| 0.0 : Hello and welcome to match 6 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Hosts England take on a depleted Pakistan side who are on a 12-game winless run and are low on confidence after being thrashed by West Indies. Sarfaraz Ahmed and his men will need to put up a better show against the mighty English who will look to make it 5 out of 5 in the last 5 ODIs against them. Will unpredictable Pakistan spring another surprise or will England complete the job? Stay tuned to find out as the Pitch report and Tos |
| PITCH REPORT - Kumar Sangakkara and birthday boy, Wasim Akram are the pitch analysts for the game. Sangakkara says it is a place where bowlers dread to bowl. He informs us that the longer boundaries are when one bats at the Pavilion end and the boundaries behind the square are short. Akram, from the other end, agrees with Sangakkara and reminds us that it is the same venue where England scored 480-plus against Australia. States that the pitch is harder and it is a batting paradise as the ball wi |
| TOSS - England skipper, Eoin Morgan has the coin in hand. Up it goes, Sarfaraz calls Tails but it lands in favour of England. ENGLAND OPT TO BOWL FIRST. |
| England skipper, Eoin Morgan says the wicket looks very good and states the dimensions are small so they believe chasing down a score will be good. The skipper mentions that it is a different day, so they have to play again well from the beginning again. Informs that they have one change, Mark Wood comes in, in place of Liam Plunkett. Eoin tells that the reason is due to how Pakistan played the short stuff, also feels that Mark Wood bowled well with pace on this ground in the ODI series versus P |
| Pakistan skipper, Sarfaraz Ahmed says he wanted to bowl first as well. On the wicket he says it looks like a very good wicket. On short ball being an issue after the previous game, Sarfaraz says it was just a one-off problem and it won't happen again. Hopes that they can do well against England as they have played them recently in the ODI series. On how he feels about the losing streak, Sarfaraz tells that they are not reading too much at it. |
| England XI - Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (C), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (WK), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood (IN FOR LIAM PLUNKETT). |
| Pakistan XI - Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik (IN FOR HARIS SOHAIL), Sarfaraz Ahmed (WK/C), Asif Ali (IN FOR IMAD WASIM), Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir. |
| Both sets of players walk out to the middle for their respective national anthems. First up, it will be visitors, Pakistan's national anthem followed by England's. We are not far away from the start of the game. |
| Done and dusted with the national anthems and we are all set for the game to begin. England players are in a huddle and their skipper, Eoin Morgan is having a few words before the players take their respective positions in the field.Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq walk out to open the innings for Pakistan. The first new ball is in the hands of Chris Woakes, he will start the proceedings for England. |
| 0.1 : C Woakes to Imam, Woakes starts with a length ball outside off. It goes with the abgle away from Imam. He chooses not to get on the way of the ball and lets it go to the keeper. |
| 0.2 : C Woakes to Imam, First run off the game. Length ball outside off, Imam runs it down to third man and gets a single. |
| 0.3 : C Woakes to F Zaman, Good length ball juts outside off, Fakhar knows where his off stump is and confidently shoulders arms to this one. |
| 0.4 : C Woakes to F Zaman, FOUR! Fakhar is off the mark and that too with a boundary. Length ball outside off, Fakhar cuts it wide of point. Morgan moves to his right and looks to save it with a dive but it goes through him and it races away on this quick outfield. Roy chasing it cannot reach the ball and shows his frustration by kicking the boundary skirting. |
| 0.5 : C Woakes to F Zaman, Follows it up with a solid back foot defense. |
| 0.6 : C Woakes to F Zaman, FOUR! Excellent start for Pakistan. Woakes is guilty of offering width to Fakhar. He slashes his cut through point and this time no one has a chance to stop that one. 9 runs off the first over. |
| Jofra Archer will bowl with the other new ball! |
| 1.1 : J Archer to Imam, Starts with a length ball on middle and leg, Imam looks to defend but it goes off the outside edge and it goes down to third man for a single. |
| 1.2 : J Archer to F Zaman, FOUR LEG BYES! Jofra bowls it on the pads, Fakhar looks to flick it but it goes off his thigh pad through fine leg region for four. |
| 1.3 : J Archer to F Zaman, Good length ball outside off, Zaman leaves it alone. |
| 1.4 : J Archer to F Zaman, Good ball! Archer hits the deck hard on middle and off, it moves away with the angle, Zaman looks to defend but gets beaten. |
| 1.5 : J Archer to F Zaman, Another beauty! Good length ball on middle and off, this one nips back in after pitching, Zaman looks to defend but the ball dissects him in half as it goes to the keeper. |
| 1.6 : J Archer to F Zaman, Play and a miss! Good length ball on the fifth stump line, Fakhar comes down the track and throws the kitchen sink at it but misses. He looks the at the umpire asking for wide but the umpire is happy with the delivery. |
| 2.1 : C Woakes to Imam, Good length ball outside off, Imam leaves it alone. |
| 2.2 : C Woakes to Imam, Now bowls it on the off stump line, Imam defends it to the man at point. |
| 2.3 : C Woakes to Imam, Good length ball on middle and leg, Imam tucks it to mid-wicket and looks for a quick single which was never there and Fakhar rightfully says no. |
| 2.4 : C Woakes to Imam, Oh! That was very close. Fuller ball outside off, tempting Imam to go for the drive. He does go for it but misses and the ball just whizzes the outside edge. |
| 2.5 : C Woakes to Imam,Five dots in a row now. Woakes pulls his length back and it is outside off, Imam goes for the cut but misses. |
| 2.6 : C Woakes to Imam, Maiden from Woakes. Excellent stuff this. He bowls the last ball full on middle, Imam drives it straight back to the bowler. Woakes gets down in time to stop the ball and he also tumbles after saving it. |
| 3.1 : J Archer to F Zaman, Good ball on the corridor of uncertainty again from Archer, Zaman lets the ball go this time. |
| 3.2 : J Archer to F Zaman, FOUR! Fakhar pulls this away with ease. Slightly back of a length on middle and the pitch is so good that every time a bowler misses his mark, he will be punished. Short of a length on middle, FZ pulls this away with ease through mid-wicket and all the way to the fence. Easy pickings and one has to say Fakhar is looking good here. |
| 3.3 : J Archer to F Zaman, Seam up delivery which is full outside off, the ball goes on a bounce to Buttler behind the stumps. He fumbles which allows them to take a bye. |
| 3.4 : J Archer to Imam, Bouncer! It is on the body and these balls did the damage for Pakistan in the last game. Here though, Imam has ducked under it. |
| 3.5 : J Archer to Imam, Back of a length ball on off, Imam defends it off his back foot. 8th dot in a row for him. |
| 3.6 : J Archer to Imam, Now he gets a single. Good length ball on the pads, Imam tucks it towards mid-wicket and keeps the strike. |
| 4.1 : C Woakes to Imam, Confident looking stroke that. Fuller on off, Imam drives it but straight to mid off. |
| 4.2 : C Woakes to Imam, Good length ball on off, Imam confidently defends it. |
| 4.3 : C Woakes to Imam, SIX! First one of the day and it has come off Imam's bat. First sign of aggression this from Imam. Length ball on off, Imam comes down the track and and smashes it over long on fence for a maximum. |
| 4.4 : C Woakes to Imam, FOUR! Edgy this but Imam will take it. Back of a length ball, it goes away after pitching. Imam looks to defend but it takes the outside edge of his bat and goes to the vacant third man region for a boundary. Second slip had no chance to get that. |
| 4.5 : C Woakes to Imam, Good length ball on the pads, Imam flicks it to the on side and gets a single. |
| 4.6 : C Woakes to F Zaman, Dot to finish an expensive over. 11 runs off the over. It is full outside off, Fakhar looks to hit it but misses. |
| 5.1 : J Archer to Imam, On a length on the pads, Imam looks to glance it fine and there is a short fine leg in place! Luckily, the ball goes on a bounce to the left of Stokes there. Ben gets a hand to the ball and hence allows only for a single to be taken. |
| 5.2 : J Archer to F Zaman, FOUR! This will give him confidence! Archer bangs it in short on the body, Fakhar stands tall and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 5.3 : J Archer to F Zaman, Good length ball on off, Zaman drives it to the man at cover. |
| 5.4 : J Archer to F Zaman, Fakhar pushes at this length ball outside off but fails to put bat on ball. |
| 5.5 : J Archer to F Zaman, Pakistan are riding their luck here. Back of a length ball on off and middle, Zaman looks to defend but it lob off the top half of the outside edge which goes above and between of first and wide second slip and they take one as the fielder at third man mops it up. |
| 5.6 : J Archer to Imam, On middle and leg, Imam flicks it to the man at mid-wicket. |
| 6.1 : C Woakes to F Zaman, FOUR! Nothing but a hit me delivery. Good length ball outside off, Fakhar's eyes lit up looking at it and the crisply hits it through covers for a boundary. |
| 6.2 : C Woakes to F Zaman, FOUR! Fakhar looks in the modd. Jeez! Who can say they were bundled out for 105 in the last game. Length ball on middle, Zaman shuffles across to his off stump and paddles it over the fine leg region for a boundary. |
