The sunny disposition of Saeed Ajmal and the stiff-limbed tenacity of Abdur Rehman have tormented England throughout this Test series and there was the slimmest likelihood of escape at tea on the fourth day of the final Test in Dubai as Pakistan sought to inflict a whitewash upon England for the first time.
There was plentiful spin for Pakistan's spinners, leaping spin at times when the ball struck the rough, and England, still 151 runs short of victory with only four wickets remaining, looked bound for a 3-0 defeat in the series.
Ajmal, spinning the ball both ways, not extravagantly but often, dismissed Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook in the afternoon session, to add to Jonathan Trott before lunch. Rehman counted Andrew Strauss as his sole success as he bowled unchanged for two sessions, 30 overs sent down with unerring accuracy. He is the sort of spin bowler who looks slightly weary from the outset, but never noticeably tires after that.
Pietersen was bent upon playing enterprisingly. The first ball of the afternoon provided a reminder of his vulnerability when a bat-pad against Rehman flew high past short leg, but he had the fleeting satisfaction of striking him straight for six before Ajmal, from around the wicket, spun one through the gate and beamed at further bounty.
Cook put up statuesque resistance. Along the way he became the second youngest person, at 27 years and 43 days, to reach 6,000 Test runs. Only Sachin Tendulkar has reached the landmark at a younger age. His most attacking shot of the morning, a loft into the leg side against Rehman, caused the bowler to taunt him with applause. He lived on scraps, combating the turning ball with thoughtful defence and numerous works to the leg side and that proved his undoing as a leading edge was brilliantly held by Younis Khan, diving to his left at first slip.
The emphasis has been upon spin, but Umar Gul reminded England that the quicker bowlers should not be entirely discounted as he got the old ball to reverse swing as much as at any time in the series. Ian Bell's state of mind is such that a long hop is quite enough. He averaged more than 100 last summer, less than 10 in this series, and when Gul offered up a gift he mistimed it wide of point. The ball that dismissed Eoin Morgan, caught by the wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal, who embarked upon a merry dance, was of higher quality.
England, 36 runs banked the previous evening, needed a further 288 at the start of play. Strauss fell in the sixth over of the morning, lbw on the back foot to Rehman. That was lbw No. 42 in this three-Test series, one short of the all-time record for a series of any length. Strauss reviewed it, although it smacked of a captain's review and he would have been better to head smartly for the dressing room. But when it comes to captain's reviews Strauss cannot match Misbah-ul-Haq. Misbah has been lbw on five occasions in this series and he has taken a review every time. It must be a captain's prerogative.
Without lapses in the field, Pakistan could have been in a stronger position. They had dropped Cook the previous evening, a relatively simple chance to Taufeeq Umar at third slip and Gul's drop in the shadows of the stand at deep square gave him another reprieve as Pakistan lost the efficiency that has characterised their cricket throughout this series. Rehman made his frustration clear when he caught Trott at deep square as he flung the ball into the turf with feeling at the errors that had gone before.
Adnan's fumble behind the stumps to reprieve Strauss, although not costly as the England captain was out in the next over, was the worst miss of all. Adnan has had a good series behind the stumps and has the opportunity to be Pakistan's first-choice keeper for many years to come but his excitable chatter had reached a peak. As Pakistan press for victory, it is in danger of becoming counterproductive. Strauss' edge flew to him at comfortable height but he put it down. For a few minutes he was quiet and you could hear your ears ringing.
Adnan's cacophony of cries often rent the air for inexplicable reasons. As do parrots, Adnan vocalises for many reasons. He may be excitedly greeting the day or summoning his family at sunset. He may be screeching when he is excited or when he is merely trying it on. He may screech when he thinks things have got too quiet or when he thinks it is his duty to scream. He just likes screeching. At one point he burst out coughing as if in sore need of a lozenge and Trott looked at him in deadpan fashion.
Adnan is also incorrigibly optimistic about reviewing umpiring decisions. "Do it, do it, yes, yes, all good," you can sense him saying. Misbah has learned not to take his evidence into consideration and looks askance at him. But Pakistan challenged umpire Steve Davis' not-out ruling when Ajmal beat Cook on the sweep. Hawk-Eye showed that the ball pitched outside leg. There again, disturbingly, it seems that Hawk-Eye also cannot read Ajmal's doosra, probably because it is English.
