Pakistan Sports Journal

Return of fiery Shoaib Akhtar is boosting for Pakistan team. Photo: file photo from web

Century from Eoin Morgan lead England to 121 – run victory over Pakistan in the fifth and final ODI and took the series 3-2.

Eoin Morgan was the difference between the two sides, the time when he came in for bat, wasn’t easy to do so but the showed his temperament and calmness to survive that lethal period from Pakistan bowlers and then later on took England to match winning position with his 107 from just 101 balls.

Chasing 257, Pakistan was boosted with solid 63 – run opening partnership between Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez but Stuart Broad took 2 wickets in two balls, was the start of Pakistani batting collapse. Hafeez (29) was taken by Collingwood at point, a stunning catch that was. Next batsman Asad Shafique just hangs his bat to a ball which moved a bit away from him and he edges it to the keeper.

63 for 0 and then 63 for 2, ship was again handed to Mohammad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal was going very nicely and smoothly until he was given out horribly wrong By umpire Ian Gould lbw , ball clearly hit the bat first.

Off-spinner Graem Swanna did what he is famous for, he again took the wicket in his first over of Fawad Alam in classical style, on the very next ball Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi also made his way back to the pavilion, first two in two from Broad and then from Swann completely turns the game.

Akmal and Razzaq was last hopes for Pakistan but Akmal also vanished very cheaply, Collingwood took a unbelievable catch on his own bowling after being hit for a boundary.

Gull, Ajmal and Shoaib didn’t make any difference in England cause and Pakistan all out for 135, another batting collapse and another series lose.

Pakistan performed very well uner pressure to come back into series but failed to pulled if off. Umar Gull and Shoaib Akhtar done superb job in the absence of Amir and Asif, Ajmal is always consistent, batting needs some serious treatment because tough cricket is ahead and Pakistan’s won’t want to go to World Cup losing.

Source: Pakcricketworld.com