| 6.3 : C Woakes to F Zaman, Short ball on off, Fakhar this time pulls it to the right of deep square leg and gets a single. |
| 6.4 : C Woakes to Imam, On the body, Imam flicks it towards backward square leg. They stroll through for the second as the fielder from deep sqquare leg comes and cleans it up. |
| 6.5 : C Woakes to Imam, Outside off on a length, Imam runs it down to third man and rotates the strike. |
| 6.6 : C Woakes to F Zaman, Play and miss. Good length ball outside off, Imam looks to play it on the off side but misses. Another good over for Pakistan. 12 off it. |
| 7.1 : J Archer to Imam, Good length ball on off, Imam looks to defend but gets an outside edge which goes on a bounce to second slip. |
| 7.2 : J Archer to Imam, FOUR! Fifty comes up with that boundary. Pakistan are off to a flier. Good length ball on middle and leg, Imam flicks it between mid-wicket and mid on for a boundary. |
| Review time! Archer raps Imam right in front of the stumps and appeals loudly but it is turned down by the umpire. Eoin Morgan takes the review, if there is no edge there, it looks quite adjacent. |
| 7.3 : J Archer to Imam, NOT OUT! There is a big inside edge there and England lose their sole review. Fuller ball pitching on middle and leg and it comes in at the end. Imam looks to defend but it looks like he has been beaten and the ball hits him on the pads. The English players put in a big appeal but the umpire is unmoved. They think about it and then Morgan takes the review. Replays roll in and shows there was a big inside edge. Ultra Edge confirms the same too and Imam survives. Poor review |
| 7.4 : J Archer to Imam, On the pads, Imam flicks it wide of deep square leg and gets two. |
| 7.5 : J Archer to Imam, WIDE! Bouncer bounces too high. It goes over the head of Imam. Buttler gets his glove to it but cannot take it cleanly allowing them to steal a run. |
| J Archer to F Zaman, On the pads, Fakhar flicks it wide of deep square leg once more and gets easy two. |
| 7.6 : J Archer to F Zaman, WIDE! Once again the short ball is too short. It goes over the head of Zaman and it has been wided. |
| J Archer to F Zaman, Good length ball on middle and leg, Fakhar drives it wide of mid on and gets a couple. Another expensive over. 13 off this one. |
| Time for spin. Moeen Ali comes on to bowl now! |
| 8.1 : M Ali to Imam, Bowled flatter on the pads, Imam tucks it down to short fine leg but cannot find the single he wants. |
| 8.2 : M Ali to Imam, FOUR! Flatter again on the pads but this time the glance from Imam is really fine. It beats short fine leg and runs away to the fence with ease. Such a fine tickle! |
| 8.3 : M Ali to Imam, Worked off the pads towards square this time by Imam. |
| 8.4 : M Ali to Imam, Pushed from the crease towards mid-wicket by the southpaw. |
| 8.5 : M Ali to Imam, This time the flatter ball on middle is turned away to deep square leg for a single. |
| 8.6 : M Ali to F Zaman, A drifter on middle and off, it is kept out by Fakhar from the crease. |
| Double change. Mark Wood is introduced into the attack from the other end. |
| 9.1 : M Wood to Imam, Starts with a 140 kph ball full around off, Imam pushes it to the man at mid off. |
| 9.2 : M Wood to Imam, Full outside off, Imam drives it to the left of cover fielder. The man there dives to his left but cannot stop the ball cleanly allowing them to take one. |
| 9.3 : M Wood to F Zaman, Full on off, Fakhar strokes it to the man at mid off. |
| 9.4 : M Wood to F Zaman, Pulls his length back and bowls it on the good length area outside off, Zaman looks to cut but it goes off the outer half of his bat towards third man for a single. |
| 9.5 : M Wood to Imam, Bouncer! It is outside off, Imam sits under it. |
| 9.6 : M Wood to Imam, Dot to finish! Tight start, just 2 from Wood's first. Back of a length ball outside off, Imam looks to defend it but gets beaten. |
| Powerplay 2 time! 4 fielders can now be kept outside the 30-yard circle till the end of the 40th over. |
| 10.1 : M Ali to F Zaman, Floated on the pads, Fakhar looks to flick but gets hit on the pads. |
| 10.2 : M Ali to F Zaman, Fires it on the pads, Zaman looks to flick but it goes to the off side off his pad. |
| 10.3 : M Ali to F Zaman, Flighted on off, Zaman milks it to long off and gets one. |
| 10.4 : M Ali to Imam, Shorter on off, Imam stands tall and punches it to long on for a single. |
| 10.5 : M Ali to F Zaman, Floated on off, Zaman rotates the strike by nudging it to long off. |
| 10.6 : M Ali to Imam, Flights it on off and middle, Imam keeps the strike with a single which he gets by stroking this tossed up ball to long on. |
| 11.1 : M Wood to Imam, Good length ball juts outside off, Imam has a tentative push but misses. |
| 11.2 : M Wood to Imam, Fuller on off, Imam taps it down to third man and gets a single. |
| 11.3 : M Wood to F Zaman, A well bowled bouncer this. It is near the eye lid, Zaman looks to pull but misses. |
| 11.4 : M Wood to F Zaman, Full outside off, Zaman milks it to sweeper cover and rotates the strike. |
| 11.5 : M Wood to Imam, Back of a length ball on off, Imam pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one. |
| 11.6 : M Wood to F Zaman, Full outside off, Zaman looks to drive it but gets an inside edge onto his pads. He looks for a quick run but Imam says no. Another good over from Wood. Just 5 off his first two. |
| 12.1 : M Ali to Imam, Shorter on off, Imam strokes it wide of diving Moeen to long on for one. |
| 12.2 : M Ali to F Zaman, Flatter on middle and leg, Zaman strokes it to the man at mid off. |
| 12.3 : M Ali to F Zaman, Bit of turn on offer. It is full on off, Zaman looks to drive but it goes uppishly off the outer half of his bat towards point. Lands well short of the fielder though. |
| 12.4 : M Ali to F Zaman, Floated on off, Zaman milks it to the left of extra-cover with not much timing and gets a run. Zaman wanted two as there was an overthrow chance but he does not get it as his partner sends him back wisely. |
| 12.5 : M Ali to Imam, Floated on the stumps, Imam blocks it. |
| 12.6 : M Ali to Imam, Tossed up on middle and leg, Imam nudges it to long on and keeps the strike with one. Tidy over from Moeen. |
| 13.1 : M Wood to Imam, Full on off, Imam plays a classic front foot defense to it. |
| 13.2 : M Wood to Imam, Good length ball on off, Imam taps it wide of point and gets a single. |
| 13.3 : M Wood to F Zaman, Edge but short. Length ball outside off, Fakhar looks to cut but gets a bottom edge which goes to Buttler behind on a bounce. |
| 13.4 : M Wood to F Zaman, Wrong end! A fuller ball outside off, driven straight to extra-cover by Zaman and he looks for a single but his partner turns his back on him. Morgan picks up the ball and scores a direct hit at the bowler's end but Imam was well in. The other end was where there was no batsman as Fakhar was halfway down the ground. The batsman do not run even as there is a chance to take the overthrow now. Playing it safe! |
| 13.5 : M Wood to F Zaman, Bouncer on the body, Zaman pulls it in a controlled manner to deep mid-wicket for one. |
| 13.6 : M Wood to Imam, WIDE! Good length ball but it is down the leg side, Imam looks to flick but misses. Wide signalled. |
| M Wood to Imam, Good length ball on off, Imam defends it to finish off the over. |
| Stumping appeal taken upstairs! A flatter and quicker off spinner outside off bowled by Moeen and Fakhar misses the ball coming ahead. Buttler collects and quickly whips the bails off! Was the back foot outside the crease? |
| 14.1 : M Ali to F Zaman, OUT! The back foot is not outside the crease but it is in the air. England finally break the opening stand! Moeen bowls a beautifully tossed up ball on off, Zaman looks to push it but the ball spins away fantastically after pitching. Fakhar comes forward in his attempt to push. Buttler behind the stumps takes the bails off in a flash. He puts in a very confident appeal and the umpire takes it upstairs. |
| 0.0 : Babar Azam walks out at number 3! |
| 14.2 : M Ali to B Azam, Azam starts with a solid front foot defense to start his innings. |
| 14.3 : M Ali to B Azam, On the pads, Babar turns it away to backward square leg and gets off the mark with a single. |
| 14.4 : M Ali to Imam, Shorter on the body, Imam tucks it to mid-wicket for one. |
| 14.5 : M Ali to B Azam, Short again on middle and off, Babar strokes it wide of diving mid off fielder and gets a run as the ball goes to long off. |
| 14.6 : M Ali to Imam, On the stumps, Imam blocks it to see off an excellent over from Moeen. Just three runs off it and more importantly the opening stand has been broken. |
| 15.1 : M Wood to B Azam, Sharp bouncer! At 142 clicks and bowled on middle and leg, Babar ducks under it at the right moment to let the ball go through. |
| 15.2 : M Wood to B Azam, Another pacy short ball outside off, Azam looks to pull this through mid-wicket but the ball comes on to the bat quicker than he expected it to and it goes in the air towards mid on. Luckily for Babar, the ball does not carry to the fielder! |
| 15.3 : M Wood to B Azam, Some chin music for the batsman, he lets that bouncer through to the wicket-keeper. |
| 15.4 : M Wood to B Azam, FOUR! Fourth short ball in a row and this time, the batsman takes toll of it. Bowled on middle and leg, the ball is pulled away with ease wide of fine leg. The ball reaches the fence. |
| 15.5 : M Wood to B Azam, On a length outside off, defended towards cover on the front foot by the right-hander. |
| 15.6 : M Wood to B Azam, Driven away to deep cover for a run by Babar. He keeps strike for the next over. |