Pakistan 99 & 365
England 141 & 252 (97.3 ov)
Pakistan won by 71 runs
| | | | | | | |
| Pakistan 1st innings | R | M | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
 | Mohammad Hafeez | lbw b Broad | 13 | 50 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 43.33 |
| 9.6 140.4 kph, loud loud cry for leg before referred has he hit this? Maybe not but probably too high...three reds on hawk-eye...gone! There wasn't anything really conclusive on hot spot but perhaps there was enough doubt to give Hafeez the benefit of the doubt there. Either way, he claps sarcastically walking off, that'll be a few pennies off the match fee 21/4
|
| Taufeeq Umar | lbw b Anderson | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 0.6 132.8 kph, out straight away cracker from Anderson, swinging in and catching the batsman on the knee roll on the crease. Finger goes up quickly from umpire Davis and after a chat with his partner, Taufeeq walks off. It looked pretty adjacent to middle stump and I don't think any referral was going to save him. Fine inswinger from Anderson on a great length gets the early breakthrough 1/1
|
| Azhar Ali | c †Prior b Broad | 1 | 20 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 7.14 |
| 5.3 full and beaten on the inside edge, referred for a catch behind, big nick on hot spot, this should be out and indeed overturned and Ali is gone. It was a nip-backer from Broad on a great length, Prior took it going to his left, which suggested it didn't hit the pad, he was the one who said refer and it's paid off. A great use of the DRS by England and a second strike with the new ball 8/2
|
| Younis Khan | c †Prior b Broad | 4 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
| 7.5 140.4 kph, got him! Thick edge and this time Prior bags the catch at head height. A little bit of extra bounce from Broad, takes the shoulder of the bat and flies to Prior's right, taken comfortably with two hands. Younis was pushing away at it and it's a poor way to go 18/3
|
| Misbah-ul-Haq* | lbw b Anderson | 1 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 12.50 |
| 10.5 137.5 kph, another one out and Misbah has played down the Bakerloo, Anderson was on the Victoria line, and bang in front, easy lbw decision, referred but nothing saving Misbah here, he's got to go. Too slow to come forward and beaten on the inside edge to a full ball, it catches him on low on the front pad and hawk-eye has the ball hitting enough of leg stump to stay with Mr Davis 21/5
|
| Asad Shafiq | lbw b Panesar | 45 | 120 | 78 | 3 | 0 | 57.69 |
| 39.6 out it was pad first as he backed away trying to cut and was caught bang in front so has to go. Just looking to give himself room but it slid on from Panesar and caught the flap of the back back right in front of middle stump, no doubt for the umpire 85/9
|
| Adnan Akmal† | lbw b Broad | 6 | 36 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| 18.6 132.1 kph, appeal for lbw, given! Reviewed. Broad once again slips in a big indipper after producing umpteen away seamers that somehow kept missing the edge. Adnan tried to get forward, but he didn't get too far as it burst through past the inside edge and thudded into the pad, in front of middle and leg. Hawk Eye says it is shattering leg stump. Gone! That five-for before lunch might yet materialise. Take a bow, Stuart Broad. This is lethal bowling on a flat track in Asia. 39/6
|
| Abdur Rehman | c Pietersen b Swann | 1 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| 21.2 and he's struck in his first over again. Golly, that's the worst shot you will see today. Swann spins it away from short of a length, it was wide enough for Rehman to leave but he tried to blast it into the top storey of the Burj Dubai. The ball went halfway up there, but when it came down, KP was waiting in the covers. The sun was in his eyes, but he held on. Horror shot. 44/7
|
| Saeed Ajmal | lbw b Panesar | 12 | 52 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 22.64 |
| 35.3 slider and given out78/8
|
| Umar Gul | b Anderson | 13 | 34 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 48.14 |
| 44.1 133.6 kph, Pakistan do a Bradman, they have fallen just short of 100! Quite fittingly, it is one of those big indippers that does the final piece of damage. Anderson bends it in at pace, past Gul's slog-heave, and leg stump takes a beating. 99/10
|
| Aizaz Cheema | not out | 0 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| |
| Extras | (lb 3) | 3 | | | | | |
|  | | | | | |
| Total | (all out; 44.1 overs; 191 mins) | 99 | (2.24 runs per over) |
| Fall of wickets 1-1 (Taufeeq Umar, 0.6 ov), 2-8 (Azhar Ali, 5.3 ov), 3-18 (Younis Khan, 7.5 ov), 4-21 (Mohammad Hafeez, 9.6 ov), 5-21 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 10.5 ov), 6-39 (Adnan Akmal, 18.6 ov), 7-44 (Abdur Rehman, 21.2 ov), 8-78 (Saeed Ajmal, 35.3 ov), 9-85 (Asad Shafiq, 39.6 ov), 10-99 (Umar Gul, 44.1 ov) |
| | | | | | | | |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | | |
| JM Anderson | 14.1 | 3 | 35 | 3 | 2.47 | | |
| 0.6 to Taufeeq Umar, 132.8 kph, out straight away cracker from Anderson, swinging in and catching the batsman on the knee roll on the crease. Finger goes up quickly from umpire Davis and after a chat with his partner, Taufeeq walks off. It looked pretty adjacent to middle stump and I don't think any referral was going to save him. Fine inswinger from Anderson on a great length gets the early breakthrough 1/1
