So England start off the one day tournamant in reasonable mood despite their embarrasing defeat to Pakistan A. Pakistan win the toos and elect to bat first, something that had a sceptical Richie Benaud claiming we will have to wait and see if that was the right result. The pitch was hard, it was humid and there was a slight chance of rain. Jim Maxwell seemed to think that the pitch could decline as the match progresses. Skipper Michael Vaughan was still confident and claimed that his bowlers had spent extra time in the nets, and he had been working on a new, very containing field which was 8-2, he exclaimed that if the bowlers kept to the right lines and lengths he was quietly optimistic of keeping Pakistan to under 250 on this batting friendly wicket, with a lush outfield!
England couldnt have wished for a better start, Steve Harmison and James Anderson (Englands most potent fast strike bowlers on the tour so far) ripped through the top order, by the time Pakistan had scored 36 runs they were 5 down! Vaughan new field settings looked to be working a treat at this rate the score could be kept well below 100 runs. What England didnt expect was a middle order fighting performance, that arrived in the shape of Abdul Razzaqw and Shoaib Malik. They arrived at the crease and played positive from the off building a partnership of over 100 runs. However Pakistan were still on a low run rate and as they continued to play there shots both were run out after great throws from Marcus Trescothick on the boundry (dont know why tresco was out there
). So Pakistan had reached 158 for 7 by the time they wer both dismissed, England were once again in joyfull mood hopeing the tail wouldnt wag. Flintoff arrived for a short spell and picked up the next wicket wit a slower ball, Kahn attempting a backfoot drive which went straight to Paul Collingwood at cover. Richard Johnson then came back for his second spell, a lovely outswinger ripped Shoaib Aktars off stump from the ground, even tho it only just clipped it. Anderson's next ball of the next over, Umar Gul playing a back foot defensive, nicked the outside edge and Richard Johnson made a lovely diving catch which almost took him to the gully position.
Pakistan all out for 172 after 33 overs! England require 173 to win.
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England couldnt have wished for a better start, Steve Harmison and James Anderson (Englands most potent fast strike bowlers on the tour so far) ripped through the top order, by the time Pakistan had scored 36 runs they were 5 down! Vaughan new field settings looked to be working a treat at this rate the score could be kept well below 100 runs. What England didnt expect was a middle order fighting performance, that arrived in the shape of Abdul Razzaqw and Shoaib Malik. They arrived at the crease and played positive from the off building a partnership of over 100 runs. However Pakistan were still on a low run rate and as they continued to play there shots both were run out after great throws from Marcus Trescothick on the boundry (dont know why tresco was out there
). So Pakistan had reached 158 for 7 by the time they wer both dismissed, England were once again in joyfull mood hopeing the tail wouldnt wag. Flintoff arrived for a short spell and picked up the next wicket wit a slower ball, Kahn attempting a backfoot drive which went straight to Paul Collingwood at cover. Richard Johnson then came back for his second spell, a lovely outswinger ripped Shoaib Aktars off stump from the ground, even tho it only just clipped it. Anderson's next ball of the next over, Umar Gul playing a back foot defensive, nicked the outside edge and Richard Johnson made a lovely diving catch which almost took him to the gully position. Pakistan all out for 172 after 33 overs! England require 173 to win.
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