Story Pakistan:- Agony & Ecstasy - ICC World T20 2009 [Day 5, Game 7]

[The Rock]

The game looks evenly balanced ATM. One more wicket, and I feel England might lose their way. Nice write up again. KUTGW!

 

[Fenil]

England seems to be heading towards a good score however, a wicket of Kevin and in a couple of overs and things will be open ended again.

 

[Pakistani Army]

ICC World Twenty20 2009
Game 6: England vs Pakistan
LIVE! From the Brit Oval
8th June, 2009​

Spinners keep England in check​

The sixth over was to be bowled b Umar Gul who was to start his second over. With this being the final over the Powerplay, it would be obvious that Pietersen and Bell would continue their aggressive approach they had previously taken against the Pakistani bowlers. There was no doubt that Umar Gul also knew that Pietersen and Bell would go after him.


Gul's second over was better than his opening one as he conceded 9 runs, with Pietersen taking his tally to 5 fours. With the Powerplay now over, Younus Khan adopted an "in-out" field to both Pietersen and Bell. This field would mean singles were readily available if both the batsman find the few gaps located in the outfield. Younus also continued to ring the changes in bringing leg-spinner Shahid Afridi into the attack in the seventh over. The task set by Afridi was to attack and grasp another wicket as soon as possible. Immediately, Afridi was getting drift in to both the batsman. On the fifth ball of his over, Bell wanting to rotate the strike, wanted to dab the ball square of fine leg and get 2 or maybe even 4. However, Afridi's drift aswell as the extra bounce meant that Bell's stumps were very close to being disturbed as Afridi let out a sigh of anguish.

At the other end, in order to continue taking wickets, Younus brought on his second spinner in the team Saeed Ajmal. The plan was similar to the one explained to Afridi. The question is that will they be able to pick the Doosra?

Pietersen had been the main aggressor of the innings so far. The Doosra did not faze him as Pietersen advanced down the track, giving himself plenty of room in the process and timed the ball in the vacant area between Umar Gul and Ahmed Shehzad at Deepback Square. This brought the first six of the innings as the rest of the over was unscored.

Afridi's second over was even miserly than his opening one as even the established Pietersen aswell as Bell were struggling to place him into the gaps. Afridi's second over went for 2 runs, which is just what Pakistan required at this stage as Younus gave Afridi a pat on the back as he collected his cap from Umpire Aleem Dar.

Despite the drop in run-rates, Pietersen's attacking intent continued as he launched Saeed Ajmal for a beautiful straight-bated boundary. However, Ajmal did come back well as he only conceded 2 runs off his other 5 balls.

The scoring rate has been dragged back nicely by both Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal. At the half-way point, things are still looking evenly poised as Younus Khan needs to take into consideration as to who will bowl the later overs of the innings.

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England:- 70/2 (10 Overs)
*Pietersen 37(28) 6 Fours, 1 Six
*Bell 16(17) 3 Fours

Current Partnership:- 43 runs off 40 balls

Umar Gul 2-0-21-1
Shahid Afridi 2-0-5-0
Saeed Ajmal 2-0-14-0

 

[The Rock]

Afridi was just too awesome with the ball!

 

[Pakistani Army]

ICC World Twenty20 2009
Game 6: England vs Pakistan
LIVE! From the Brit Oval
8th June, 2009​

England in dissaray after Fawad's magical over​

The run rate had been in check at seven runs per over at the halfway stage of England's Innings. Both Pietersen and Bell looked set, and 160 was looking on the cards. Instead of the orthodox combination of Afridi and Ajmal to bowl their allocated two overs each respectively, Younus Khan brought Shoaib Malik into the attack. His over went for a miserly three runs as Younus continued to wring the changes and brought on Sohail Tanvir for his final over. His overs so far were a respectable 3 overs for 17 runs including the early wicket of James Foster.

Tanvir's final over was looking to be a maiden, until Sohail strayed down the leg-side and Bell who was already set elegantly flicked the ball away off his pads. Nevertheless, it was without any doubt that Bell had been struggling. Prior to the 13th over being bowler, a mini-conference was taking place between Younus, Afridi, Malik & Razzaq. Eventually, they disbursed and Younus called Fawad Alam from Point to the bowling crease. Fawad was still rather dazed that he had been brought on to bowl, despite Younus having a total of 4 overs of Afridi and Ajmal at his disposal. Fawad was set the same field that had been slowly squeezing England's run rate. For Pietersen, Bell's reduction in scoring was applying that pressure onto himself. Fawad was keeping the trajectory rather flat, although occasionally giving it some air.