10.5 to Misbah-ul-Haq, 137.5 kph, another one out and Misbah has played down the Bakerloo, Anderson was on the Victoria line, and bang in front, easy lbw decision, referred but nothing saving Misbah here, he's got to go. Too slow to come forward and beaten on the inside edge to a full ball, it catches him on low on the front pad and hawk-eye has the ball hitting enough of leg stump to stay with Mr Davis 21/5
44.1 to Umar Gul, 133.6 kph, Pakistan do a Bradman, they have fallen just short of 100! Quite fittingly, it is one of those big indippers that does the final piece of damage. Anderson bends it in at pace, past Gul's slog-heave, and leg stump takes a beating. 99/10
|
| SCJ Broad | 16 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 2.25 | | |
| 5.3 to Azhar Ali, full and beaten on the inside edge, referred for a catch behind, big nick on hot spot, this should be out and indeed overturned and Ali is gone. It was a nip-backer from Broad on a great length, Prior took it going to his left, which suggested it didn't hit the pad, he was the one who said refer and it's paid off. A great use of the DRS by England and a second strike with the new ball 8/2
7.5 to Younis Khan, 140.4 kph, got him! Thick edge and this time Prior bags the catch at head height. A little bit of extra bounce from Broad, takes the shoulder of the bat and flies to Prior's right, taken comfortably with two hands. Younis was pushing away at it and it's a poor way to go 18/3
9.6 to Mohammad Hafeez, 140.4 kph, loud loud cry for leg before referred has he hit this? Maybe not but probably too high...three reds on hawk-eye...gone! There wasn't anything really conclusive on hot spot but perhaps there was enough doubt to give Hafeez the benefit of the doubt there. Either way, he claps sarcastically walking off, that'll be a few pennies off the match fee 21/4
18.6 to Adnan Akmal, 132.1 kph, appeal for lbw, given! Reviewed. Broad once again slips in a big indipper after producing umpteen away seamers that somehow kept missing the edge. Adnan tried to get forward, but he didn't get too far as it burst through past the inside edge and thudded into the pad, in front of middle and leg. Hawk Eye says it is shattering leg stump. Gone! That five-for before lunch might yet materialise. Take a bow, Stuart Broad. This is lethal bowling on a flat track in Asia. 39/6
|
| MS Panesar | 13 | 4 | 25 | 2 | 1.92 | | |
| 35.3 to Saeed Ajmal, slider and given out78/8
39.6 to Asad Shafiq, out it was pad first as he backed away trying to cut and was caught bang in front so has to go. Just looking to give himself room but it slid on from Panesar and caught the flap of the back back right in front of middle stump, no doubt for the umpire 85/9
|
| GP Swann | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | | |
| 21.2 to Abdur Rehman, and he's struck in his first over again. Golly, that's the worst shot you will see today. Swann spins it away from short of a length, it was wide enough for Rehman to leave but he tried to blast it into the top storey of the Burj Dubai. The ball went halfway up there, but when it came down, KP was waiting in the covers. The sun was in his eyes, but he held on. Horror shot. 44/7
|
| | | | | | | |
| England 1st innings | R | M | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| AJ Strauss* | st †Adnan Akmal b Abdur Rehman | 56 | 226 | 150 | 5 | 0 | 37.33 |
| 53.5 87.8 kph, five for Rehman and completely out of the blue Strauss has tried to swing one out of the park and been stumped. He didn't get to the pitch and missed by a long way, looking very ugly in a big heave and miss, easy work for Akmal 133/9
|
| AN Cook | c †Adnan Akmal b Umar Gul | 1 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| 2.2 138.6 kph, Adnan Akmal has leapt right across first slip to pouch a beauty. The wickets continue to tumble. A dismissal that is so unlike Cook. It was short and it was swinging further away, he could have stayed in the crease and left it alone, but he dangled the bat feebly, looking for a high-risk steer. He feathers it along towards first slip. Adnan gets a good look at the ball, moves across and pounces on it. 5/1
|
| IJL Trott | lbw b Umar Gul | 2 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| 4.2 139.3 kph, Trott's gone. He doesn't even refer it, but should he have? Full, straight, angling in and Trott plays all over it. Hit in front of leg, and possibly clipping leg stump. The sort of dismissal you used to see a lot with Ricky Ponting. He just fell over as he looked to flick, and missed it. Umpire Davis sent him on his way immediately. We have to see what HawkEye says. Trott didn't wait even a moment, he probably reckoned it was clipping leg. This could be one of those where the umpire's verdict would have been right, irrespective of what it was. Replays are in - Missing leg. Trott would have got away if he'd referred it. England were spot-on with referrals when they were bowling.. Interestingly, captain Strauss was the non-striker here. 7/2
|
| KP Pietersen | lbw b Abdur Rehman | 32 | 62 | 44 | 4 | 0 | 72.72 |
