Pakistan vs England series
- Thread starter SMC
- Start date
Yeah...I can't get enough watching him throw the ball.Originally posted by WebMaster@Dec 5 2005, 10:47 PM
We won the series...
BTW: Guys check out Shoaib Akhtar's arm while he is throwing the ball.
He's the greatest! :banana:
Pakistan clinch thrilling win and series
DAVID CLOUGH
IN RAWALPINDI
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KABIR Ali's brave rearguard action fell agonisingly short of pulling off an improbable victory as England lost the one-day series to Pakistan after a 13-run defeat - which gave Pakistan an unassailable 3-1 lead - in a thrilling match yesterday.
England gave themselves obvious prospects of success, which would have levelled this five-match contest at 2-2, when their bowlers put in a performance dramatically improved on the hammering they received in Karachi last week, countered only by the near-lone defiance of Inzamam-ul-Haq (81 no) in an apparently below par total of 210.
But the tourists then had no-one of Inzamam's calibre to dig deep on an awkward surface until Kabir revived a flawed reply by sharing a 50-run stand with Ian Blackwell and then one of 33 for the last wicket with James Anderson.
Ultimately Kabir's career-best 39 not out was just not enough, home favourite Shoaib Akhtar striking the knockout blow by having Anderson well caught at slip by Younis Khan to see England off for 197 all out with 11 balls unused.
"We're obviously not happy we haven't scored the runs we want to," captain Marcus Trescothick said. "People aren't playing as well as they can; they're not in the greatest of form, myself included."
At 114 for eight England seemed sure to be well beaten. But they almost delivered a sting in the tail against hosts lacking the injured Inzamam in the field.
England's innings had got off to a sticky start when Rana Naved-ul-Hasan struck twice in his second over, Matthew Prior edging behind via a faulty waft at a wide ball and then number three Andrew Strauss unable to lay a bat on full-length swing to go lbw first ball.
Vikram Solanki was given plenty to think about by Rana before he edged a ball from home favourite Shoaib back down on to his stumps, and after Trescothick and Andrew Flintoff had begun a recovery by adding an encouraging 51, two more wickets were to fall for the addition of just one run.
Trescothick fell to substitute Arshad Khan's third delivery, which turned to defeat an attempted back-foot steer and disturb the off bail, and Paul Collingwood drove tamely to point off Mohammad Sami. Flintoff, who might have gone for only five had it not been for a mix-up between long-leg Rana and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, seemed England's best hope until he was lbw on the front foot to be the first of three quick victims for wrist-spinner Shahid Afridi.
Inzamam, who began the day by choosing to bat first, soon needed to reassess his team's ambition once England took three wickets for no runs with the score on 34 - and he responded with a typically skilful innings, hitting seven fours and one six.
He shared a stand of 60 with Shoaib Malik and then 56 with Afridi - and remained unbeaten even as his team-mates folded in only 47.2 overs, doing all he could to ensure Shoaib and the rest of a formidable attack would have a worthwhile score to bowl at.
ââ¬Â¢ Spinner Harbhajan Singh put India in control of the third Test with four wickets as Sri Lanka toiled in Ahmedabad. Having made 398 in their first innings - VVS Laxman leading the way with 104 - the hosts piled on the pressure to reduce Sri Lanka to 131 for five in reply before bad light ended play three overs early.
ââ¬Â¢ South Africa were grateful play was brought to a premature close as Australia edged towards a first Test victory in Perth. Having set the Proteas 491 to win, Australia then removed openers Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers to leave South Africa on 85 for two.
This article: http://sport.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=2434442005
DAVID CLOUGH
IN RAWALPINDI
<div class='bbimg'>
KABIR Ali's brave rearguard action fell agonisingly short of pulling off an improbable victory as England lost the one-day series to Pakistan after a 13-run defeat - which gave Pakistan an unassailable 3-1 lead - in a thrilling match yesterday.
England gave themselves obvious prospects of success, which would have levelled this five-match contest at 2-2, when their bowlers put in a performance dramatically improved on the hammering they received in Karachi last week, countered only by the near-lone defiance of Inzamam-ul-Haq (81 no) in an apparently below par total of 210.
But the tourists then had no-one of Inzamam's calibre to dig deep on an awkward surface until Kabir revived a flawed reply by sharing a 50-run stand with Ian Blackwell and then one of 33 for the last wicket with James Anderson.
Ultimately Kabir's career-best 39 not out was just not enough, home favourite Shoaib Akhtar striking the knockout blow by having Anderson well caught at slip by Younis Khan to see England off for 197 all out with 11 balls unused.
