Story Pakistan's International season [BLIC]

[nightprowler10]

English pacers trouble Pakistan's top order

The new day started with Yasir Hameed playing some delightful shots and in no time he took Pakistan's total past 50. But a destructive over by Harmison made Pakistanis rethink their strategy when he got rid of Yasir Hameed and Inzamam-ul-Haq on back-to-back deliveries. Pakistan were now 51/3.

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Just a few overs later, Pakistan recieved another big blow from England when Anderson bowled out Malik. And a few slow overs after that Hoggard struck again as he fooled Amir with a swinging delivery and got him out lbw.

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With Amir's dismissal, Pakistan were now 79/5. Youhana, who had run out of patience at this point, finally started hitting for runs at the same time with holding England's attacks. In the next three overs, Pakistan added 22 more runs and the fans saw hope of a much needed partnership. But the inexperienced wicket keeper, Kamran Akmal, lofted a cover drive into the air that was easily caught by Butcher, giving Hoggard his third wicket.

From here on, no Pakistani batsman was able to stay in the game for very long. Saqlain Mushtaq played some delightful strokes, and then edged a delivery back to Strauss at second slip. A great over by the spinner A. Giles pushed Pakistan deeper into darkness as he got rid of Sami and Youhana in the same over, both LBW. Hoggard delivered the final blow as he got rid of Akhtar, who tried to hit one over the fence through mid-wicket. Hoggard ended the inning with a 5-wicket haul. Here are the stats from Pakistan's inning:

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Pakistan 123 a/o
Y. Youhana 40 (63) | M. Hoggard 13.1-2-39-5​

 

[nightprowler10]

This match is turning into a classic. England got bowled out for 120 on a batsman's pitch and the bowled out Pakistan for just 123. Pakistan lost all their wickets before lunch on Day 2. England have a chance to turn this thing around and get a big lead on Pakistan.

 

[The Champ]

Great come back by Eng, well done hoggard

 

[nightprowler10]

England off to a shaky start.....again

With only a 3-run lead and more than three days left in the match, Pakistan needed some early breakthroughs in order to survive. After a scoreless first over, Sami gave England their first blow when Strauss edged one to Saqlain Mushtaq while trying to defend. England lost a wicket before even scoring a run.

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After putting up a slow 25 runs, England lost yet another wicket, that of Butcher, who got runout trying to get a third run. England 25/2.

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And if that wasn't enough, England lost Trescothick, their best batsman throughout this tour, to one of Saqlain's doosras at a score of just 20. England were off to the worst start possible.

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By tea, England were 40/3. Here are the stats so far:

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England 40/3 at Tea
M. Vaughan 3*(33) | G. Thorpe 4*(18)​

 

[jazz]

this wicket looks good for the bowlers

 

[The Champ]

i think this is a low scoring game and may finish in fourth day

 

[nightprowler10]

Vaughan and Jones rebuild

A few overs after tea, Thorpe finally started showing off his good form by hitting 10 runs off of Kaneria in one over. But a destructive second spell from Shoaib Akhtar left England desperate for a partnership. First, Thorpe edged one to Inzamam while trying to defend a quick one from the pacer and then Flintoff misjudged a swinging delivery by Akhtar and got bowled out for a duck yet again.

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England were now in deep trouble. Jones, who played like he had nothing to lose, started smacking all the Pakistani bowlers around. Inspired by the wicket keeper's resolve, Vaughan too started hitting for runs. This rather careless display of batting gave way to the partnership England had been trying to build. The batsmen forced Inzamam to put most of the fielders by the boundary for the first time in this match. Both Jones and Vaughan were able to get their half-centuries in no time at all, and by the end of day 2, took England's total past 180.

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Here are the stats from the inning so far:

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England 184/5 - Stumps (Day 2)
M. Vaughan 57*(108) | G. Jones 75*(67)​

 

[The Champ]

Jones innings may be the difference at the end of this match i think

 

[nightprowler10]

Amir strikes for Pakistan, but Vaughan resistant

At the start of the third day, Jones and Vaughan picked up where they left off. Both batsmen kept hitting the clueless Pakistani bowlers for boundaries like it was backyard cricket. Within just a few overs, Jones took his score in the 80's and was determined to put up a big contribution. He hit Amir for 10 runs on the first three balls of his second spell but with only 5 runs short of his century, he edged one back to the keeper while trying to hook on one of Amir's bouncers, thus ending a wonderful 149 run partnership.

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The loss of Jones was, unfortunately, not the last blow Amir would deliver to England. In just his next over, Amir picked up two more wickets. First to go was the next man in, Giles, who got out by a poor decision from the umpire.

The ball clearly ricocheted off his pad and never touched the bat, and it would've missed the leg stump so there's no chance of LBW either.​

Next to go was Hoggard, who edged one off to the keeper as well, trying to defend a bouncer from Amir. England were now 218/8. This superb spell from Amir didn't seem to effect Vaughan, who kept on playing his shots, nearing his century. The Pakistani bowlers aimed to get the tailenders, but were unable to get past Harmison who tipped away 59 deliveries, some of them superb. By lunch time, the unstoppable captain had already reached his century and was looking for an even bigger score. Here are the stats from the inning so far:

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England 273/8 (82 overs) - Day 3 (Lunch)
M. Vaughan 125*(183) | S. Harmison 0*(59)
England lead by 270 runs​

 

[The Champ]

great hundred there by Vaughan, ENG on top

 

[m_vaughan]

:hpraise Michael Paul Vaughan


GREAT HUNDRED THERE!!

 

[nightprowler10]

England all out for 281 (278 lead)

After lunch, neither one of the batsmen looked comfortable playing against Amir, but kept getting lucky since their edges kept falling away from the fielders. But their luck didn't last long as Amir picked up his fourth wicket, that of Harmison, who edged a quick one by Amir back to the keeper.

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Just in the next over, Saqlain Mushtaq got rid of Vaughan as the batsman charged down the pitch to hit the ball and completely misjudged it, getting out bowled (a clip of this important wicket is attached with this post). England all out for 281.

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Great effort by England, especially by the captain. Pakistan now need 279 runs to win this match, which might not be a huge target any other day but the English bowlers were on top earlier in this match and we can expect the same in this inning. Here are the stats from England's inning:

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England 281 a/o
M. Vaughan 128 (189) | G. Jones 95 (79) | M. Amir 22.0-4-75-4
Pakistan need 279 runs to win​

 

[jazz]

pakisatn should be able to chase this

good luck mate

 

[m_vaughan]

Yes I think Pakistan will win this one.

 

[nightprowler10]

Yes, even though it was a great effort by Vaughan and Jones, other batsmen didn't really contribute much, otherwise it could've been a cracker of a match.