Pakistan Sports Journal

Umar Gull outstanding bowling lead Pakistan to a stunning comback in the series. Photo: File photo from web
Umar Gull’s career best figures of 6 for 42 lead Pakistan to 23 run victory in 3rd one day international against England. Chasing small total of 242 England fell short of 23 runs courtesy of some sensational swing and reverse swing bowling from Umar Gull.

Pakistan never gave up to England even because of their small total, Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzaq fully supported Umar Gull and a superb bowling performance lead an outstanding comeback in the series for Pakistan.

England got a good start of 35 by Strauss and Davis but Abdul Razzaq gave the first break through to Pakistan by cleaning up davies with a superb in swinger. Jonathon Trott was undone by a fast, inswingeing yourker which took the middle stump out of the ground and gave Pakistan some hope of winning.

Ajmal’s first over proved the end for Ravi Bopara and from than Pakistan never looked back and kept taking regular wickets. Umar Gull was introduced into the attack with a slight hope of a miracle which did happened and Umar Gull cleaned up Strauss, Yardy, Bresnan, Broad, Swann and key wicket of Eoin Morgan.

Pakistan batting innings definitely fell out by 30-40 runs on a dry oval pitch. Openers fell cheaply for just 8 runs, followed by Mohammad Yousuf on 31. Two youngsters Asad Shafique and Fawad Alam gave some momentum to the innings with 64 runs partnership. After all the hard work Asad through his wicket away on the total of 95. Umar Akmal started his innings well but he played a very bad short to Bresnan, he was caught on fine leg.

Fawad Alam played a solid innings of 64, he got out trying to chipped the ball over mid-off. Afridi was runout in a very casual style, he was almost jogging to complete the single then suddenly realize that he has to hurry and in the end ball hits his bat and hit the stumps and that was all over for the captain.

Abdul Razzaq and Umar Gull were in the crease when Pakistan took their batting power play in the last five overs of the innings, Abdul Razzaq was caught in the mid – wickets on a slower bowl from Broad and eventually Pakistan was all out on 241 in the 49.4 overs.

Fawad Alam top scored with 64 and Anderson and Bresnan took e wickets each.

Umar Gull declared man on the match for his outstanding bowling which gave Pakistan the victory single handedly. With 2 games to go series is alive again, Pakistan showed a lot of fight to come back into the series and next two games are supposed to be power packed action.