| Drinks Break! Pakistan have got off to a good start here but the wicket of Zaman would be something that will give England some confidence. The openers got off to a good start but the introduction of Moeen and Wood has not just stemmed the run flow but has also provided them with a wicket they were desperately looking for. They were 62/0 in the first 8 but in the last last 8 they have scored just 28/1. |
| 16.1 : M Ali to B Azam, Shorter on off, Azam strokes it wide of cover for one. |
| 16.2 : M Ali to Imam, Floated on off, Imam looks to defend but gets a thick outside edge. |
| 16.3 : M Ali to Imam, On the pads, Imam flicks it away to the on side for a single. |
| 16.4 : M Ali to B Azam, Floated around off, Babar plays it wide of sweeper cover for a couple. |
| 16.5 : M Ali to B Azam, Floated on off, Azam drives it to sweeper cover and gets one. |
| 16.6 : M Ali to Imam, Floated on off, Imam defends it to get through the over. |
| Ben Stokes is into the attack now. He was the Man of the Match in the opener. |
| 17.1 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Starts with a good length ball outside off, Babar has a poke at it but misses. |
| 17.2 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Strays it on the pads this time, Azam flicks it to deep square leg and gets one. |
| 17.3 : Ben Stokes to Imam, Good length ball on off, Imam runs it down wide of backward point and takes a single. |
| 17.4 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Full on off, Babar drives it to sweeper cover for a single. |
| 17.5 : Ben Stokes to Imam, Good length ball on off, Imam taps it down to third man for one. |
| 17.6 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, 5 runs off Stokes' first. Good length ball on off, Azam nudges it down to third man and gets a single to keep the strike. The 100 comes up for Pakistan! |
| 18.1 : M Ali to B Azam, Shorter on off, BA strokes it to the man at wide on. |
| 18.2 : M Ali to B Azam, Good fielding. Shorter on off, Azam strokes it wide of the wide mid on fielder there. Stokes runs and dives to his left to keep it down to one. |
| 18.3 : M Ali to Imam, On off, Imam taps it wide of point for one. |
| 18.4 : M Ali to B Azam, On middle and leg, Babar flicks it to mid-wicket and gets one. |
| 18.5 : M Ali to Imam, Floated on off, Imam stands tall and punches it towards cover for one. |
| 18.6 : M Ali to B Azam, FOUR! Beautifully played. Tossed up on off, Babar plays one of the toughest shot, the inside out shot. He executes it perfectly over mid off which goes on a bounce to the fence. |
| 19.1 : Ben Stokes to Imam, A leg bye! Very straight. The batter looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. Stokes starts appealing but then bails off. The ball rolls towards square leg for a single. |
| 19.2 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Azam misses out there! This is short and outside off, Azam looks to upper cut but misses. Had he got bat on that, it could have gone all the way. |
| 19.3 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Plays it late this time and guides it down to third man for a single. |
| 19.4 : Ben Stokes to Imam, Length ball outside off, Imam plays it to the man at point. The fielder there has a shy at the bowler's end but to no avail. |
| 19.5 : Ben Stokes to Imam, Bouncer! It is on the body, Imam pulls it away to deep mid-wicket and gets one. |
| 19.6 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Almost played on! Good length ball on off, Babar looks to defend but he plays it late. Nelson almost struck there! |
| 20.1 : M Ali to Imam, OUT! What a catch! Woakes has taken a stunner here. England's fielding has been their real strength till now in this tournament. Stokes in the first game and Woakes today. Moeen tosses it up on off, Imam comes down the track and lofts it wide of long off. It looks like it will go for a boundary on the bounce but Chris Woakes had other ideas. He runs to his right and dives full stretch to take an absolute beauty. No running away from Nelson as it has indeed struck here. |
| 0.0 : Mohammad Hafeez is the new man in. |
| 20.2 : M Ali to B Azam, Floated on off, Azam defends it off the front foot. |
| 20.3 : M Ali to B Azam, Shorter on off, Azam runs it down the third man region and gets a couple. |
| 20.4 : M Ali to B Azam, Flighted on off, Azam strokes it wide of cover and gives the strike to Hafeez for the first time. |
| 20.5 : M Ali to M Hafeez, FOUR! Jeez! What a start this is from Hafeez. Tossed up on off, Hafeez shows aggression straightaway as he comes down the track and smashes it over mid off for a boundary. |
| 20.6 : M Ali to M Hafeez, Now follows it up with a single down to point. Hafeez will keep the strike. End of an eventful over from Moeen. 8 runs off the over but more importantly a wicket. |
| 21.1 : Ben Stokes to M Hafeez, Nicely driven! Full and on off, it is stroked through covers for a run. |
| 21.2 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, A short one but it comes at a good height for the batsman. Azam pulls it through square leg for another run. |
| 21.3 : Ben Stokes to M Hafeez, Well played again! This is short and outside off, Hafeez hangs back, plays it late and down to third man for one. |
| 21.4 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Slapped! Shortish and outside off, Azam hits it hard through point but close to the fielder in the deep. A single. |
| 21.5 : Ben Stokes to M Hafeez, FOUR! Hafeez has started well here! His second boundary in 5 balls. Short and on the body, Hafeez manages to pull it in the gap in the backward square leg region. The fielder there does put in a dive but fails to stop it. |
| 21.6 : Ben Stokes to M Hafeez, This is played with an angled bat down to third man for a single. 9 from the over, a good one for Pakistan. |
| Adil Rashid is into the attack now. Two right-handers at the crease so Eoin Morgan has decided to bring on the leggie. |
| 22.1 : A Rashid to M Hafeez, Slightly shorter to begin with, Hafeez goes back and gently guides it through point for one. |
| 22.2 : A Rashid to B Azam, Hit hard but can't find the gap! Shorter and on off, Azam goes back and pushes it firmly but to covers. |
| 22.3 : A Rashid to B Azam, Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 22.4 : A Rashid to M Hafeez, Hafeez dances down the track but Rashid bangs it short. MH works it through mid-wicket and takes one. |
| 22.5 : A Rashid to B Azam, Azam now picks a single as he strokes it through covers. |
| 22.6 : A Rashid to M Hafeez, A dot to end a tight first over by Rashid. Hafeez is early into the flick, it goes off the leading edge but on the bounce to mid-wicket. |
| 23.1 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Good ball! Length ball outside off, Babar looks to cut but misses. |
| 23.2 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Full on off, Azam drives it but to the man at mid on. |
| 23.3 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Full outside off, Azam drives it to sweeper cover and gets one. |
| 23.4 : Ben Stokes to M Hafeez, Close again! A very full ball outside off, Hafeez looks to play at it but misses. There was a noise there but it was off the bat hitting the ground. |
| 23.5 : Ben Stokes to M Hafeez, Good length ball on the pads, Hafeez looks to flick but it goes off his thigh pad and they take a leg bye. |
| 23.6 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Length ball on off, Babar defends it to see off the over. Tidy over from Stokes. A run and a leg bye off this one. |
| 24.1 : A Rashid to M Hafeez, DROPPED! Out of all the people, Roy has dropped a sitter. Rashid bowls a beautifully tossed up ball on middle and leg. |
| 24.2 : A Rashid to B Azam, Floated on off, Azam blocks it off the front foot. |
| 24.3 : A Rashid to B Azam, WIDE! It is down the leg side, Buttler cannot hold onto it and the ball deflects away allowing them to take one. |
| A Rashid to M Hafeez, Floated on off, Hafeez drives it towards cover and takes one. |
| 24.4 : A Rashid to B Azam, On thepads, Babar flicks it away for a run. |
| 24.5 : A Rashid to M Hafeez, Short on off, Hafeez pulls it away to deep mid-wicket for one more. |
| 24.6 : A Rashid to B Azam, Outside off, Azam cuts it away towards pointand keeps the strike with a single. |
| The bowler pulls out right at the end. We think he missed his run-up. |
| 25.1 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Nicely worked. On the pads, it is worked away from the fielder at deep square leg and two taken. |
| 25.2 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Driven through the covers by the batsman. |
| 25.3 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Well fielded and then Roy throws it hard at the fielder next to him. Still frustrated about the dropped catch. Length and around off, Azam guides it towards point where Roy dives to his left and keeps it out. The umpire is not happy with how the ball was thrown so he has a word with the English skipper. |
| 25.4 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, A single now towards mid-wicket. The fielder was right at the edge of the circle. A well-judged run. |
| 25.5 : Ben Stokes to M Hafeez, Good running again! Hafeez drops it towards mid on and gets it to the other end. |
| 25.6 : Ben Stokes to B Azam, Edgy run! Length and outside off, Babar goes hard at it but it goes off the outside edge towards third man for one. |
| 26.1 : A Rashid to B Azam, FOUR! Up and over! Picks his spot well there. Sees the mid on is in the ring, uses his feet, Azam gets to the pitch of the ball and hits it over mid on for a boundary. |
| 26.2 : A Rashid to B Azam, SIX! 10 from the first two balls! The last two balls have forced Morgan to push mid on back. Uses his feet again, does not get to the pitch this time but still goes ahead with the shot. Manages to drag it over the long on fence. |
