Pakistan break losing-streak against Australia

Paceman Umar Gul celebrates after bowling out Australia’s Michael Hussey during the first international Twenty20 cricket match at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Monday. PHOTO: AFP

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan continued their love affair with the England soil as they ended their 12-match losing streak against Australia and beat them by 23 runs in the first of the back-to-back Twenty20 internationals at Edgbaston.

Pakistan went into the match with memories of Michael Hussey’s onslaught in the semi-final of the 2010 World Twenty20 tournament still fresh but came out victors despite numerous fielding lapses that threatened to derail the march.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan, despite a middle-order collapse in an innings that included two first-ball ducks, rode on Umar Akmal’s whirlwind 64 off only 31 balls that rescued his side from a precarious 47 for four. Elder brother Kamran played a short cameo with a 19-ball 23 as Pakistan ended with 167 for eight off their quota.

With the return of Umar Gul,Pakistan’s bowling line-up comprised Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal and captain Shahid Afridi. Aamer and Ajmal captured three wickets each and Gul picked up a brace to restrict Australia to 144 in the penultimate over to lead the two-match series 1-0.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2010.