On the fourth ball of Fawad's over, he tossed up a delivery on a decent line of middle and off-stump. Pietersen knew that he had to push the innings along as the run rate had fell to below 7 runs per over. Therefore, he swept hard, against the minimal spin being applied by Fawad. The trajectory of the ball was flat as Pietersen had middled the shot. However, captain Younus Khan was situated at deep Square-Leg. The ball went to Younus who took a fairly simple catch. That particular side of the ground was 80 meters to the boundary. Pietersen look visibly annoyed as he headed back to the pavilion, his 52 run partnership with Ian Bell broken.

In at number five was Eoin Morgan. Morgan had played some terrific twenty20 knocks for his county Middlesex, however he was now drafted for his InternationalT20 Debut in a fragile situation. No one could have imagined what happened next.

A brief chat between Bell and Morgan, and Fawad was ready to bowl. Fawad switched from Round the Wicket to Over the wicket for the left-hander. Fawad delivered a similar ball to dismiss Pietersen from the previous ball, a fairly flighted off/middle stump channel delivery. Morgan decided to open up the off-side as Bell had most likely discussed the minimal turn being attained by Fawad. It seemed as though Morgan had placed the ball neatly for a two to get off the mark. However, Sohail Tanvir was now scurrying towards the ball as he had sighted it late. The crowd was silent as Tanvir almost slow-motion like attempted a fantastic, full stretched dive out in-front of himself. As he got up, he was ecstatic as he launched the ball in the air. The crowd once again went silent.

However, Morgan was not leaving the crease. He, accompanied by Ian Bell were discussing with both umpires Aleem Dar and Billy Doctrove whether the catch had been taken cleanly. Unfortunately for Morgan, he was given out as the crowd looked at the replays being displayed on the big screen. Numerous boos erupted as Morgan had gone for a golden duck on his InternationalT20 Debut, England 81/4 and more importantly, Fawad Alam was on a hat-trick.

England captain Paul Collingwood joined Ian Bell as the hat-trick ball was safely negotiated. Fawad Alam's one over had shocked England. They were now 82/4 after 13 overs, and 160 was looking a long long way away. Younus then brought Umar Gul into the attack and he too continued to choke England as his over went for a miserly 2 runs, hints of reverse swing were present. Even at this stage, Younus reintroduced Abdul Razzaq into the attack. His over was also going for two runs, until the final over of the fifteenth over was cut over Point for a much needed boundary.

With England's run rate dropping and dropping, and also with Gul, Afridi and Ajmal to share the final five overs, will England be able to set an defendable total? Or will they crumble in this pressure predicament?

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England:- 89/4 (15 Overs)
*I Bell 24(34) 4 Fours
*P Collingwood 6(5) 1 Four
Last Wickets
K Pietersen c. Younus b. Fawad 42(35) 7 Fours 1 Six
E Morgan c. Sohail b. Fawad 0(1)

Sohail 4-0-21-1
Razzaq 2-0-19-0
Gul 3-0-23-1
Malik 1-0-3-0
Fawad 1-0-4-2

 

[The Rock]

89-4 in 20 overs?

 

[Pakistani Army]

89-4 in 20 overs?

Sorry, 15 overs. My mistake.

 

[The Rock]

I feel Pakistan have the edge at the moment. Good writing, KIU. Looking forward to the next 5 overs update.

 

[Fenil]

Pakistan in driver's seat. England have to bat very well to post a challenging total.

 

[AsadAbrar]

Nice update, your use of screenies make it more authentic and... obviously more awesome

Pakistan can easily win the match unles this partnership blooms and they hit some huge sixes.

 

[Pakistani Army]

ICC World Twenty20 2009
Game 6: England vs Pakistan
LIVE! From the Brit Oval
8th June, 2009​

England capitulate to 108​

At 89/4, and with Ian Bell who had grinded-down his way to 24 aswell as Paul Collingwood at the wicket, England would have been setting their sights on a minimum of 120. What unfolded was definitely below their aswell as the crowd's expectations.

Umar Gul had bowled a tight 14th over and Younus sensed an opportunity in order to take either Bell or Collingwood's wicket. Gul's pace was up and Bell was given a full toss off the opening ball of the over, but failed to place it away to the fence, let alone into a gap which basically summed up his day. Gul was now steaming in and the second ball was an off-stump yorker which Bell attempted to guide to third man but failed. Ball three was yet again a sizzling yorker with a hint of reverse swing, tailing in. Bell executed the cover drive however an athletic stop from Misbah-ul-Haq at Cover saw Bell fail to rotate the strike. Three dots, the pressure building. Gul's fourth ball was a slower ball down to 73mph given on length. Bell read this attempted to heave the ball over long on. However, the lack of pace had done Bell as Razzaq took a rather simple catch to end Bell's frustrating innings.