| 26.3 : A Rashid to B Azam, Sensible batting! Need not take a risk now so gently taps it to mid-wicket. |
| 26.4 : A Rashid to B Azam, Well bowled! Slows it up and lands it on leg stump, Azam closes the face of the bat early. It goes off the leading edge back to the bowler. A soft leading edge though. |
| 26.5 : A Rashid to B Azam, Another dot as Azam once again keeps it out. |
| 26.6 : A Rashid to B Azam, FOUR! 14 from the over! Azam moves onto 49. Poor delivery to follow up 4 good ones. Short and on middle, Azam goes back and hammers the pull over mid-wicket. |
| Jofra Archer is back into the attack. |
| 27.1 : J Archer to M Hafeez, Starts with a good length ball on off, Hafeez defends it and looks for a quick run but Babar turns him down. |
| 27.2 : J Archer to M Hafeez, Oh, just misses the outside edge. Full outside off, Hafeez looks to drive but gets beaten. |
| 27.3 : J Archer to M Hafeez, Slower ball on off, Hafeez does well to defend it. |
| 27.4 : J Archer to M Hafeez, WIDE! Bouncer bounces too high! It is over the head of Hafeez who ducks under it. Wide given by the umpire. |
| J Archer to M Hafeez, Good length ball outside off, Hafeez runs it down to third man for a single. |
| 27.5 : J Archer to B Azam, Fifty for Babar Azam. He has looked very good out in the middle and will look to turn this to a big one. He gets to his 13th ODI fifty by driving it wide of sweeper cover and gets a couple. |
| 27.6 : J Archer to B Azam, On the pads, Azam flicks it down the leg side and gets a single. Azam slips in his run but no damage done. |
| 28.1 : A Rashid to B Azam, This is eased down to long on for a single. |
| 28.2 : A Rashid to M Hafeez, nicely swept but good fielding keeps it down to one. On the leg side, Hafeez hits it towards deep backward square leg. Wood runs to his left and dives and saves three for his side. |
| 28.3 : A Rashid to B Azam, The googly on off, Azam strokes it to covers. |
| 28.4 : A Rashid to B Azam, Brilliant fielding! Azam creams it through covers. It seems to be a certain boundary. Bairstow runs to his right and then dives and saves two for his side. |
| 28.5 : A Rashid to B Azam, The googly on off, Azam looks to hit it through the off side again but it goes off the inner half and on the bounce to the keeper. |
| 28.6 : A Rashid to B Azam, Another single as this is eased through covers for one. |
| 29.1 : J Archer to B Azam, Nice ball. Good length ball outside off, it zips off the surface. Babar looks to play it on the off side but misses. |
| 0.0 : The ball slips out of Archer's hand as he was running in to bowl. He has to reload again. |
| 29.2 : J Archer to B Azam, Slower ball on a length, Babar pulls it away wide of deep mid-wicket and gets a couple. |
| 29.3 : J Archer to B Azam, Now a quick, sharp bouncer. It is around off, Babar looks to pull it but it comes very quickly onto him and he decides to leave it alone. |
| 29.4 : J Archer to B Azam, Back of a length ball on off, Azam punches it over point and gets a couple. |
| A direct hit at the non-striker's end. Is Azam short? Direct hits are always close. Big moment in the game! |
| 29.5 : J Archer to B Azam, NOT OUT! Safely in. Good length ball on the pads, Azam flicks it towards mid-wicket and takes off for a quick run. The fielder there gets to it quickly and scores a direct hit at the bowler's end. The umpire goes upstairs and the replays show Azam was in without any fuss. |
| 29.6 : J Archer to M Hafeez, On middle and leg, Hafeez flicks it to the on side and keeps the strike. |
| 30.1 : A Rashid to M Hafeez, Premiditated sweep there. Tossed up on off, Hafeez sweeps it towards fine leg and gets one. |
| 30.2 : A Rashid to B Azam, Tossed up on off, Azam milks it to long on and gets a single. |
| 30.3 : A Rashid to M Hafeez, SIX! Hafeez is making full use of the life he got. Jason Roy must be kicking himself for dropping him earlier. It is tossed up on off, Hafeez smokes it over the bowler's head for a biggie. |
| 30.4 : A Rashid to M Hafeez, FOUR! Hafeez has decided to go after Rashid. Adil over-corrects his length and ends up serving it short. Hafeez gets on his back foot and pulls it away over mid-wicket. There is no one in the deep, so zero risk and he gets a boundary. |
| 30.5 : A Rashid to M Hafeez, Slider outside off, Hafeez looks to cut but misses. |
| 30.6 : A Rashid to M Hafeez, Single to end the over. Floated on middle and off, Hafeez sweeps it away to square leg and keeps the strike. 13 from the over! |
| Mark Wood is back! |
| 31.1 : M Wood to M Hafeez, Bowls it slower and fuller in length. Hafeez strokes it through covers, he takes one and then goes for the second. Makes it in with a dive. The veteran was struggling there. His age was showing on the way he was running. |
| 31.2 : M Wood to M Hafeez, In the air but just wide! On the pads, Hafeez looks to flick but is a touch early into the shot. It goes uppishly but wide of mid-wicket for a run. |
| 31.3 : M Wood to B Azam, Azam lets the ball come to him and then plays it down to third man for one. |
| 31.4 : M Wood to M Hafeez, Very straight and this is clipped nicely to deep square leg for one. |
| 31.5 : M Wood to B Azam, The batsman has to hurry but no direct hit makes his life a little easy! On the pads, Azam looks to work but misses to get hit on the pads. A desperate appeal by England as the ball rolls towards mid-wicket. The umpire shakes his head. The batsmen go for a single. The fielder has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses. Leg bye signalled. Also, that was always going down leg. |
| 31.6 : M Wood to M Hafeez, A single to end the over as Hafeez guides it down to third man. |
| Drinks Break! Pakistan are going strength to strength here. Hafeez and Babar Azam are looking very good out in the middle. The two have added 85 runs off just 71 balls. Pakistan will be hoping that these two continue the good work for as long as possible. England need to not just put the brakes on the run flow, they also need a wicket or two desperately. |
| Moeen Ali is back! |
| 32.1 : M Ali to M Hafeez, Plays the sweep straightaway but it goes off the inner half towards deep square leg for. |
| 32.2 : M Ali to B Azam, Turn there for Ali. This is flatter and on off, it comes back in. Azam looks to work it on the leg side but it goes off the pads towards short fine leg. A leg bye taken. |
| 32.3 : M Ali to M Hafeez, A direct hit and the appeal has been taken upstairs. Hafeez looks calm though. NOT OUT! Hafeez is well in. He guides it down to short third man. He wants a run but is sent back in time. The fielder there hits the stumps at the keeper's end and an appeal.Replays show that the batsman is fine. |
| 32.4 : M Ali to M Hafeez, This is hit wide of short third man for one. |
| 32.5 : M Ali to B Azam, OUT! In the air... taken! Moeen Ali does the trick once again. His third in the game. Azam dances down the track and looks to hit it over long on. He miscues it towards the fielder there and Woakes makes no mistake. Azam fails to convert and England need to keep chipping away at the wickets if they are to stem the run flow. |
| Pakistan skipper, Sarfaraz Ahmed walks out at number 5. |
| 32.6 : M Ali to M Hafeez, Hafeez ends the over with a single as he works this through square leg. End of a successful over for the hosts. |
| 33.1 : M Wood to M Hafeez, Bouncer outside off, Hafeez sways away from it. One for the over signalled by the umpire. |
| 33.2 : M Wood to M Hafeez, Excellent ball this. Hits the deck hard outside off, Hafeez looks to poke it on the off side but gets beaten. |
| 33.3 : M Wood to M Hafeez, FOUR! Pulled and pulled hard! It is short on the body, Hafeez pulls it with power towards backward square leg. Bairstow from deep square leg runs to his right and puts in a dive to save the from the going to the fence but has no chance stopping that. |
| 33.4 : M Wood to M Hafeez, Direct hit but safe. Good length ball on off, Hafeez strokes it towards extra cover and takes a quick single. Jofra gets to the ball and scores a direct hit at the non-striker's end but he was in. |
| 33.5 : M Wood to S Ahmed, Good length ball on off, Sarfaraz taps it towards backward point and gets off the mark straightaway. |
| 33.6 : M Wood to M Hafeez, FOUR! Fifty for Hafeez. He was dropped by Roy earlier and has made most of it. Fuller on off, Hafeez drives it powerfully straight down the ground and the ball races away to the fence to bring up his 38th ODI fifty. |
| 34.1 : M Ali to S Ahmed, Sarfaraz comes down the track and whips it through mid-wicket for one. |
| 34.2 : M Ali to M Hafeez, Big, big mix-up and an easy chance of a run out goes abegging! Roy is the culprit again, not a good day in the field for him. We don't see that quite often. However, what is Ahmed doing there? This is pushed with soft hands towards mid on. Hafeez is sprinting towards the other end. Sarfaraz is ball watching and standing in his crease. Roy runs to his left and looks to pick the ball up but at the end, takes his eyes off it and it goes through to long on. Had he done so, H |
| 34.3 : M Ali to S Ahmed, This is worked through mid-wicket for one. |
| 34.4 : M Ali to M Hafeez, Worked to mid-wicket. A dot. |
| 34.5 : M Ali to M Hafeez, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 34.6 : M Ali to S Ahmed, FOUR! Spoils the over somewhat! Sarfaraz plays the sweep shot but it goes off the top edge and over short fine leg. Trickles to the fence. Pakistan continue to score at a good rate. |
| 35.1 : M Wood to M Hafeez, Slower ball outside off, Hafeez runs it down to third man and gets a run. |
| 35.2 : M Wood to S Ahmed, Full around off, Sarfaraz hits it to the man at mid on. |