| 19.2 100.6 kph, caught on the crease and given out lbw. Referred and hawk-eye has it only just clipping the leg stump. Pietersen unlucky? He's out once again to left-arm spin! Remarkable. Playing forward, caught on the knee roll, you could see middle and off stumps as Pietersen played it but DRS means you give those out nowadays 64/3
|
| IR Bell | st †Adnan Akmal b Saeed Ajmal | 5 | 40 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 17.85 |
| 28.5 91.8 kph, is Bell out stumped? The doosra again. It goes upstairs and he is in trouble. he was pressing forward, for the offspin, but it went the other way and past the bat, even as the back foot slid outside the crease. Adnan could not collect the ball, but it bounced off the glove straight onto the stumps, faster than he would have been able to do it if he'd grasped the ball. Bell was pushing his foot back in, but it is on the line when the bail comes off. The 3rd umpire Shahvir Tarapore is taking a long time over this. But he's pressed the right button. Bell. Ajmal. Doosra. Complete the sequence ... Out! 75/4
|
| EJG Morgan | lbw b Abdur Rehman | 10 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 71.42 |
| 33.1 Another referral. Boy, the 3rd umpire needs to be paid as much as the men in the middle. Short ball, Morgan goes back and looks to work it across the line. Not the safest option, in the middle of a horror series. Still, everything was going to plan. Almost. He just misses a straightforward shot as the ball turns in. It hits him high on the pad, but he is well back, and it is crashing into the stumps. Umpire Taufel has to cross his arms over once more. Morgan gone. Can Pakistan get the lead? 88/5
|
| MJ Prior† | b Abdur Rehman | 6 | 17 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 31.57 |
| 37.6 96.5 kph, squared up and bowled! Prior is befuddled. Rehman runs riot. The crowd perks up. Pakistan on fire. Nervous stuff from Prior, so worried about the lbw, that he ends up playing inside the line of a regulation left-arm spinner, in an attempt to keep bat in front of and close to the pad. The bat is in line with leg stump, the ball lands on middle and leg and spins enough to miss the bat and crash into middle. Pakistan are still 1 run ahead, and into England's tail. What a day! 98/6
|
| JM Anderson | b Abdur Rehman | 4 | 24 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 18.18 |
| 43.6 94.0 kph, gone! Trying to drive against the spin and beaten between bat and pad and down goes the leg stump. A classic finger spinners delivery, tossed up, inducing the drive, and doing um through the gate. Nice work from Rehman and Pakistan will be delighted to have dislodged the nightwatchman so early 106/7
|
| SCJ Broad | lbw b Saeed Ajmal | 4 | 25 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 21.05 |
| 50.5 91.4 kph, forward, another doosra, and struck on the front pad, not out given, and referred. Broad's very tall and got a long way forward but three reds! Broad will go here...big blow for Pakistan. The doosra beats the inside edge and Broad is trapped lbw on review 121/8
|
| GP Swann | c Abdur Rehman b Saeed Ajmal | 16 | 19 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 88.88 |
| 54.6 89.6 kph, swung away again but this is in the air and well taken down low from the man in the deep. It was another good connection but Swann couldn't keep it down and the innings is over, England have a lead of 42 141/10
|
| MS Panesar | not out | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| |
| Extras | (b 1, lb 4) | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Total | (all out; 55 overs; 233 mins) | 141 | (2.56 runs per over) |
| Fall of wickets 1-5 (Cook, 2.2 ov), 2-7 (Trott, 4.2 ov), 3-64 (Pietersen, 19.2 ov), 4-75 (Bell, 28.5 ov), 5-88 (Morgan, 33.1 ov), 6-98 (Prior, 37.6 ov), 7-106 (Anderson, 43.6 ov), 8-121 (Broad, 50.5 ov), 9-133 (Strauss, 53.5 ov), 10-141 (Swann, 54.6 ov) |
| | | | | | | | |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | | |
| Umar Gul | 7 | 1 | 28 | 2 | 4.00 | | |
| 2.2 to Cook, 138.6 kph, Adnan Akmal has leapt right across first slip to pouch a beauty. The wickets continue to tumble. A dismissal that is so unlike Cook. It was short and it was swinging further away, he could have stayed in the crease and left it alone, but he dangled the bat feebly, looking for a high-risk steer. He feathers it along towards first slip. Adnan gets a good look at the ball, moves across and pounces on it. 5/1
4.2 to Trott, 139.3 kph, Trott's gone. He doesn't even refer it, but should he have? Full, straight, angling in and Trott plays all over it. Hit in front of leg, and possibly clipping leg stump. The sort of dismissal you used to see a lot with Ricky Ponting. He just fell over as he looked to flick, and missed it. Umpire Davis sent him on his way immediately. We have to see what HawkEye says. Trott didn't wait even a moment, he probably reckoned it was clipping leg. This could be one of those where the umpire's verdict would have been right, irrespective of what it was. Replays are in - Missing leg. Trott would have got away if he'd referred it. England were spot-on with referrals when they were bowling.. Interestingly, captain Strauss was the non-striker here. 7/2
|
| Aizaz Cheema | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2.25 | | |
| |
| Saeed Ajmal | 23 | 6 | 59 | 3 | 2.56 | | |