From then on the wickets fell in a heap as Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal tore the heart out of the lower order, as the English batsman frantically searched for the boundary. This collapse towards the end of the innings meant that England lost their last 6 wickets for just 19 runs in just 21 balls. And that too with 9 balls to spare in the innings.

Had the English batsman even attempted to take a run a ball off the last 9 balls, they could have set Pakistan a target of 118. Back to reality, 109 looks a long way short.

England Batting Card​

Pakistan Bowling Card​

So, Pakistan will need to chase down a target of 109 in order to successfully knock England out of this tournament. We will take a quick break, and when we return we will have the Pakistan run chase LIVE! Only on ESPN Star Sports.

 

[Fenil]

It should be a cakewalk for Pakistan from here.

 

[Pakistani Army]

ICC World Twenty20 2009
Game 6: England vs Pakistan
LIVE! From the Brit Oval
8th June, 2009​

Pakistan off to a flyer!​

As the floodlights were now switched on at the Brit Oval, the rather quiet English contingent were waiting anxiously for their team to emerge from the Dressing Room. They aswell as the players knew that it would take something out of the ordinary to defeat Pakistan, after a disastrous conclusion to their innings. As the England players led by captain Paul Collingwood emerged out onto the middle, spirits were not at their highest, despite plenty of encouragement from the captain. This was followed by the Pakistani openers, Ahmed Shehzad and Kamran Akmal who were visibly more keen for the run-chase ahead in contrast to the England fielders.

Collingwood had a lengthy brief with Chris Tremlett who was to opening the bowling. One slip, that being Kevin Pietersen was placed aswell as a rather tight inner circle. The plan was to use his height and hit the deck hard as Shehzad was to go hard at him. As Tremlett ran up for the opening ball of the Pakistani chase, the crowd was slowly gripping into this tense atmosphere. The opening ball was a beauty to say the least as it rose on Shehzad and missed the edge of his bat narrowly. Despite this, Shehzad and Kamran rotated the strike on five occasions leading to five runs being taken off the opening over.

At the other end, Stuart Broad was preparing to share the new ball with Chris Tremlett. Collingwood gave the same procedure for Broad, i.e:- hitting the deck hard. However, this over was a costly one for England. Broad was doing what was expected, however Shehzad was improvising superbly. The opening ball was dug-in short and Shehzad hit over the top of the Cover region to pick up his opening boundary. He then rotated the strike and Kamran Akmal unleashed a series of elegant cover drives which penetrated the field immaculately. Broad had been over-pitching, and he was being given the treatment. A total of 15 runs came off that over. A poor effort when chasing only 109 runs.

Tremlett was continuing to bowl an superb line outside off-stump, that too on just short of a good length. Like Shehzad did against Broad in the previous over, Kamran shifted to the leg-side. However, Tremlett did follow him. Kamran therefore glanced the ball fine. It seemed a certain boundary however some clever tactics by captain Paul Collingwood meant that Samit Patel was stationed at short Fine-Leg and diving forward, took a remarkable catch. Kamran held his hand up to his head as Shehzad patted him on the back. England had struck, but would they capitalise on this start?

Pakistan captain Younus Khan now strode out to the middle feeling fairly relaxed, as usual. He safely negotiated Tremlett's remaining three balls to again only concede 5 runs off his over, this time however with an important scalp of Kamran Akmal.

Any chance of capitalising were completely undone as Shehzad launched a furious assault against Broad. Broad was continuing to be wayward in both line and length. Ball 3 was pitched full on a Leg-Stump. Shehzad advanced down the wicket and lofted the ball handsomely for a huge six. This was followed up by a crisp square drive, beating Eoin Morgan at Point. The turning point came when Shehzad was facing Tremlett in the fifth over. The first three balls were good deliveries which Shehzad defended. However, the fourth ball on the same, good length but Shehzad rocked back in his crease and flayed the ball over the Long-On boundary for his second six. This was followed up by a rare leg-stump half-volley which Shehzad flicked past Samit Patel at Short Fine-Leg to get his third six. Tremlett was furious as his figures had now been tarnished. Younus, who had been admiring from the non-striker's end approached Shehzad at the completion of the fifth over and both laughed aswell as punching gloves, just to show Pakistan were in full command after the opening five overs.

