunting a knack for smartly finding the gaps. Though the trio of Glenn Querl, Mohammad Nabi, and Chris Harris, with a good line and length, managed to keep a tight strap on the batsmen, Umar remained patient picking off loose deliveries that came his way. He played a tremendous unbeaten innings of 51 runs off just 30 deliveries with three sixes and three boundaries.
Captain Afridi started in his aggressive style but was sacked by Harris after scoring quick 11 off 7 balls. Razzaq scored unbeaten 20 runs of 11 balls. By the end of 1wenty overs, Pakistan was 165 for the loss of 5 wickets. Harris was the most successful bowler from MCC XI side. He took three wickets conceding 26 runs in his four overs. Mohammad Nabi of Afghanistan was also good with the bowl. He took one wicket giving 18 runs in four overs.
The hosts lost their first wicket quite early when Simpson was sacked by the speedster Shoaib Akhtar. Simpson could add just four runs to his team’s total.
The signs looked ominous for Green Shirts when Blizzard and Lara scored 94 runs in the second wicket stand. Pakistani fielders were quite generous to Lara and Blizzard conceding them miss-field and over-throw runs at least five times. T20 specialist Umar Gul gave Pakistan a break-through in the 13th over when he made Lara back to pavilion after scoring 37 runs off 32 balls. MCC captain Saurav Ganguly was Gul’s second prey. He could only manage two runs for his team.
Rawalpindi express, Shoaib Akhtar was remarkable throughout his four overs bowling spell. He took the fourth wicket of Marylebone Cricket Club in his notable last over when he dismissed Ian Harvey for (18 off 13 balls). Opener Blizzard was the last man to lose his wicket in last over of the match. Mohammad Aamer bowled Blizzard after scoring 73 off 59 deliveries smashing six boundaries and three sixes. MCC XIs lost the match by six runs as they could manage to score only 159 runs at the loss of five wickets.
Shoaib Akhtar was most successful with the ball as he got two wickets conceding only 19 runs in his four overs. T20 specialist Umar Gul also picked two wickets for 35 runs in his four overs spell. Mohammad Aamer took one wicket giving away 23 runs in three overs. Saeed Ajmal was also brilliant with the ball as he only gave 20 runs in four overs but failed to take a wicket.
The victory against MCC XIs, at the start of summer assignment, will boast the moral of Green shirts. Afridi’s men will now face Kent today. Let’s hope another brilliant performance from Pakistan team.
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