England vs Pakistan - Day 1 Report
Pakistan gave good account of themselves on the first day of the 3rd test against England at the Oval. After losing the first 2 matches the young Pakistan team looked down and out, but once again the unpredictable nature of the team meant that they were still not completely out of it; and so it proved on the opening day of the 3rd test. Once again it was the potent bowling attack of Pakistan that came to the party. England captain won the toss and made a bold decision to bat first on a pitch that was expected to assist the bowlers in general. Pakistan’http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 has had a rich history of producing young fast bowlers from nowhere and he is just another one in the long list. Mohammad Aamer was the latest one before him to burst on to the scene from nowhere.
It was always going to be a testing session for the English top order, and the ever dependable Mohammad Asif got the first wicket. He got the ball to move away and bounce against the out of form Alastair Cook and for a change Kamran Akmal made no mistake. Jonathan Trott and Andrew Strauss did look to have settled down to a degree in the next 7 overs, but that was when Wahab Riaz came into his own. First he accounted for Strauss as he got one to bounce from good length and the England captain got a faint edge. The Umpire did give it not out at first but Pakistan used their 1st referral to good effect and he was given out. Trott also followed soon, while going for a flashy drive he edged one to the slips and this time there were no drops from Pakistan. It was the 2nd wicket for Wahab.
In the very next over Mohammad Aamer got his first wicket when Paul Collingwood chopped one down onto his stumps. It was 47 for 4 inside 16 overs and things were looking good for Pakistan. It got even better 20 runs later when Pietersen edged one to the keeper for Wahab’s 3rd wicket. Last match’s hero for England, Eoin Morgan was also sent back early when Wahab got his 4th wicket and Kamran Akmal completed his 3rd catch without a drop. Off spinner Grame Swann lasted for only 12 balls for 8 runs. He was snapped up by Mohammad Asif in the slips.
At 94 for 7 England looked in some problems and the gritty wicketkeeper Matt Prior once again defied the Pakistan pace line up going on a counter attack. Prior and Stuart Broad put on 119 runs for the 8th wicket and frustrated the Pakistan attack. The partnership was finally broken when Wahab completed his 5 wicket haul and got Braod Leg-before-wicket (LBW). Asif in the next over got rid of James Anderson for naught. Prior knew he was out of partners and started playing the big shots. Mohammad Yousuf later dropped one of the easiest catches one can ever imagine. However thankfully for him Saeed Ajmal dismissed Finn the very next ball and England were all out for 233. Still for Pakistan they let England get at least 100 extra runs.
Pakistan played 18 overs before close of play, and scored 48 runs for the loss of Imran Farhat. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yasir-Hameed-c2811 who is making his way back in the team after a long layoff looked in good touch and was not out on 36. Night watchman Wahab Riaz was unbeaten on naught.
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