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Pakistan:- 46/1 (5 Overs)
*Shehzad 37(20) 3 Fours 3 Sixes
*Younus 0(3)

Last Wicket
Kamran c. S Patel b. Tremlett 9(7) 2 Fours

Tremlett 3-0-22-1
Broad 2-0-24-0

AT THIS STAGE, England were 42/2. Pakistan are 4 runs ahead.

Pakistan require 63 runs to win, with 9 wickets in hand, at a required run rate of 4.20 runs per over.

 

[Fenil]

A guaranteed win for Pakistan from here unless they bat very pathetically.

 

[Pakistani Army]

ICC World Twenty20 2009
Game 6: England vs Pakistan
LIVE! From the Brit Oval
8th June, 2009​

Pakistan edge closer to victory​

Captain Paul Collingwood was still persisting with Stuart Broad, whose previous two overs had cost 24 runs as he was to bowl the final over of the Powerplay. From the previous onslaught he had received, they had figured out that starving Shehzad from width would keep him aswell as the runs taken off each respective bowler under check. Only 6 runs were taken off Broad's third over. And the six over powerplay had yielded 52 runs for the loss of only one wicket. Pakistan were in a comfortable position.

Collingwood knew that the game was now slipping away. Shehzad had settled in nicely after getting Pakistan well ahead of the required run rate, whereas captain Younus Khan was playing a rather natural innings of some sorts. Tremlett and Broad had now bowled out their allotted four overs and Collingwood turned to the spin combination of Graeme Swann and Samit Patel in order to obtain a wicket.

Swann in particular was started to trouble Shehzad as only a single came off his opening 5 deliveries. The final ball of the over was a fully-flighted delivery outside off-stump. The ball fizzed back into Shehzad's bat and took the inside edge. Tremlett did give chase, however Shehzad gladly took the boundary to move in to the fourties. Collingwood was gladly giving Pakistan the singles as Shehzad and Younus brought up the fifty partnership with ease. The only positive for Collingwood was that there was a constant build up of dot balls. And the difference between runs required and balls in hand was decreasing.

Samit Patel was also applying the similar amount of pressure as Graeme Swann was from the other end. In Patel's third over, with Shehzad on 46 Patel delivered a rare full toss. Shehzad saw this as an opportunity to beat Stuart Broad stationed at Deep Square Leg to get to his fifty in style. In order to attain additional leverage, he advanced down the wicket. However, as Patel's trajectory is flatter, the ball seemingly rushed onto Shehzad. Therefore, the ball hit the top-half of the bat and spooned up to Stuart Broad at Deep Square Leg who took a very simple catch. Shehzad was furious as he knew he had wasted a valuable opportunity to get to 50. England on the other hand had mixed emotions. Yes, there were celebrations but did they also think it was too late?

Pakistan Vice-Captain Shoaib Malik joined Captain Younus Khan at the wicket. Both seemed fairly relaxed as the required run rate was now 4.20 runs per over, a doddle in twenty 20 matches. Collingwood brought the field in a fraction in order to constrict Pakistan of some runs. Malik played forwardly and defended the first two deliveries. However, the third delivery was a quicker one, fired in at leg-stump by Patel. Similar to Shehzad, Malik saw this as an opportunity to flick the ball past short fine-leg and attain 4 valuable runs. However, he was seemingly deceived by the pace and again the trajectory of the ball as it struck his right pad and crashed into the stumps. Patel had now took 2 wickets in 4 balls and the England camp was visibly pleased at the wickets. Malik had departed for a duck and now Misbah-ul-Haq who did exceptionally to get Pakistan to the Final of the inaugural tournament back in 2007 stepped out into the middle. Even he, himself would not have been expecting to stride out to the middle.

Misbah-ul-Haq steps out into the middle with Pakistan having just lost two wickets in four balls. ​

Has Samit Patel breathed life back into England? Or is it too little, too late? Find out only on ESPN Star Sports!

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Pakistan:- 85/3 (14 Overs)
*Younus 28 (39) 4 Fours
*Misbah-ul-Haq 0 (0)
Last Wickets
Ahmed Shehzad c. Broad b. Patel 46 (31) 3 Fours 3 Sixes
Shoaib Malik b. Patel 0 (3)

Tremlett 4-0-26-1
Broad 4-0-34-0
Swann 3-0-12-0
S Patel 3-0-15-2

Pakistan require 24 runs to win, with 7 wickets in hand at a required run rate of 4.00 runs per over.