| 28.5 to Bell, 91.8 kph, is Bell out stumped? The doosra again. It goes upstairs and he is in trouble. he was pressing forward, for the offspin, but it went the other way and past the bat, even as the back foot slid outside the crease. Adnan could not collect the ball, but it bounced off the glove straight onto the stumps, faster than he would have been able to do it if he'd grasped the ball. Bell was pushing his foot back in, but it is on the line when the bail comes off. The 3rd umpire Shahvir Tarapore is taking a long time over this. But he's pressed the right button. Bell. Ajmal. Doosra. Complete the sequence ... Out! 75/4
50.5 to Broad, 91.4 kph, forward, another doosra, and struck on the front pad, not out given, and referred. Broad's very tall and got a long way forward but three reds! Broad will go here...big blow for Pakistan. The doosra beats the inside edge and Broad is trapped lbw on review 121/8
54.6 to Swann, 89.6 kph, swung away again but this is in the air and well taken down low from the man in the deep. It was another good connection but Swann couldn't keep it down and the innings is over, England have a lead of 42 141/10
|
| Abdur Rehman | 21 | 4 | 40 | 5 | 1.90 | | |
| 19.2 to Pietersen, 100.6 kph, caught on the crease and given out lbw. Referred and hawk-eye has it only just clipping the leg stump. Pietersen unlucky? He's out once again to left-arm spin! Remarkable. Playing forward, caught on the knee roll, you could see middle and off stumps as Pietersen played it but DRS means you give those out nowadays 64/3
33.1 to Morgan, Another referral. Boy, the 3rd umpire needs to be paid as much as the men in the middle. Short ball, Morgan goes back and looks to work it across the line. Not the safest option, in the middle of a horror series. Still, everything was going to plan. Almost. He just misses a straightforward shot as the ball turns in. It hits him high on the pad, but he is well back, and it is crashing into the stumps. Umpire Taufel has to cross his arms over once more. Morgan gone. Can Pakistan get the lead? 88/5
37.6 to Prior, 96.5 kph, squared up and bowled! Prior is befuddled. Rehman runs riot. The crowd perks up. Pakistan on fire. Nervous stuff from Prior, so worried about the lbw, that he ends up playing inside the line of a regulation left-arm spinner, in an attempt to keep bat in front of and close to the pad. The bat is in line with leg stump, the ball lands on middle and leg and spins enough to miss the bat and crash into middle. Pakistan are still 1 run ahead, and into England's tail. What a day! 98/6
43.6 to Anderson, 94.0 kph, gone! Trying to drive against the spin and beaten between bat and pad and down goes the leg stump. A classic finger spinners delivery, tossed up, inducing the drive, and doing um through the gate. Nice work from Rehman and Pakistan will be delighted to have dislodged the nightwatchman so early 106/7
53.5 to Strauss, 87.8 kph, five for Rehman and completely out of the blue Strauss has tried to swing one out of the park and been stumped. He didn't get to the pitch and missed by a long way, looking very ugly in a big heave and miss, easy work for Akmal 133/9
|
| | | | | | | |
| Pakistan 2nd innings | R | M | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Mohammad Hafeez | lbw b Panesar | 21 | 39 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 58.33 |
| 9.6 91.4 kph, swept and missed and now out trapped in front and not referred. Fine line between attack and defence says Nasser and Hafeez has got too keen after 10 from two balls. Was far too early on a big sweep, he missed and got struck on the thigh pad with his knee on the ground, look adjacent to the off stump 28/2
|
| Taufeeq Umar | c Strauss b Anderson | 6 | 28 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 37.50 |
| 6.6 135.0 kph, but the extra ball does the work! Length ball outside off, Taufeeq nibbles at it and edges to slip where Strauss takes a solid catch. Right area from Anderson and the batsman - perhaps too keen to feel for the ball after a couple of solid strokes - decided to play where he could have left alone. A thick edge and Strauss pouches the simple chance into the midriff 16/1
|
| Azhar Ali | c Cook b Swann | 157 | 533 | 442 | 10 | 1 | 35.52 |
| 149.3 82.2 kph, got him! And finally, finally, after what's seemed like an ice age, Azhar Ali is removed from the crease. Pushing a full ball into the hands of Cook at short leg, who took a smart catch down low. But that's some innings, a long vigil, grinding out the runs. He's method has been very effective, a highest first-class score, and a contribution that could take Pakistan to a historic victory... 363/9
|
| Younis Khan | lbw b Broad | 127 | 303 | 221 | 12 | 1 | 57.46 |
| 91.6 given out lbw going past the inside edge. Referred but looks out on the first replay and indeed Hawk-Eye has umpire's call twice, so marginal but looked out in real time so fair enough to stay with Steve Davis. One that just nipped in off a length and hit Younis on the move, caught in front of off stump, just 244/3
|
| Misbah-ul-Haq* | lbw b Panesar | 31 | 149 | 115 | 1 | 0 | 26.95 |