"We're obviously not happy we haven't scored the runs we want to," captain Marcus Trescothick said. "People aren't playing as well as they can; they're not in the greatest of form, myself included."
At 114 for eight England seemed sure to be well beaten. But they almost delivered a sting in the tail against hosts lacking the injured Inzamam in the field.
England's innings had got off to a sticky start when Rana Naved-ul-Hasan struck twice in his second over, Matthew Prior edging behind via a faulty waft at a wide ball and then number three Andrew Strauss unable to lay a bat on full-length swing to go lbw first ball.
Vikram Solanki was given plenty to think about by Rana before he edged a ball from home favourite Shoaib back down on to his stumps, and after Trescothick and Andrew Flintoff had begun a recovery by adding an encouraging 51, two more wickets were to fall for the addition of just one run.
Trescothick fell to substitute Arshad Khan's third delivery, which turned to defeat an attempted back-foot steer and disturb the off bail, and Paul Collingwood drove tamely to point off Mohammad Sami. Flintoff, who might have gone for only five had it not been for a mix-up between long-leg Rana and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, seemed England's best hope until he was lbw on the front foot to be the first of three quick victims for wrist-spinner Shahid Afridi.
Inzamam, who began the day by choosing to bat first, soon needed to reassess his team's ambition once England took three wickets for no runs with the score on 34 - and he responded with a typically skilful innings, hitting seven fours and one six.
He shared a stand of 60 with Shoaib Malik and then 56 with Afridi - and remained unbeaten even as his team-mates folded in only 47.2 overs, doing all he could to ensure Shoaib and the rest of a formidable attack would have a worthwhile score to bowl at.
ââ¬Â¢ Spinner Harbhajan Singh put India in control of the third Test with four wickets as Sri Lanka toiled in Ahmedabad. Having made 398 in their first innings - VVS Laxman leading the way with 104 - the hosts piled on the pressure to reduce Sri Lanka to 131 for five in reply before bad light ended play three overs early.
ââ¬Â¢ South Africa were grateful play was brought to a premature close as Australia edged towards a first Test victory in Perth. Having set the Proteas 491 to win, Australia then removed openers Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers to leave South Africa on 85 for two.
This article: http://sport.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=2434442005
Pak team is more matured, united now: Moin Khan
By a Correspondent
Karachi, December 27, 2005
Former Pakistan skipper Moin Khan said the controversy surrounding Sourav Ganguly's comeback could put him under undue pressure against Pakistan who are better prepared to take on India this time around.
"Pakistan is now a much more matured and united team under Inzamam-ul Haq and the win against England has boosted their confidence for the upcoming three-Test series against India", Moin Khan said.
"In such a scenario, it was imperative for the Indian cricketers to stay focused on the game rather than bother about off-field controversies. This is obviously not the right beginning of what is certainly a big tour for the Indian cricket team. On such a huge tour, the players want to be relaxed and like to be as comfortable as possible so that they can concentrate and stay focused rather then pondering if they had been included in the side through the back door", he added.
"This is certainly not good for Ganguly and the Indian cricket team. Ganguly is an experienced campaigner and deserves respect. By questioning his inclusion, the critics are putting him under pressure for which the team might have to pay the price because if Ganguly is in the team, he has to be in the playing eleven than being on the substitute bench", Moin observed.
http://www.cricketnext.com/news1/next/Rep2005/rep513.htm
By a Correspondent
Karachi, December 27, 2005
Former Pakistan skipper Moin Khan said the controversy surrounding Sourav Ganguly's comeback could put him under undue pressure against Pakistan who are better prepared to take on India this time around.
"Pakistan is now a much more matured and united team under Inzamam-ul Haq and the win against England has boosted their confidence for the upcoming three-Test series against India", Moin Khan said.
"In such a scenario, it was imperative for the Indian cricketers to stay focused on the game rather than bother about off-field controversies. This is obviously not the right beginning of what is certainly a big tour for the Indian cricket team. On such a huge tour, the players want to be relaxed and like to be as comfortable as possible so that they can concentrate and stay focused rather then pondering if they had been included in the side through the back door", he added.
"This is certainly not good for Ganguly and the Indian cricket team. Ganguly is an experienced campaigner and deserves respect. By questioning his inclusion, the critics are putting him under pressure for which the team might have to pay the price because if Ganguly is in the team, he has to be in the playing eleven than being on the substitute bench", Moin observed.
http://www.cricketnext.com/news1/next/Rep2005/rep513.htm
