Scandal-hit Pakistan toppled by England

Pakistan’s latest match in their controversial tour ended in a five-wicket Twenty20 defeat by World Champions England.

CARDIFF: Pakistan’s latest match in their controversial tour of Britain ended in a five-wicket Twenty20 defeat by World Champions England. This was Pakistan’s first fixture since Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were suspended after newspaper allegations.

England, set a seemingly modest 127 for victory, collapsed to 62 for five. But Eoin Morgan (38 not out) and Michael Yardy (35 not out) saw England to 129 for five with an unbroken partnership of 67 as they won with 17 balls to spare.

However, England dropped three catches in Pakistan’s innings and then lost four wickets for 20 runs in 25 balls to be 62 for five. Graeme Swann led England’s attack with two wickets for 14 runs. And with Yardy returning figures of one for 21 it meant England’s eight overs of spin yielded three wickets for just 35 runs.

Pakistan found runs hard to come by after losing the toss and only managed eight boundaries in their innings. But England’s batsmen stuttered as well.

Ravi Bopara was well caught by Mohammad Yousuf, running back from mid-on, off Shoaib Akhtar. Shahid Afridi then had a wicket in his first over with a quick leg-spinner that opposing Paul Collingwood could only edge onto his stumps.

Steven Davies made 33 at better than a run-a-ball before being caught by Wahab Riaz off Umar Gul. And England lost another wicket when Luke Wright missed an intended sweep off Afridi and was bowled for a second ball nought.

Pakistan should really have had a sixth wicket when Morgan on 13 reverse-swept Afridi only for Akhtar to somehow drop the simple chance at short third man.

They did not help their cause with a batting order that saw Afridi (unbeaten on 16) not come in until the 15th over while Abdul Razzaq did not bat at all. Their total would have been a lot worse had Umar Akmal, who top-scored with 35 not out, been caught on five.

Swann took his knack of taking wickets early in a Test spell into Twenty cricket with a burst of two for five in seven balls that reduced Pakistan to 56 for three inside nine overs.

He had Yousuf (26) well caught by Morgan, running in from midwicket and then beat Shahzaib Hasan (21) in the flight with Davies completing a neat legside stumping.

Tim Bresnan though reprieved Umar Akmal when he dropped a head-high catch at short midwicket off Collingwood.

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