| 35.3 : M Wood to S Ahmed, Good length ball on off, Sarfaraz defends it off the front foot. |
| 35.4 : M Wood to S Ahmed, Length ball outside off, Sarfaraz looks to cut but misses. Three dots in a row now for Sarfaraz, will he look to break the shackle here? |
| 35.5 : M Wood to S Ahmed, Oh, dear! England have not been upto the scratch here on the field. Sarfaraz does try to break the shackle but he does not time his pull well. The ball goes towards deep square leg where James Vince comes running to stop the ball. He though, misfields there which allows them to come back for the second. We don't usually see this from this English side. |
| 35.6 : M Wood to S Ahmed, WIDE! Misses his line here, does Wood. He bowls it down the leg side, SA looks to flick but misses. Wide signalled. |
| M Wood to S Ahmed, Good length ball on off, Sarfaraz defends it with soft hands towards cover and takes one to keep the strike. |
| 36.1 : M Ali to S Ahmed, Dances down the track but does not get to the pitch of it. He works it through mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep misfields but the other fielder is backing up and hence, only a run. |
| 36.2 : M Ali to M Hafeez, Floats it up on off, this is pushed towards cover for one. |
| 36.3 : M Ali to S Ahmed, Flighted ball and outside off, Sarfaraz looks to play inside the line but gets beaten. |
| 36.4 : M Ali to S Ahmed, Another dot! Shortish and outside off, Sarfaraz guides it to short third man. |
| 36.5 : M Ali to S Ahmed, Just a single now as Ahmed pulls this one to deep mid-wicket. |
| 36.6 : M Ali to M Hafeez, Confusion again between the two! This time Hafeez is not looking at his partner. He goes for the sweep to this ball outside off. Misses, it hits his pads and rolls towards the off side. SA wants a run but then seeing Hafeez not interested, turns back. A good over to end Moeen's spell. His figures 10-0-50-3. Good day for him with the ball. |
| Chris Woakes comes back on, replacing Mark Wood. |
| 37.1 : C Woakes to S Ahmed, FOUR! That should get Sarfaraz going! Picks his spot well there but a hit-me ball first up by Woakes. It is short and on middle, Sarfaraz goes back and pulls it over mid-wicket. Ideal way to start the over. |
| 37.2 : C Woakes to S Ahmed, 'AHHHH' shouts Sarfaraz in disgust. Short and outside off, he looks to guide it down to third man but misses. |
| 37.3 : C Woakes to S Ahmed, Walks across and works this down to fine leg for one. |
| 37.4 : C Woakes to M Hafeez, Well-fielded by Roy this time! Short and outside off, Hafeez guides it towards point where Roy saves a run by diving to his left. |
| 37.5 : C Woakes to M Hafeez, Nicely played but not fine enough to fetch a boundary. Paddles it but since it is a slower one, there is not a lot of power in the shot. It goes down fine leg for one. |
| 37.6 : C Woakes to S Ahmed, Wide! Too short and Sarfaraz looks to pull but the bails out. Wided. |
| C Woakes to S Ahmed, Good fielding again, this time by Bairstow. Sarfaraz hits it nicely towards mid-wicket. Jonny makes good ground to his left, dives and pushes the ball back in. Saves two for his side. |
| Ben Stokes is back! |
| 38.1 : Ben Stokes to M Hafeez, FOUR! Not the start to the new spell Stokes would have wanted. Slower ball full on off, Hafeez drives it past diving Moeen at cover and the ball goes past him for a boundary. |
| 38.2 : Ben Stokes to M Hafeez, This time drives it wide of deep cover and gets a couple. |
| 38.3 : Ben Stokes to M Hafeez, On the pads, Hafeez flicks it to square leg for a single. |
| 38.4 : Ben Stokes to S Ahmed, Full on middle and off, Sarfaraz on drives it to the man at mid on. |
| 38.5 : Ben Stokes to S Ahmed, Slower ball yorker. It is a perfect yorker on middle and off, Sarfaraz does well to get his bat down in time. |
| 38.6 : Ben Stokes to S Ahmed, Good length ball on off, Sarfaraz pulls it to deep mid-wicket and keeps the strike as he gets a run. |
| 39.1 : C Woakes to S Ahmed, Good length ball on leg, Sarfaraz was mobving away and he manages to hit it towards mid on and take a run. The fielder there has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. |
| 39.2 : C Woakes to M Hafeez, Slower ball on off, Hafeez defends it with soft hands and gets one. |
| 39.3 : C Woakes to S Ahmed, Once again Sarfaraz makes room and pulls it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 39.4 : C Woakes to M Hafeez, Back of a length ball on off, Hafeez taps it down to third man and rotates the strike. |
| 39.5 : C Woakes to S Ahmed, FOUR! Short ball on middle and leg, Sarfaraz backs away and pulls it over wide mid on and gets a boundary. That also brings up the 50-run stand between the two. |
| 39.6 : C Woakes to S Ahmed, Yorker outside off, Sarfaraz plays it towards cover and keeps the strike with one. |
| Powerplay 3 has been signaled! Now 5 fielders can be placed outside the ring till the end of the innings. |
| 40.1 : Ben Stokes to S Ahmed, Full on off, Sarfaraz plays it to the man at mid on. |
| 40.2 : Ben Stokes to S Ahmed, FOUR! Slower one gone wrong. It is full on off, in Sarfaraz' zone and he smashes it over mid on for a boundary. |
| 40.3 : Ben Stokes to S Ahmed, Better this. Gets it in the blockhole, Sarfaraz gets his bat down in time and gets a run by jamming it out to the off side. |
| 40.4 : Ben Stokes to M Hafeez, FOUR! Another bad ball from Stokes. It is on a back of a length, Hafeez pulls it hard over square leg for a boundary. |
| 40.5 : Ben Stokes to M Hafeez, On the pads, Hafeez flicks it towards square leg and gets a brace. |
| 40.6 : Ben Stokes to M Hafeez, Two to finish the over. It is full on off, Hafeez drives it towards cover and gets a couple. 13 off this over. |
| Jofra Archer is back! |
| 41.1 : J Archer to S Ahmed, Good start by Archer. A yorker and Sarfaraz jams it out to the bowler. |
| 41.2 : J Archer to S Ahmed, Another low full toss, difficult to hit that, Ahmed strokes it down to long on for one. |
| 41.3 : J Archer to M Hafeez, FOUR! Effortless! Slower ball on off, Hafeez just lofts it over covers and gets a boundary. Moves to 76 with that. |
| 41.4 : J Archer to M Hafeez, Bouncer from Jofra. It is a typical fast bowler's response. Hafeez ducks under it. |
| 41.5 : J Archer to M Hafeez, Short again, this time outside off. Hafeez looks to hit it over point but misses. |
| 41.6 : J Archer to M Hafeez, Back of a length ball on the body, Hafeez pulls it to deep square leg and gets one. Good over from Jofra. Just 6 off it. |
| Mark Wood is back into the attack! |
| 42.1 : M Wood to M Hafeez, SIX! Short side and it goes all the way! Poor delivery to begin with and a brilliant start to the 42nd for Pakistan. On the pads, easy pickings for Hafeez. He flicks it and it clears the fence with ease. |
| 42.2 : M Wood to M Hafeez, Full and outside off, Hafeez lofts it over covers It goes on the bounce to the fielder in the deep. A single. |
| 42.3 : M Wood to S Ahmed, Slower one and on off, Sarfaraz guides it towards point and takes one. |
| 42.4 : M Wood to M Hafeez, OUT! Woakes takes another excellent catch! A hat-trick of catches for the pacer. Hafeez misses out on a ton by 16 runs. Wood gets a vital breakthrough for England. It is full and on off, Hafeez nonchalantly lofts it wide of long off. Woakes runs to his left and takes it with a dive. End of a brilliant knock by Hafeez. He has set the platform for the big hitters coming in. A crucial part of the game though coming ahead. Will Pakistan capitalize or will England fight back |
| The new man in is Asif Ali. |
| 42.5 : M Wood to S Ahmed, A huge shout but not given! England have no reviews but would not have mattered as I feel there was bat involved. Full and down the leg side. Sarfaraz looks to flick but gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 42.6 : M Wood to S Ahmed, Play and a miss! Short and outside off, Sarfaraz looks to upper cut it but misses. So a wonderful comeback by Wood after going for a biggie on the first ball. 8 runs an important wicket. |
| 43.1 : J Archer to A Ali, Direct hit and Sarfaraz was a goner! Ali works it through mid-wicket and they take one. They go for a second which was not on. Bairstow picks the ball up and fires it to the bowler's end. Archer lets it hit the stumps but the ball misses. |
| 43.2 : J Archer to A Ali, WIDE! Goes short does Archer but it is too short. Wided. |
| J Archer to A Ali, Slower one and it is outside off, Ali throws the kitchen sink at it but only manages an outside edge down to third man for one. |
| 43.3 : J Archer to S Ahmed, Nicely played! Stays leg side of the delivery and guides it wide of third man for a couple. |
| 43.4 : J Archer to S Ahmed, Well bowled! A yorker on the leg pole. Not a lot you can do with that. Sarfaraz hits it towards mid off for one. |
| 43.5 : J Archer to A Ali, SIX! Asif means business here! What an outrageous shot that is! Shows the power this guy has! Short and it is the slower one. Asif adjusts and slaps it over the cover fence. It goes all the way. |
| 43.6 : J Archer to A Ali, A dot to end but a good over for Pakistan! Short and this one is quick. Asif evades it. 13 runs conceded by Archer in this over. |
| 44.1 : M Wood to S Ahmed, In the air...but just short. Back of a length ball outside off, Sarfaraz makes room and looks to hit it over mid off. It hits the upper half of his bat. Woakes at mid off dives in front but even he cannot get there |
| 44.2 : M Wood to A Ali, Slower ball outside off, Asif throws his bat at it but misses. |
| 44.3 : M Wood to A Ali, Another misfield. England have been poor in the field. Good length ball on off, Ali lofts it over mid off. Woakes comes running in from long off but he misfields it allowing them to take one. |