| 130.2 87.3 kph, Given out lbw, and Misbah refers it. Straight, quick armer from Monty that drifts straight in. Misbah pushes forward with bat and pad very close together. The ball hit him marginally in front of off stump and was crashing into the stumps. Bat first? Pad first? Hot Spot doesn't light up and the referral is struck down. Definitely pad first. A wicket for England, their second of the day. 331/4
|
| Asad Shafiq | lbw b Panesar | 5 | 24 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 29.41 |
| 136.2 90.4 kph, another one bites the dust. 40 lbws. Golly. Pakistan can't review it. Monty angled it in from over the stumps. Did it pitch outside leg? It straightened as Asad got well across and looked to paddle it. He missed and was hit on the back leg. Was it hitting leg stump? It was clipping leg. And it landed on middle and leg, so that was a fair decision and would have been upheld on review. 339/5
|
| Adnan Akmal† | b Panesar | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 138.2 90.0 kph, Monty's spitting fire with the old ball. He's cleaned up Adnan with a classic left-arm spinner, angles in towards middle and off, dips on a length, grips and straightens past a hopeful forward prod to tickle off stump. Gone for a blob. England will be very worried by the amount of turn on offer now. 345/6
|
| Abdur Rehman | c Anderson b Swann | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| 139.1 too many murmurs about Panesar outbowling Swann, and Swann responds with a wicket of his own. Ball lands on a length around off stump from round the wicket, kicks up a healthy puff of dust as it turns past Rehman and takes an outside edge to slip. 346/7
|
| Saeed Ajmal | c Anderson b Swann | 1 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 8.33 |
| 141.6 91.8 kph, a wicket to end the session. Swann gets Ajmal to nick his version of the doosra - the slider - through to Anderson at slip. Ajmal hangs the bat outside limply and it jumps off the edge to the right of Anderson, who completes a good catch. 350/8
|
| Umar Gul | lbw b Panesar | 4 | 31 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 10.52 |
| 152.4 87.8 kph, flighted up, big swing towards leg, missed and plumb lbw. Five more for Panesar. Jolly well done Monty, two five-fors in his two comeback matches. Thoroughly deserved after almost 57 overs! A fine effort. It was a length ball that Gul simply missed by a long distance, being done in the flight, easy decision for the umpire 365/10
|
| Aizaz Cheema | not out | 0 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| |
| Extras | (b 10, lb 1, nb 1) | 12 | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Total | (all out; 152.4 overs; 572 mins) | 365 | (2.39 runs per over) |
| Fall of wickets 1-16 (Taufeeq Umar, 6.6 ov), 2-28 (Mohammad Hafeez, 9.6 ov), 3-244 (Younis Khan, 91.6 ov), 4-331 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 130.2 ov), 5-339 (Asad Shafiq, 136.2 ov), 6-345 (Adnan Akmal, 138.2 ov), 7-346 (Abdur Rehman, 139.1 ov), 8-350 (Saeed Ajmal, 141.6 ov), 9-363 (Azhar Ali, 149.3 ov), 10-365 (Umar Gul, 152.4 ov) |
| | | | | | | | |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | | |
| JM Anderson | 28 | 7 | 51 | 1 | 1.82 | (1nb) | |
| 6.6 to Taufeeq Umar, 135.0 kph, but the extra ball does the work! Length ball outside off, Taufeeq nibbles at it and edges to slip where Strauss takes a solid catch. Right area from Anderson and the batsman - perhaps too keen to feel for the ball after a couple of solid strokes - decided to play where he could have left alone. A thick edge and Strauss pouches the simple chance into the midriff 16/1
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| SCJ Broad | 24 | 7 | 55 | 1 | 2.29 | | |
| 91.6 to Younis Khan, given out lbw going past the inside edge. Referred but looks out on the first replay and indeed Hawk-Eye has umpire's call twice, so marginal but looked out in real time so fair enough to stay with Steve Davis. One that just nipped in off a length and hit Younis on the move, caught in front of off stump, just 244/3
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| MS Panesar | 56.4 | 13 | 124 | 5 | 2.18 | | |
| 9.6 to Mohammad Hafeez, 91.4 kph, swept and missed and now out trapped in front and not referred. Fine line between attack and defence says Nasser and Hafeez has got too keen after 10 from two balls. Was far too early on a big sweep, he missed and got struck on the thigh pad with his knee on the ground, look adjacent to the off stump 28/2
130.2 to Misbah-ul-Haq, 87.3 kph, Given out lbw, and Misbah refers it. Straight, quick armer from Monty that drifts straight in. Misbah pushes forward with bat and pad very close together. The ball hit him marginally in front of off stump and was crashing into the stumps. Bat first? Pad first? Hot Spot doesn't light up and the referral is struck down. Definitely pad first. A wicket for England, their second of the day. 331/4
136.2 to Asad Shafiq, 90.4 kph, another one bites the dust. 40 lbws. Golly. Pakistan can't review it. Monty angled it in from over the stumps. Did it pitch outside leg? It straightened as Asad got well across and looked to paddle it. He missed and was hit on the back leg. Was it hitting leg stump? It was clipping leg. And it landed on middle and leg, so that was a fair decision and would have been upheld on review. 339/5
