- Captain Collingwood delighted with side - Blnguyen
The phrase ‘men against boys’ seems to be a more than adequate description of England’s latest T20 victory over Pakistan. England cruised to their second victory in a week over crisis-hit Pakistan, condemning them to another heavy defeat. On Sunday the 1st match had been won by England with nearly 3 overs to spare at the same venue. It was the same story on Tuesday as Pakistan imploded at the SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff, limping to their lowest ever T20 score of just 89. England duly knocked of the runs with 6 wickets and 6 overs remaining as Pakistan’s tour woes continue.
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and elected to bat on a wet night in Cardiff, after play had been delayed for 30mins due to rain. Pakistan initially came out fighting with wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal blasting 11 off Ryan Sidebottom’s opening over. Akmal didn’t last long though, falling in the next over after slicing Bresnan straight up in the air, the catch taken by Graeme Swann at mid-off. Mohammed Yousuf followed in the fourth over for just 4, Bresnan again bowling short, Yousuf hooked and Bopara swallowed the catch at deep square leg.
Broad and Swann provoke Pakistan Collapse.
Pakistan were struggling at 20-2 when Stuart Broad confounded their misery even further by removing both Hasan and Captain Afridi in the 5th Over, Pakistan were 22-4. New batsmen Umar Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez came together and the score crept to 37-4 with the first 10 overs complete. Akmal then decided to go on the attack hitting Swann for a straight six, before Swann again tossed the ball up outwitting Akmal who was clean bowled. This was exceptional bowling by the Nottinghamshire off spinner who continues to impress in all forms of the game.
Hafeez was the next to go, run out in the 15th over by Swann after a good throw from Sidebottom at short fine leg. Alam fell in the same, Swann over edging to wicket-keeper Davies, Pakistan 56-7 and the game was pretty much over. Sidebottom picked up the wickets of Razzaq and Gul with Bresnan finished off the innings by bowling Akhtar. This was a mixture of excellent bowling and inept batting, Pakistan all out for 86 after 18.4 overs. This was the fourth occasion Pakistan have been bowled out for under 100 this summer an unenviable feat and on this evidence it won’t be the last.
Tim Bresnan recorded career best figures of 3-10, while Michael Yardy impressed again with 0-10 from his 4 overs, as he recorded England’s most economical figures in T20 cricket.
England cruised to victory after early wobble.
England came out all guns blazing determined to hammer home their dominance. Craig Keiswetter hitting a six off a free hit and pulling over midwicket for 4, England 24-0 after just two overs. England hit a sticky patch in the third over as successive wickets fell, Akhtar removed Davies and Kieswetter was run out after a fantastic direct hit from Umar Akmal. Bopara and Captain Collingwood steered the hosts past 50 before Collingwood edged an Ajmal doosra to Hafeez at slip. When Bopara followed lbw to Afridi just one over later Pakistan may have sensed an opening with England now 63-4. However this wasn’t to be as the ever reliable pair of Eion Morgan 18no and Michael Yardy 6no eased England home with 6 overs still remaining.
Collingwood praises England application.
England Captain Paul Collingwood was full of praise for his team after they equalled the world record of seven consecutive T20 wins. Collingwood told SkySports "It was exceptional again. I'm absolutely delighted with what was another strong performance” he also praised his bowling attack stating "I think in the last seven games they haven't conceded over 148 runs which is fantastic in the Twenty20 format.”
One worry that England do have is the apparent falling crowds with only 5500 at the SWALEC stadium to watch the World Champions. Collingwood put this down to too much cricket being played "I've been saying that for 10 years," he told the Guardian. "We had to create our own atmosphere out there.” The two sides will now move onto Chester-le- Street, Durham to begin their 5 match ODI series on the 10th September. Pakistan will have to pick themselves up from the T20 drubbings and try to start afresh. This is easier said than done with players in the dock after the Spot fixing allegations and Pakistan do have the air of a side that would happily board the next flight home.
England’s winning run continues
England have now recorded 7 straight twenty-over victories, which equals the record held jointly by South Africa and Pakistan. On the evidence of this series albeit against opposition in disarray England have every chance to extend their run. Their next T20 match with be at the Adelaide Oval on 12th January against Australia. Australia will be formidable opposition at home, but only in July this year they lost both T20 matches to this same Pakistan side in Birmingham. England will be chasing history down under but only after the small matter of the Ashes.
Chris Hitchcock - Chris is a Lecturer and Journalist who is originally from England but is currently living in Sydney, Australia. Chris graduated with a Ba ...