| 44.4 : M Wood to A Ali, Play and a miss. Good length ball outside off, Ali looks to hit it but misses. |
| 44.5 : M Wood to A Ali, Good effort from Stokes in the deep. Short ball on off, Ali pulls it wide of deep square leg. Stokes makes the ground and saves it from going to the fence with a dive. He saves two runs for his side. |
| 44.6 : M Wood to A Ali, Good length ball on the fifth stump line, Sarfaraz moves away from it and then leaves it alone. Not wided by the umpire though. |
| 45.1 : J Archer to S Ahmed, Good length ball on the body, Sarfaraz makes room and hits it towards long on for one. |
| 45.2 : J Archer to A Ali, A very full ball on middle. Almost a yorker, Ali flicks it away to the on side and gets a single. |
| 45.3 : J Archer to S Ahmed, In the air...but safe. Short ball on the body, Sarfaraz pulls it but gets no timing on it. He is lucky that it falls in no man's land. The fielder from the deep comes running in and they get two. 300 comes up for Pakistan with it. |
| 45.4 : J Archer to S Ahmed, Safe again. One again Jofra hits the deck hard on a length, Sarfaraz pulls it but gets no timing on it. The ball lands in no man's land and once again gets two. |
| 45.5 : J Archer to S Ahmed, FOUR! What a shot! Full on off, Sarfaraz clears his front leg and whacks it over mid on for a boundary. |
| 45.6 : J Archer to S Ahmed, FOUR OVERTHROWS! Just needless, absolutely needless form England. The pressure is telling on them. Sarfaraz first makes room and cuts it hard to point. He wants a run but Asif is not interested. Ahmed is halfway down the wicket. Root picks the ball up and goes for a shy at the batter's end despite no one backing up. He misses and it goes to the mid-wicket fence. Archer is not happy at all. Sums up England's day in the field today. Sarfaraz gets to a half ton. A captain |
| 46.1 : M Wood to A Ali, OUT! Asif Ali holes out. Good length ball outside off, Asif Ali throws his bat at it. He connects but it is too close to the fielder at sweeper cover. Jonny Bairstow stationed there moves to his left and takes a very well judged catch over his head. He looks at the crowd and does the fist pump. Asif Ali walks back disappointed. Shoaib Malik replaces him out in the middle. |
| 46.2 : M Wood to S Malik, Malik is off the mark. It is full on the pads, Malik turns it down to fine leg and gets a single. |
| 46.3 : M Wood to S Ahmed, Good length ball outside off, Sarfaraz taps it down to backward point and gets a run. |
| 46.4 : M Wood to S Malik, Good length ball outside off, Malik runs it down to third man for a run. |
| 46.5 : M Wood to S Ahmed, Fuller on middle and leg, Sarfaraz lofts it over mid on towards long on for a single. |
| 46.6 : M Wood to S Malik, On the pads, Malik flicks it wide of deep square leg and gets a couple. Excellent over at this stage from Wood. Just 6 runs and a wicket off this one. Wood finishes with figures of 10-0-53-2! |
| Chris Woakes is back for another burst. |
| 47.1 : C Woakes to S Ahmed, Brilliant running this. Woakes bowls it full on off, Sarfaraz hits it towards long on. Malik runs the first one hard and calls for the second. He is quick and fit so he gets it easily. |
| 47.2 : C Woakes to S Ahmed, OUT! Slower ball does the trick here. It is on a back of a length, Sarfaraz looks to hit it but then tries to pull out from the shot. He is too late in doing so and ends up lobbing it up to the side of the pitch. Woakes does not want to take any risk and runs after it towards point to take it by himself. He gets there and takes a good catch. Fourth catch for him in this game and his first wicket. End of a very good knock from the skipper, he though will be disappointed |
| Wahab Riaz is the new man in! |
| 47.3 : C Woakes to S Malik, WIDE! Misses his line and bowls it down the leg side. Malik looks to flick but misses. |
| C Woakes to S Malik, On middle and leg, Malik flicks it to mid-wicket and gets a single. |
| 47.4 : C Woakes to W Riaz, FOUR! On the pads, Riaz just glances it down the leg side and the ball races away fine down the fine leg region for a boundary. |
| 47.5 : C Woakes to W Riaz, OUT! Second wicket for Woakes in the over. Good length ball around off, Riaz throws the kitchen sink at it but ends up hitting it off the upper half of his bat. The ball lobs up towards point. Joe Root there takes an easy catch. |
| Hasan Ali walks out to bat! |
| 47.6 : C Woakes to S Malik, On the pads, Malik flicks it down the leg side and gets a couple. Two wickets and 10 runs from the over, an eventful one! |
| Jofra Archer is back! |
| 48.1 : J Archer to H Ali, Hasan dives to get in! Good running. This is pushed towards mid on with soft hands. Malik rushes back for the second and Hasan has to go for it. The throw is to the keeper but Hasan is in. |
| 48.2 : J Archer to H Ali, A yorker and on middle, Hasan cleverly jams it out to mid off for one. |
| 48.3 : J Archer to S Malik, Good slower ball and outside off, Malik looks to cut but is beaten by the extra bounce. Dot, gold dust at this stage. |
| 48.4 : J Archer to S Malik, Another slower one and it is outside off, Malik guides it past point. There is a man in the deep so just a single. |
| 48.5 : J Archer to H Ali, Swing and a miss! Another dot! Short and outside off, Ali looks to drag his pull but misses. This is a top over so far. Needs to end it well. |
| 48.6 : J Archer to H Ali, SIX! That has been thumped! Once again the last ball spoils the over. Another slower one and on off, Hasan clears his front leg, waits for it and then tonks it into the long off stand. End of Archer for today and it is not a day for him to remember. He has gone for 79 in his 10 and not even taken a wicket. 13 needed from the last over to get to 350. |
| 49.1 : C Woakes to S Malik, OUT! Woakes gets his third of the game and he is having a good day where other pacers have had a rough outing. Good length ball on off, Shoaib looks to hit it over mid off but gets a top edge which goes up in the air towards cover. Eoin Morgan there runs to it and he has one of the safest hands in the world. He won't drop those and he does not. |
| Shadab Khan walks out to the middle. |
| 49.2 : C Woakes to H Ali, Ouch! Bouncer on middle and leg, Ali looks to pull but gets an edge which then hits him on his helmet. The ball goes down towards the third man region for a single. |
| 49.3 : C Woakes to S Khan, FOUR! Off the edge but Pakistan won't mind how they come. Back of a length ball on off, Shadab looks to pull but gets a top edge which flies past the keeper and to the fine leg fence for a boundary. |
| 49.4 : C Woakes to S Khan, Poor from England in the field once again. Fuller ball on middle and off, Khan hits it towards long on and takes one. The fielder there throws it at the bowler's end. Woakes does not gather it allowing them to take the second. |
| 49.5 : C Woakes to S Khan, Fuller on off, Khan taps it back to the bowler. |
| 49.6 : C Woakes to S Khan, FOUR! Excellent way to finish the innings. It is on a good length area on middle, Shadab whacks it wide of long on. Morgan there dives to his left but cannot stop it. PAKISTAN FINISH WITH 348/8 OFF THEIR 50 OVERS. |
| This is Pakistan for you - Unpredictable. They got bundled out for 100 odd in their first match and today they have posted their second-best total in a World Cup match. A target of 349 will test England's mighty batting line-up and if they manage to overhaul it, it will be the highest run chase in the mega event. |
| Put to bat, everyone expected the likes of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood to bounce out the Pakistan batsmen. But that didn't happen. Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq were not only watchful but they scored runs at a good rate as well. Every batsman came to the party and Mohammad Hafeez was the one who impressed the most after getting a life on 14. Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed also were brilliant and Pakistan always looked on track for a total around 350. |
| England's bowling wasn't up to the mark. There wasn't much support from the surface but they were also not consistent with their lines and lengths. Moeen Ali was the standout performer after claiming the top three wickets while Chris Woakes bowled well at the death to take his tally to three wickets as well. Not to forget his four extraordinary catches in the field. Apart from that, the hosts were below par with their ground fielding and leaked plenty of runs. Having said all that, they snapped |
| Ramiz Raja is down with Mohammad Hafeez for a quick chat. 'Professor' says that self-belief was the key as they know they can handle any situation. Tells that the previous game was an off day for them. Reckons the pitch is holding a bit and there is a little turn on offer too. Feels that there is something for the seamers as well and the total they have got is a very good one. Ends by saying he wanted to play according to the situation and it worked well for him as he kept going after the bowler |
| Right then, England pride themselves on being the best chasing team. Now they have their task cut out to chase down this big total. It's time to prove that tag. They possess an in-form batting line-up and we can expect a riveting chase. Don't go too far away as England's reply will get underway shortly. |
| 0.0 : We are back for the chase! The Pakistan players are out in the field taking their respective positions. Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy stride out to the middle to open the innings for England. Pakistan start with a surprise as Shadab Khan takes the first new ball. Maybe they have taken a leaf out of South Africa's page here. Let's see whether he can provide the breakthrough like Imran Tahir did in the opener. |
