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| September 01, 2006 | Friday | Sha'aban 7, 1427 |
Rain ends England’s run of one-day defeats
CARDIFF (Wales), Aug 31: Rain ended England's run of seven straight limited overs defeats as the first One-day International against Pakistan ended in a no-result at Sophia Gardens on Wednesday (partly reported in Thursday’s edition).
Pakistan, chasing a revised target of 159 in 32 overs after a rain break of an hour-and-a-quarter, were 46 for one off seven overs when a second downpour ended the match.
Although the tourists were ahead of the required run-rate, they had to bat for a minimum of 20 overs for this day/night fixture, the opening contest of a five-game series, to be deemed a match.
Mohammad Hafeez was 18 not out and Younis Khan 12 not out.
During their current home season England had lost a Twenty20 and five full One-day Internationals against Sri Lanka before Monday's five-wicket Twenty20 defeat against Pakistan at Bristol.
This series continues with a day match at Lord's on Saturday.
England had earlier been bowled out for 202, featuring Ian Bell's one-day international best of 88, after Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq won the toss and chose to field.
“It's not the way we wanted to stop the run of defeats,” Bell told reporters. “We believe we can compete with Pakistan in this series and we're excited about Lord's.”
Mohammad Asif, who ripped through England's top order, finished with an impressive three for 28 off a maximum 10 overs.
And fellow quick Shoaib Akhtar, who returned to international action after a stress fracture of the left ankle on Monday, three for 45 off 10.
Bell, who hit three hundreds in the recent Test series against Pakistan, said: “It went pretty well today (Wednesday).
“I tried to carry on my form from the Test matches,” added the Warwickshire right-hander, whose innings surpassed his previous one-day best of 80 against minnows and World Cup qualifiers Ireland in June.
“That was the best I've played in one-day cricket for England,” insisted Bell, making his 19th appearance at this level.
Pakistan suffered a setback in the second over when Stuart Broad, on his One-day International debut, had Shoaib Malik lbw for five with his fourth legitimate ball at this level to leave the visitors for one.
At the other end Darren Gough, England's most successful One-day International bowler with 235 wickets and playing his match at this level in over a year, saw Hafeez top-edge a hook over the slips for four and next ball force him to the backward point boundary.
Scoreboard
ENGLAND:
M.E. Trescothick c Kamran b Asif 16
A.J. Strauss c Afridi b Asif 2
I.R. Bell run out 88
K.P. Pietersen c Kamran b Asif 2
P.D. Collingwood lbw b Afridi 14
J.W.M. Dalrymple b Shoaib Akhtar 27
R. Clarke c Shoaib Malik b Shoaib Akhtar 6
C.M.W. Read c and b Hafeez 0
S.I. Mahmood b Shoaib Akhtar 1
D. Gough c Shoaib Malik b Afridi 18
S.C.J. Broad not out 8
EXTRAS (LB-5, W-10, NB-5) 20
TOTAL (all out, 49.2 overs) 202
FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-35, 3-51, 4-98, 5-166, 6-166, 7-167, 8-173, 9-173.
BOWLING: Shoaib Akhtar 10-1-45-3 (3nb, 2w); Mohammad Asif 10-3-28-3 (2w); Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 7-0-43-0 (3w); Abdul Razzaq 4-1-10-0 (1nb); Shahid Afridi 8.2-0-38-2 (1nb, 1w); Mohammad Hafeez 10-0-33-1 (2w).
PAKISTAN:
Shoaib Malik lbw b Broad 5
Mohammad Hafeez not out 18
Younis Khan not out 12
EXTRAS (LB-4, W-7) 11
TOTAL (for one wkt, 7 overs) 46
FALL OF WKT: 1-12.
DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Rana Naved, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif
BOWLING: Gough 4-0-28-0 (1w); Broad 3-0-14-1 (2w);
RESULT: Match abandoned.
UMPIRES: I.J. Gould (England) and B.R. Doctrove (West Indies).
TV UMPIRE: M.R. Benson (England).
MATCH REFEREE: M.J. Procter (South Africa).
SECOND MATCH: Lord's on Saturday.
THIRD MATCH: The Rose Bowl (D/N) on Tuesday.
FOURTH MATCH: Trent Bridge (D/N) on Sept 8.
FIFTH MATCH: Edgbaston on Sept 10.—AFP
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