138.2 to Adnan Akmal, 90.0 kph, Monty's spitting fire with the old ball. He's cleaned up Adnan with a classic left-arm spinner, angles in towards middle and off, dips on a length, grips and straightens past a hopeful forward prod to tickle off stump. Gone for a blob. England will be very worried by the amount of turn on offer now. 345/6
152.4 to Umar Gul, 87.8 kph, flighted up, big swing towards leg, missed and plumb lbw. Five more for Panesar. Jolly well done Monty, two five-fors in his two comeback matches. Thoroughly deserved after almost 57 overs! A fine effort. It was a length ball that Gul simply missed by a long distance, being done in the flight, easy decision for the umpire 365/10
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| GP Swann | 39 | 6 | 101 | 3 | 2.58 | | |
| 139.1 to Abdur Rehman, too many murmurs about Panesar outbowling Swann, and Swann responds with a wicket of his own. Ball lands on a length around off stump from round the wicket, kicks up a healthy puff of dust as it turns past Rehman and takes an outside edge to slip. 346/7
141.6 to Saeed Ajmal, 91.8 kph, a wicket to end the session. Swann gets Ajmal to nick his version of the doosra - the slider - through to Anderson at slip. Ajmal hangs the bat outside limply and it jumps off the edge to the right of Anderson, who completes a good catch. 350/8
149.3 to Azhar Ali, 82.2 kph, got him! And finally, finally, after what's seemed like an ice age, Azhar Ali is removed from the crease. Pushing a full ball into the hands of Cook at short leg, who took a smart catch down low. But that's some innings, a long vigil, grinding out the runs. He's method has been very effective, a highest first-class score, and a contribution that could take Pakistan to a historic victory... 363/9
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| IJL Trott | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7.00 | | |
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| KP Pietersen | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 3.00 | | |
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| | | | | | | |
| England 2nd innings (target: 324 runs) | R | M | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| AJ Strauss* | lbw b Abdur Rehman | 26 | 98 | 76 | 2 | 0 | 34.21 |
| 25.2 gone now though biting out of the rough, catches Strauss on the back foot and given out lbw. It was reviewed but to no avail because Strauss was right on his stumps and the ball was hitting middle stump. It turned past the inside edge and hit the back leg, highlighting the problems England's left-handers will face against those rough patches 48/1
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| AN Cook | c Younis Khan b Saeed Ajmal | 49 | 242 | 187 | 4 | 0 | 26.20 |
| 62.5 brilliant catch at slip. Cook's had success turning with the spin but now produces a leading edge that flies to slip and a fabulous diving take by Younis Khan. Just gripped a little in the pitch which meant Cook was on the shot too soon, tried to turn it again and it flicked up to Younis who showed his team-mates how it's done 119/4
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| IJL Trott | c Abdur Rehman b Saeed Ajmal | 18 | 79 | 64 | 2 | 0 | 28.12 |
| 44.3 91.8 kph, I'm not sure what came over Trott but Pakistan have broken a stubborn stand here, Trott aims to slog it over the on side but ends up top-edging a doosra, Rehman runs forward from deep backward square leg and takes the skier 85/2
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| KP Pietersen | b Saeed Ajmal | 18 | 54 | 45 | 1 | 1 | 40.00 |
| 60.6 bowled through the gate. Ordinary offspinner on a good length, Pietersen forward and playing with the bat away from the pad is done by one that spun. Nothing overly special about it, I don't think Pietersen played it very well at all, maybe he thought it was the doosra 116/3
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| IR Bell | c Asad Shafiq b Umar Gul | 10 | 58 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 26.31 |
| 74.6 136.1 kph, Gul was as flummoxed as Bell! Hardly a wicket-taking ball, a half-tracker outside the off stump, Bell could have thrashed that or simply left it, instead he lobbed it tamely down to cover point where Shafiq ran to his right to take a sitter. Bell took a few seconds to comprehend what he had done and Gul couldn't believe what he had done to deserve that wicket 156/5
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| EJG Morgan | c †Adnan Akmal b Umar Gul | 31 | 57 | 48 | 3 | 1 | 64.58 |
| 76.3 137.9 kph, Gul fully deserved this one, Morgan gave the bowler the charge and Gul saw that and cleverly dropped it short from round the wicket, the batsman suddenly changed his shot and tries to defend but it caught the faint edge, Taufel knew that immediately 159/6
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| MJ Prior† | not out | 49 | | 58 | 5 | 0 | 84.48 |
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| SCJ Broad | c Taufeeq Umar b Umar Gul | 18 | 31 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 75.00 |
| 82.2 133.2 kph, and gone. Broad holes out to long off trying to play a big shot again, off low on the bat and a comfortable catch in the deep for Taufeeq. Can't blame Broad for trying. Attempted to go big off a length ball and didn't quite get it right 196/7