| 0.1 : S Khan to J Roy, Excitement straightaway. It was tossed up on middle and leg, Roy defends it with hard hands as the ball lobs towards mid-wicket. |
| 0.2 : S Khan to J Roy, FOUR! The chase is up and running and that too in a fashionable way. Short and wide outside off, Roy smashes it through covers for a boundary. |
| 0.3 : S Khan to J Roy, FOUR! Now on the leg side! Short on middle and off, Roy whacks his pull through mid-wicket for a boundary. 3000 ODI runs for Jason! |
| 0.4 : S Khan to J Roy, Short on off, Roy blocks it off the back foot. |
| 0.5 : S Khan to J Roy, Outside off and once again the length is short, Roy punches it to the man at cover. |
| 0.6 : S Khan to J Roy, Appeal for an LBW but turned down by the umpire. Tossed up outside off, Roy looks to defend but misses and the ball hits him on the pads. Shadab and Sarfaraz go up in appeal but the umpire is unmoved. Impact well outside off. Shadab cannot provide the breakthrough like Tahir did in the first over. |
| Mohammad Amir to bowl from the other end with the second new ball. |
| 1.1 : M Amir to J Bairstow, Beauty! An absolute beauty by Amir to begin with. Bairstow survives another first-baller by a whisker. Full and outside off, this comes back in a long way. Bairstow ends up playing outside the line and gets beaten on the inside edge. |
| 1.2 : M Amir to J Bairstow, This time he waits for the ball to swing back in and then works it to mid-wicket. |
| 1.3 : M Amir to J Bairstow, Back of a length on off, no swing this time maybe as the length is shorter. JB pushes it to covers. |
| 1.4 : M Amir to J Bairstow, Well bowled! Gets this one to angle away from off. Jonny wants to have a look so he makes a leave. |
| Amir pulls up just at the end. Not sure about the reason! |
| 1.5 : M Amir to J Bairstow, Lands it on a length again and on off, JB stands tall and pushes it to covers. 5 dots, can he start with a maiden? |
| 1.6 : M Amir to J Bairstow, FOUR! No, he can't! Heart in the mouth moment for Bairstow though. That was in the air for a while. Full and width on offer. JB throws his hands at it. It goes uppishly and past cover for a boundary. Bairstow gets off the mark in this World Cup and in style. Good over though by Amir. |
| Jason Roy is given out lbw! He has a long chat with his partner and then goes for the referral. Looks dead in front, let's see... |
| 2.1 : S Khan to J Roy, OUT! Roy is a dead duck! England lose their review in the 3rd over itself. Once again, early leg spin is the undoing of an England opener in this World Cup. The Pakistan players are ecstatic as they have got the dangerous Roy. He premeditates the sweep shot but he picks the wrong ball. This is too full around off. Roy misses and is hit on the pads. An appeal, a loud one and the umpire raises his finger. After a long chat with his partner, Roy reviews. Time for the replays a |
| 0.0 : Joe Root is the number 3 batsman. |
| 2.2 : S Khan to Joe Root, Shortish and outside off, this is cut to point. |
| 2.3 : S Khan to Joe Root, Flatter and on middle, this is worked through mid-wicket for one. |
| 2.4 : S Khan to J Bairstow, Flighted ball on off, JB lunges and keeps it out. |
| 2.5 : S Khan to J Bairstow, A googly this time, Bairstow works it through square leg and takes one. All of a sudden, Shadab has started to find his length here. |
| 2.6 : S Khan to Joe Root, FOUR! Misses his length this time and bowls it short and also offers width. Root goes back and guides it down to third man for a boundary. A four to end but a successful over for Pakistan. |
| 3.1 : M Amir to J Bairstow, Slips this one down the leg side and it has been wided. |
| M Amir to J Bairstow, On the off pole and just behind a driving length. Bairstow hits it to mid off. We haven't seen any swing after the first ball. |
| 3.2 : M Amir to J Bairstow, Slower one but a little too straight, this is flicked towards fine leg and two taken as it is the longer part of the ground. |
| 3.3 : M Amir to J Bairstow, Goes back to bowling pace, length and on off, it is pushed to mid off. |
| 3.4 : M Amir to J Bairstow, Well bowled! Clever bowling actually! It is the slower one on off, Bairstow looks to defend but it goes off the inner half towards the leg side. A quick single. |
| 3.5 : M Amir to Joe Root, A dot! Back of a length and this one is angling across the batter. Root pushes it to covers. |
| 3.6 : M Amir to Joe Root, Almost drags it on! Poor shot by Root. This is just outside off, he looks to run it down but gets an inside edge and on the bounce to the keeper. Another dot to end a very good over by Amir. |
| 4.1 : S Khan to J Bairstow, The leg spinner outside off, Jonny lets it be. |
| 4.2 : S Khan to J Bairstow, Beauty of a delivery! Nicely drifting in around off and spinning away after landing to beat Bairstow's forward defensive prod. Jonny nicked a similar delivery in the first match to get out. |
| 4.3 : S Khan to J Bairstow, Tossed up ball on off, Bairstow defends it close to his front pad. |
| 4.4 : S Khan to J Bairstow, SIX! This has been hammered over the bowler's head. A flighted delivery around off, this time Bairstow decides to attack it and powers it down the ground for a biggie. Lovely connection. A bit too full there by the leggie, not allowing the ball to spin. |
| Some issue with the ball. The two umpires get together and have called for a replacement. |
| 4.5 : S Khan to J Bairstow, A flatter leg spinner on off, Jonny goes back and punches it down towards wide mid on. |
| 4.6 : S Khan to J Bairstow, Quicker leg spinner outside off at 91 kph, Bairstow takes his front leg forward to cover his stumps and then shoulders arms. |
| 5.1 : M Amir to Joe Root, A good bouncer! Root plays it well in the end. It is right on the body of the batsman who ducks it in time. |
| 5.2 : M Amir to Joe Root, FOUR! Inside edge and past the off pole! Back of a length on off, it is the slower one. Root looks to push it through the off side but gets an inside edge down towards fine leg. Hasan there runs to his right, slides and pushes the ball back in. The umpire has gone upstairs to check and the replays show that the fielder has touched the ropes. Four signaled. |
| 5.3 : M Amir to Joe Root, DROPPED! That should have been taken. Azam is the culprit. Root has a life. This could cost Pakistan. Outside off. Root goes hard at it but the ball takes the outside edge and flies in between widish first slip and the keeper. Babar Azam dives to his left but fails to hang on. A single taken. |
| 5.4 : M Amir to J Bairstow, Pulled hard but just for a single as there is a man in the deep at square leg. |
| Amir steams in but pulls out at the last moment. |
| 5.5 : M Amir to Joe Root, Good push! Back of a length on off, Root stands tall and punches it towards covers for a run. |
| 5.6 : M Amir to J Bairstow, Slower ball and this is worked through mid-wicket. They run the first one hard and then go for the second. Complete it with ease. 9 from the over. |
| Wahab Riaz is on now! |
| 6.1 : W Riaz to Joe Root, Back of a length delivery to begin with. Root defends it onto the ground. |
| 6.2 : W Riaz to Joe Root, Good run there! Root strokes it to cover-point, who is at the edge of the circle, and gets to the other end. |
| 6.3 : W Riaz to J Bairstow, Leading edge! This is angled away from off, Bairstow looks to work it against the angle but it takes a soft leading edge to mid off. |
| 6.4 : W Riaz to J Bairstow, FOUR! Poor ball and put away! Short and down the leg side, easy pickings with fine leg up. Bairstow whips it down past the in-ring fielder. |
| 6.5 : W Riaz to J Bairstow, FOUR! Another boundary! This is a fortunate one. Wide outside off, JB throws his bat at it away from the body. It goes off the inside edge past the off pole and to the fence at fine leg again. |
| 6.6 : W Riaz to J Bairstow, A dot to end an expensive first over by Wahab. On a good length on off, it is kept out. 9 coming from it! |
| 7.1 : M Amir to Joe Root, Good length and on off, Root looks to drive but it goes off the inner half towards the bowler. |
| 7.2 : M Amir to Joe Root, FOUR! Lovely placement that! It was the slower one and Root waited for it. He then opens the face at the very end and strokes it through cover-point. 50 up for England, it has come up in quick time. |
| 7.3 : M Amir to Joe Root, Good running now! Works this wide of mid-wicket and takes two. |
| 7.4 : M Amir to Joe Root, Another run! This is guided towards point and Root takes a quick run. More than the boundaries, these quick singles will hurt Pakistan. |
| 7.5 : M Amir to J Bairstow, Length and outside off, JB guides it late down to third man and a run is taken. |
| 7.6 : M Amir to Joe Root, On the stumps and Root defends it to covers. |
| 8.1 : W Riaz to J Bairstow, Good fielding! That was the longer part of the ground and hence, did not go to the boundary. Shortish and on middle, Bairstow pulls it through mid-wicket. Imam runs to his left, dives and saves two. |
| 8.2 : W Riaz to J Bairstow, Back of a length and on middle, Jonny looks to pull but misses to get hit high on the thigh pad. Wahab is appealing but he is the only one doing so. |
| 8.3 : W Riaz to J Bairstow, FOUR! Up and over! Too wide and too full by Wahab. Bairstow says thank you so much as he lofts it square on the off side for a boundary. |
| 8.4 : W Riaz to J Bairstow, Good reply! Bends his back on this one and lands it outside off, Bairstow looks to put bat on ball but is beaten by the extra bounce. |
| 8.5 : W Riaz to J Bairstow, Full and on off, JB strokes it to mid off. |
