Pakistan produce fine batting performances in May ODI series defeat to England

Now, there is absolutely no disputing that The Men in Green went on to lose the remaining four games in their warm-up series against one of the tournament favourites. However it was their frontline bowling that let them down, rather than any lack of application with the bat. A weakness since remedied by Chairman Inzamam-ul-Haq and his fellow selectors in dramatic fashion, which saw them perform major surgery on the Pakistani bowling attack. Left-arm pacer Junaid Khan and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf were instantly replaced by fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz; along with a swap out of Asif Ali for middle-order batsman Abid Ali in the final 15-man World Cup squad named on 20th of May. 

Yet taking a boundary view of the series from a run scoring perspective, the team exhibited some outstanding batting capability against England, which supported by a more effective line-and-length bowling spearhead could well see The Men in Green do great things on the World Cup stage.

 

Second ODI

In the second match that went ahead at the Rose Bowl [The Ageas Bowl] in Southampton, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl. England were in outstanding form and Pakistan’s bowling was not, the home side ended up with a total of 373 for 3 in 50 overs (Jos Buttler 110 *, Jason Roy 87 and Eoin Morgan 81*). A very good one-day game score and a demanding run chase.

Up steps the bold Fakhar Zaman to eclipse Buttler’s exploits with a magnificent 138 at more than a run a ball including 12 fours and 4 sixes, fellow opener Imal-al-Huq supports with a crisp 35. Top-order bats Babar Azam and Asif Ali each chip in 51 runs, Asif Ali’s blitz embraces 2 fours and 4 intimidating sixes. Following the eventual fall of Fakhar, captain Sarfaraz Ahmed holds the fort with 41 not out, but despite an amazing response, fifty overs are up and Pakistan fall short in the chase by an agonising 12 runs on 361 for 7. Indeed the final analysis; a game of slim margins.

Third ODI

Onward to the Bristol County Ground for the third contest in the series, this time England won the toss and also decided to bowl. First at the crease Pakistan, once again posting a big score of 358 for 9 in 50 overs, a record in fact – their highest ODI score batting first in England. An innings thwarted somewhat by the excellent fast-medium pace bowling of England’s Chris Woakes, who took 4 for 67; but nevertheless demonstrating some superb batting along the way. 

On this occasion it is the turn of opener Imal-al-Huq to deliver an expansive innings which he does in hardworking style, out for 151, and all the more remarkable for containing just 12 fours and 1 six. Support acts: top-order bat Haris Sohail on 41-  falling victim of an unfortunate run out in full flow and Asif Ali 52 with another half-century in successive innings, he has a hundred waiting in the wings for sure. Captain Sarfaraz only contributes 27 this time round.

Yet England walk to the middle and the frighteningly consistent  pairing of Jonny Bairstow (128) and Jason Roy (76) proceed to put on 150 and beyond at lightning speed for the first wicket, while the lacklustre Pakistani bowling attack labour’s on for little or no return. Then it’s Joe Root (43), Ben Stokes (37) another run out just as the runs begin to flow and Moeen (46*). England 359 for 4 in 44.5 overs and a win by 6 wickets.

Fourth ODI

Here we are at Trent Bridge, Nottingham for the fourth ODI of 5. England win the toss and elect to bowl first for the second game in succession. Pakistan on strike but suffer an immediate set back when a 143kph (89mph) delivery from Chris Wood strikes Imam-ul-Haq’s left elbow as he misses an attempted pull shot and the young left-hander is whisked off the field and away to hospital in major pain. 

However, Fakhar fills the breech with an energetic knock of 57 and then Babar Azam strokes a delightful 115. Then Mohammad Hafeez gets on the end of yet another great start of 59 but fails to sustain the momentum, and Malik works his way to a useful platform of 41 only to hit his own wicket. Sarfaraz is not out 21 but The Men in Green have run out of overs. Nonetheless, Pakistan notch up another very decent total of 340 for 7.

England batting and yet again Pakistan’s bowlers are all over the place, inconsistent length making it easy for openers Roy (114) and Vince (43) who soon have another 150 runs in the bag in less than 150 balls. Wasim traps Joe Root for, by his standards, a modest 37 and follows up with the prize wicket of Buttler for a duck. Meanwhile Malik also sends Moeen Ali back to the pavilion for nought. So it is none other than Ben Stokes at his restrained best who anchors the innings and pulls his team over the line – not out on 71, batting steadily alongside Denly (17), Curran (31) and Rashid 12 not out. England 341 for 7 winning the match by 3 wickets. Close call again, but it’s the loose bowling in the first 25 overs that has let the Pakistan side down repeatedly.

Fifth ODI

Three – nil down, next stop Headingley Carnegie, West Yorkshire for the 5th and final game in the series. England win the toss, third on the bounce, but uncharacteristically elect to bat and give themselves a crack at the Pakistan bowling. Plenty of vociferous crowd support for the visitors in this neck of the woods though.

Interestingly enough, Pakistan’s much berated bowling attack restricted both Vince and Bairstow to scores in the low 30s, with only Joe Root (84) and Eoin Morgan (76) making higher end totals. Jos Buttler too was removed for 34, and Ben Stokes limited to a tame 21, yet England still managed to set a target of 351 for 9 in their 50 overs.

The Pakistan innings did not begin well. Openers Fakhar and Abid were gone for a duck and 5 respectively in twelve balls. The badly bruised Imam-al-Huq had justifiably been left out of the final match. No problem, Babar (80) and Safaraz (97) began to steady the boat in a sparkling partnership before they were both run out, but unfortunately Hafeez (0) and Mallik (4) were not playing to the same script. Ironically it was bowler Hasnain, batting at 11, who managed the next highest score of 28. But a run total of 77 between the four previous batsmen was never going to prove enough; Pakistan all out for 297 in front of plenty of supporters and England win by 54 runs.

Round up

From a batting perspective, a 4 – 0 defeat to England was far from a disaster for Pakistan in performance terms, the top and middle order were entirely competitive on English pitches. The Men in Green showed on numerous occasions that they have several players who can build a century-plus innings as a platform toward a collective 50-over score of 340/350 and above. Above all they play for each other and step up with determination should one of their comrades fall. Given the complete refresh of their bowling line-up there appears to be a great deal of fine Pakistan cricket to look forward to in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

Expat Sport’s Mac McTiernan reviews Pakistan’s form in May’s 5-match ODI series against England in the build up to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales, with one eye on the tournament’s opening ceremony.