England snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to take a 1-0 lead inthe three-match one-day international series over Pakistan underfloodlights at the National Stadium here on Tuesday
Samiul Hasan25-Oct-2000England snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to take a 1-0 lead inthe three-match one-day international series over Pakistan underfloodlights at the National Stadium here on Tuesday.England looked dead and buried when they were reduced to 13 for twoafter Pakistan had posted a seemingly match-winning score of 304 fornine in 50 overs. But two century partnerships steered England to afive-wicket victory with 17 balls still to spare.It was the third time Pakistan had failed to defend a score of over300. Australia overhauled Pakistan twice while India did it once inDhaka.Ironically, it was also Pakistan’s fifth straight defeat here withtheir last victory being way back in 1996 also against England in the1996 World Cup match.The man who stood between Pakistan and victory was 22-year-oldLancashire allrounder Andrew Flintoff who hit a hurricane 60-ball 84for which he was rightly adjudged Man-of-the-Match. Flintoff blastedsix boundaries and three sixes to virtually toy with a star-studdedPakistan bowling attack.Flintoff’s innings may look electrifying but it was a knock whichwould make the greatest of batsmen proud of. He kept his cool and tookcontrolled risk by hitting the ball inside gaps. Probably Pakistanwould have felt 20 fields short the way Flintoff built his innings andtook England to one of the most memorable victories.Pakistan captain Moin Khan needed an acrobatic catch to dismissFlintoff. But by then, the big-hitter had done his job as only tworuns for victory were left.Flintoff featured in a 138-run fifth wicket stand with Graham Thorpewho nudged and pushed the ball around with occasional aggressive driveto remained unbeaten on less than a run-a-ball 64. His inningscomprised four elegant boundaries.But it was England skipper Nasser Hussain and Worcestershire’sgraceful Graeme Hick who repaired the damage after Alec Stewart waswrongly given caught behind by Riazuddin and Marcus Trescothick hadmistimed a pull to be comfortably caught by Mushtaq Ahmad off WaqarYounis.Hussain and Hick revived hopes of victory by putting on 114 runs forthe third wicket off just 104 balls. Hussain, who started aggressivelyby hitting Abdur Razzaq for three boundaries in his opening over,continued to play a captain’s innings until he was smartly stumped byMoin Khan. He scored 73 off 99 balls with eight sweetly timedboundaries.Hick was as fluent and delight to watch as always while scoring 56.His wood produced three boundaries and a straight six. He faced 52balls.It was such a disappointment to see one of the most formidable bowlingattacks to play in the hands of the Englishmen. They were erratic,wayward and short of length to give the tourists enough time to placetheir strokes.Many would feel that Moin Khan made the wrong decision of battingfirst. But fact of the matter is his decision was justified when thehome team collected 304 from 50 overs. The simple fact is that thebowlers didn’t bowl well and the Englishmen played out of their skins.The element of dew was also a disadvantage to the Pakistanis as theirbowlers failed to control the white ball. After almost every ball,towel was being applied to keep it dry. But the home team managementcannot escape from criticism because had they come to see that twowarm-up games England played, they would have realized how difficultit is to bowl second.Earlier, Pakistan cut the England bowling down to size by scoring 106runs off the final 10 overs to reach 304 for nine. Abdur Razzaq playedan innings of his life to thoroughly entertain a sell-out crowd bywhacking a career-best unconquered 75 off a mere 40 balls. His inningswas punctuated with five boundaries and three sixes.Razzaq’s half century came off 29 balls.It was an excellent finish to the Pakistan innings after the top threebatsmen had provided the home team a flying start. Saeed Anwar struckfour boundaries off his first 12 balls before departing at the scoreof 39. But Imran Nazir (31) and Salim Elahi (28) applied the pressureas Pakistan reached 87 in 13 overs.But the Englishmen tightened the screws of the Pakistan by picking upthe wickets of the two batsmen in a space of 10 runs. Inzamam-ul-Haqand Yousuf Youhana held the innings together by adding 100 runs forthe fourth wicket from 130 balls.The partnership ended when Youhana departed at 35. But Inzamamcontinued to maul the tourists with a variety of powerful strokes. Hewas finally deceived by a low full toss by Mark Ealham but not beforehe had scored 71 – his 55th career half century in 232 matches.Inzamam hit six boundaries.While the England fielders remained sharp in the fielding, theirbowlers suffered as the wicket was firm enough to serve as a helipadwhile the wicket was lightening fast.England’s brilliant victory has made one thing clear – they will be atough opposition to beat in the next two one-day internationals thatwill follow the three Tests. Besides, their victory gives spice to thefirst series in 13 years which should attract the public more thanever.