England stay alive in World T20 with Pakistan victory
Kevin Pietersen returned to the side with a superb half-century
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Sunday, 07, Jun 2009 08:58
England have bounced back from Friday's embarrassing defeat to the Netherlands in the World Twenty20 with a much-improved display in beating Pakistan, writes inthenews.co.uk's Alex Stevenson at the Oval.
The tournament hosts kept their hopes of progressing to the Super Eights alive with their first win of the tournament, beating Younis Khan's inconsistent side by 48 runs.
Big-hitting batsman Kevin Pietersen - back in the team after missing Friday's game at Lord's through injury - made a sumptuous 58 off 38 balls to lead the home side to a competitive total of 185-5 from their 20 overs.
Then a disciplined fielding display - including excellent figures of 3-17 from Stuart Broad who was the villain of the piece against the Dutch - saw England home in some style, restricting Pakistan to 137-7.
Initially it looked as if Younis had made the right call after winning the toss when, in the second over, Mohammad Aamer struck to remove England opener Ravi Bopara.
The bowler failed to follow up that success, though, as in his next over Wright struck England's first maximum sandwiched between boundaries.
Four no-balls struck over the bowler's head added more to the total before Wright's off-stump was removed by Umar Gul. He had hit 34 from 16 balls, including six fours and one six.
With the powerplay over Kevin Pietersen, who had earlier been declared fit after his ongoing Achilles problem was declared to be not at risk, and Owais Shah kept the scoreboard ticking over.
There was a sense of momentum being lost after the end of the powerplay, however, and when the innings reached its halfway mark England were 90-2. After the explosive start it could have been higher.
Pietersen and Shah soon broke free, with a powerful sweep from KP in the 12th over a highlight. One maximum each off Amir in the 13th over put England firmly in the ascendancy.
They had put together 66 valuable runs when the leg stump of Shah (33 off 32) was wiped out by Umar. After a quiet over from Saeed Ajmal, Collingwood struck two boundaries, making the bowler pay for a drop by Arafat.
England appeared on target for a total in excess of 200 with Pietersen still at the crease, but two wickets in the 17th over helped dampen England's verve. Just two boundaries featured in the final three overs - both courtesy of Dmitry Mascarenhas (16 not out) as England finished with just singles.
Pakistan's run chase was always going to be difficult, but the task was made harder by Mascarenhas - an unusual choice of opening bowler - striking in his second over. He took out Shahzad Ahmad, a Twenty20 specialist, after Collingwood coolly took a chance running backwards.
Boundaries followed in the powerplay, but it was Stuart Broad who had the most decisive impact on the game with a double-strike in the sixth over. First Kamran Akmal (6), then Salman Butt (28 off 23) were sent packing with further skied catches.
Pakistan never really offered the firepower they needed after Broad's brace. Younis began accumulating a patient but inadequate 46 not out from 31 balls as his partners succumbed to the pressure at regular intervals.
When Shoaib Malik edged one behind to the reliable James Foster in the 13th over Pakistan's last hope strode to the wicket. Shahid Afridi had been struggling for form and looked very much out of sorts before sending one high to the waiting Morgan on the boundary for just five.
The run-rate slowly crept up from the difficult through the implausible to the impossible as England ground out a gutsy, determined win.