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| GP Swann | c Asad Shafiq b Umar Gul | 1 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16.66 |
| 84.4 132.5 kph, caught at point Swann driving off an outside edge and simply chipping at catch to point. It's a very good catch down low, always difficult diving forward but that's a fine grab. A long check for the no-ball but Gul is just, and only just, ok so Swann has to go 203/8
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| JM Anderson | c Younis Khan b Saeed Ajmal | 9 | 43 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 34.61 |
| 92.6 90.7 kph, outside edge and taken at slip! The ball straightened after pitching outside off and skidded through, Anderson was on the back foot trying to cut and it was taken neatly by Younis at slip who fell backwards after taking it 237/9
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| MS Panesar | lbw b Abdur Rehman | 8 | | 15 | 0 | 0 | 53.33 |
| 97.3 90.9 kph, Pakistan seal 3-0! Panesar tries to sweep with the turn and the ball hits his thigh in front of the stumps, Steve Davis gives him out, Panesar reviews it but Davis' decision stands 252/10
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| Extras | (b 4, lb 8, nb 3) | 15 | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Total | (all out; 97.3 overs) | 252 | (2.58 runs per over) |
| Fall of wickets 1-48 (Strauss, 25.2 ov), 2-85 (Trott, 44.3 ov), 3-116 (Pietersen, 60.6 ov), 4-119 (Cook, 62.5 ov), 5-156 (Bell, 74.6 ov), 6-159 (Morgan, 76.3 ov), 7-196 (Broad, 82.2 ov), 8-203 (Swann, 84.4 ov), 9-237 (Anderson, 92.6 ov), 10-252 (Panesar, 97.3 ov) |
| | | | | | | | |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | | |
| Umar Gul | 20 | 5 | 61 | 4 | 3.05 | (2nb) | |
| 74.6 to Bell, 136.1 kph, Gul was as flummoxed as Bell! Hardly a wicket-taking ball, a half-tracker outside the off stump, Bell could have thrashed that or simply left it, instead he lobbed it tamely down to cover point where Shafiq ran to his right to take a sitter. Bell took a few seconds to comprehend what he had done and Gul couldn't believe what he had done to deserve that wicket 156/5
76.3 to Morgan, 137.9 kph, Gul fully deserved this one, Morgan gave the bowler the charge and Gul saw that and cleverly dropped it short from round the wicket, the batsman suddenly changed his shot and tries to defend but it caught the faint edge, Taufel knew that immediately 159/6
82.2 to Broad, 133.2 kph, and gone. Broad holes out to long off trying to play a big shot again, off low on the bat and a comfortable catch in the deep for Taufeeq. Can't blame Broad for trying. Attempted to go big off a length ball and didn't quite get it right 196/7
84.4 to Swann, 132.5 kph, caught at point Swann driving off an outside edge and simply chipping at catch to point. It's a very good catch down low, always difficult diving forward but that's a fine grab. A long check for the no-ball but Gul is just, and only just, ok so Swann has to go 203/8
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| Aizaz Cheema | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2.25 | | |
| |
| Mohammad Hafeez | 5 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1.20 | | |
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| Abdur Rehman | 41.3 | 10 | 97 | 2 | 2.33 | | |
| 25.2 to Strauss, gone now though biting out of the rough, catches Strauss on the back foot and given out lbw. It was reviewed but to no avail because Strauss was right on his stumps and the ball was hitting middle stump. It turned past the inside edge and hit the back leg, highlighting the problems England's left-handers will face against those rough patches 48/1
97.3 to Panesar, 90.9 kph, Pakistan seal 3-0! Panesar tries to sweep with the turn and the ball hits his thigh in front of the stumps, Steve Davis gives him out, Panesar reviews it but Davis' decision stands 252/10
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| Saeed Ajmal | 27 | 9 | 67 | 4 | 2.48 | | |
| 44.3 to Trott, 91.8 kph, I'm not sure what came over Trott but Pakistan have broken a stubborn stand here, Trott aims to slog it over the on side but ends up top-edging a doosra, Rehman runs forward from deep backward square leg and takes the skier 85/2
60.6 to Pietersen, bowled through the gate. Ordinary offspinner on a good length, Pietersen forward and playing with the bat away from the pad is done by one that spun. Nothing overly special about it, I don't think Pietersen played it very well at all, maybe he thought it was the doosra 116/3
62.5 to Cook, brilliant catch at slip. Cook's had success turning with the spin but now produces a leading edge that flies to slip and a fabulous diving take by Younis Khan. Just gripped a little in the pitch which meant Cook was on the shot too soon, tried to turn it again and it flicked up to Younis who showed his team-mates how it's done 119/4
92.6 to Anderson, 90.7 kph, outside edge and taken at slip! The ball straightened after pitching outside off and skidded through, Anderson was on the back foot trying to cut and it was taken neatly by Younis at slip who fell backwards after taking it 237/9
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| Match details |
Toss Pakistan, who chose to bat
Series Pakistan won the 3-match series 3-0
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