LONDON – Pakistan recovered from a terrible start to their day to complete a spirited victory in the fourth One-Day International against England at Lord’s yesterday.
Their 38-run win with 3.5 overs to spare under the floodlights in the day-night match squared the series at 2-2 with the final match scheduled for Southampton tomorrow
When play began Pakistan’s troubled tour had taken another turn for the worse after the England and Wales Cricket Board threatened legal action against Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt.
Butt had suggested in a television interview that England had been paid to lose Friday’s match at the Oval.
Against this background of acrimony and distrust, Pakistan reached 265 for seven due primarily to Abdul Razzaq, who hit 44 not out from 20 balls including 40 off the last 10 balls. The Pakistanis scored 83 from the final 10 overs.
Strauss put his concerns to one side with 68 from 72 deliveries, cutting and carving the ball through the off-side with familiar assurance on his home ground in an opening partnership of 113 with Steve Davis (49).
Pacer Shoaib Akhtar responded to the situation and the increasingly vocal support of the Pakistan fans with a mixture of express deliveries and clever changes of pace to finish with three for 59 from his 10 overs.
Umar Gul, Pakistan’s hero at the Oval, bowled with equal fervour at the Pavilion end for figures off four for 32 from 8.1 overs. England’s last five wickets fell for 30 runs off as many deliveries. (Reuters)
Yuvraj dropped
MUMBAI – Experienced batsman Yuvraj Singh has been dropped from India’s Test squad against Australia while Zaheer Khan and Shantakumaran Sreesanth have returned from injuries to bolster the pace department.
Yuvraj has been replaced by Cheteshwar Pujara, 22, from Saurashtra, in the 15-man squad selected for next month’s Border-Gavaskar series. (Reuters)
Sidebottom quits
LONDON – England left-arm pace bowler Ryan Sidebottom has retired from international cricket. “I have had a truly fantastic period of my life with England but now it is time to hand over the ball to those a little younger,” said the Sidebottom, 32, who took 79 wickets in Tests since his debut in 2001. (Reuters)
Victoria hope alive
CENTURION – Victoria Bushrangers maintained their hopes of reaching the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 semi-finals when they beat hapless Wayamba of Sri Lanka by eight wickets yesterday. Chasing a paltry 107 for victory, Victoria raced to their target with over six overs to spare, to remain in the hunt for a final four spot in a competitive Group A. (CMC)
Shield semis Oct. 3
THE rescheduled Sagicor Shield semi-final match between between Ince Transport MTW and Nature Valley Lodge will be played on October 3 at the Banks ground. The final, will now be played on October 17 at the Desmond Haynes Oval. (PR)