| 8.6 : W Riaz to J Bairstow, OUT! The ball takes the shoulder of the bat and Jonny Bairstow is a goner! Wahab is pumped up. Once again the extra bounce gets the better of Bairstow. It is a back of a length delivery and it is angling away from off. JB looks to guide it down to third man but the ball kisses the upper half of his blade due to the extra bounce and goes into the mitts of the keeper. Timely wicket for the visitors as this partnership was looking dangerous. Pakistan easily on top at the |
| Skipper Eoin Morgan walks in next with England needing 289 runs off 41 overs. |
| 9.1 : M Amir to Joe Root, Once again the extra bounce causes the problem! Shortish and outside off, Root looks to cut but the ball goes over the bat. |
| 9.2 : M Amir to Joe Root, Misfield and a run! Back of a length on off, this is pushed towards cover-point. The fielder does not stop it cleanly and a run is taken. |
| 9.3 : M Amir to E Morgan, Welcomes Morgan with a slower one on off, Morgan pushes it firmly but finds mid off. |
| 9.4 : M Amir to E Morgan, Another length delivery and on off, Morgan defends it out. |
| 9.5 : M Amir to E Morgan, Another dot! Good fielding this time. Full and on middle, Morgan strokes it to mid on where the fielder moves to his right and stops it. |
| 9.6 : M Amir to E Morgan, A single to end Powerplay 1! Continues bowling it on a length and around off. Morgan looks to hit it through the off side but it goes off the inside edge towards square leg for one. Just two from the 10th. Pakistan at the top after it. England are 60 for 1. They need another 287 in 240. |
| Powerplay 2 begins. Pakistan can now have a maximum of 4 fielders outside the ring till the 40th over. |
| 10.1 : W Riaz to E Morgan, Good length ball on off, angling in, Morgan sticks on the back foot and blocks it to the off side. It rolls in the gap and they cross. |
| 10.2 : W Riaz to Joe Root, Back of a length delivery outside off, angling away, Root stands back and knocks it behind square on the off side for a single. |
| 10.3 : W Riaz to E Morgan, Wahab steams in with a forward short leg in place. He digs in a short ball but the line is wide outside off. Easily left. |
| 10.4 : W Riaz to E Morgan, Angles in a full ball on middle, Morgan leans forward and defends it watchfully to the off side. |
| 10.5 : W Riaz to E Morgan, Sharp single! Fractionally short and on off, Morgan moves back and taps it down towards covers. They cross and Riaz attacks the ball to his right. He slides but fumbles while picking up the ball. Good effort, giving it his all! |
| 10.6 : W Riaz to Joe Root, Edgy! Root tries forcing it through the line but it flies off the outside half and runs behind backward point. The third man fielder cuts it off and they cross for a run. |
| Hasan Ali is on! |
| 11.1 : H Ali to Joe Root, Outside off, this is guided down to third man for one. |
| 11.2 : H Ali to E Morgan, Back of a length on middle, Morgan pushes it to mid on. |
| 11.3 : H Ali to E Morgan, Another one bowled on the leg pole, Morgan hits it uppishly but the ball falls well short of mid on. |
| 11.4 : H Ali to E Morgan, Shorter and on off, Morgan pushes it through covers for one. |
| 11.5 : H Ali to Joe Root, Another single as Root works it with the angle through mid-wicket. |
| 11.6 : H Ali to E Morgan, FOUR! Top edge and boundary! Fortune favors the brave and it does Morgan here. Short and angling away. Morgan looks to pull but the ball takes the top edge and goes to the third man fence. Ends the over with a boundary. |
| Mohammad Hafeez is introduced into the attack. There is a halt in play at the moment as some foreign object has gone into Root's left eye. The physio is called now. |
| 12.1 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Flighted ball on off, Root pushes it back towards the bowler. |
| 12.2 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, FOUR! Short and put away! It is on the leg side, Root goes back and pulls it through square leg for a boundary. Sarfaraz is not happy and rightly so, that was a poor line. |
| 12.3 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Now works it through mid-wicket. The fielder in the ring moved to his left initially but it went past his right. A single. |
| 12.4 : M Hafeez to E Morgan, Tosses it up on middle, Morgan works it to mid-wicket. |
| 12.5 : M Hafeez to E Morgan, An easy single now as he eases it down to long off. |
| 12.6 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Once again works it through mid-wicket with the turn. Takes a single. |
| 13.1 : H Ali to Joe Root, Angled into the batsman, Root pushes it to mid on. |
| 13.2 : H Ali to Joe Root, Another dot as this is guided to point. The fielder hits the stumps at the bowler's end but the batter is well in. |
| 13.3 : H Ali to Joe Root, FOUR! Short and wide and Root pounces on it. He rocks back and cuts it through point for a boundary. |
| 13.4 : H Ali to Joe Root, Goes back to bowling length and on off, it is kept out. |
| 13.5 : H Ali to Joe Root, Well bowled! Full and tailing back in. Root works it to mid-wicket. |
| 13.6 : H Ali to Joe Root, A single to end the over! Just 5 from it despite the boundary. A full toss on the pads, Root works it through square leg and takes one. |
| Drinks break. With two wickets in the bag, Pakistan will be relatively pleased with their efforts so far although they cannot afford to relax as England bat very deep. Morgan and Root are doing well to build a platform for this run chase and the hosts will be hopeful that this pair does the bulk of the scoring. The middle phase is going to be very crucial. 264 needed more. |
| 14.1 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Root nicely hits it down to long on and takes one. |
| 14.2 : M Hafeez to E Morgan, Slower through the air on off, Morgan pushes it to covers. |
| 14.3 : M Hafeez to E Morgan, Shorter and on off, Morgan cuts it to point. |
| 14.4 : M Hafeez to E Morgan, Three dots in a row! Morgan pushes it to mid-wicket. |
| 14.5 : M Hafeez to E Morgan, OUT! BOWLED 'EM! Hafeez is the man for Pakistan today. Did it with the bat and now doing it with the ball. He gets the England skipper. Morgan's ploy of playing Hafeez on the back foot proves to be his undoing. Hafeez bowls this quicker and it is on middle, Morgan probably could have played that on the front foot but instead goes back. The ball straightens and even before Morgan could get his bat down, the ball sneaks through and hits the stumps. England slip further |
| Ben Stokes is the new batsman. |
| 14.6 : M Hafeez to Ben Stokes, Flatter and on off, this is shorter so Stokes can go back and push it to covers. |
| 15.1 : H Ali to Joe Root, Outside off, Root guides it down to third man for one. |
| 15.2 : H Ali to Ben Stokes, On the pads, Stokes works it through square leg for a couple. He is off the mark. |
| 15.3 : H Ali to Ben Stokes, Back of a length on off, Stokes keeps it out. |
| 15.4 : H Ali to Ben Stokes, Goes around the wicket and angles it on off, Stokes guides it down to third man for a single. |
| 15.5 : H Ali to Joe Root, Good bumper outside off, Root evades it. |
| 15.6 : H Ali to Joe Root, This time he takes on the challenge of pulling but only for a run through square leg. |
| 16.1 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Waits the ball to do its bit and then works it through square leg for one. |
| 16.2 : M Hafeez to Ben Stokes, This is fired on the stumps, Stokes pushes it down to long on for one. |
| 16.3 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Slower through the air on off, Root guides it to short third man. |
| 16.4 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Fuller and Root leans into the stroke and eases it down to long on for one. |
| 16.5 : M Hafeez to Ben Stokes, Another single as Stokes strokes it down to long off. |
| 16.6 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, A single to end another good over by Hafeez. Root leans into it and strokes it down to long on. |
| 17.1 : H Ali to Joe Root, Wide called for height! Hassan goes for a bouncer first up but it's well over the head of the batsman. |
| H Ali to Joe Root, FOUR! No stopping this one! Plenty of width on offer outside off, it's short and wide outside off, Root loves it there and has no qualms in slapping it behind point for a boundary. 100 up for England. |
| 17.2 : H Ali to Joe Root, Shout for an lbw! The umpire stays still. Sarfaraz has a chat with his bowler but then decides not to take the referral. A brilliant delivery by Hassan. Spears in a full ball on middle and leg, angling down, Root leans across to flick but misses and is hit on the pads. The appeal follows but umpire Erasmus doesn't agree. The Ultra Edge later on detects a tiny inside edge. Good decision. |
| 17.3 : H Ali to Joe Root, Once again angling down the leg side, fuller in length, Root clips it through square leg for a couple of runs. |
| 17.4 : H Ali to Joe Root, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 17.5 : H Ali to Joe Root, Back of a length delivery outside off, Root stays on the back foot and steers it behind point for a single. |
| 17.6 : H Ali to Ben Stokes, FOUR! Pure timing from the bat of Stokes. Hassan switches to 'round the wicket for the southpaw and delivers a full ball on middle. Ben brings down a straight bat and caresses it down the ground for a glorious boundary. 12 from the over, England scoring at a decent rate, only thing is that they have lost one wicket too many. |
| 18.1 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Plays it with a straight bat and down to long on for one. |
| 18.2 : M Hafeez to Ben Stokes, Very full on the pads, this is worked to mid-wicket. |
| 18.3 : M Hafeez to Ben Stokes, On off, it is pushed to covers. |
| 18.4 : M Hafeez to Ben Stokes, Three dots in a row as this is pushed back to the bowler. |
| 18.5 : M Hafeez to Ben Stokes, Stokes uses his feet and strokes it down to long off for one. |
| Hafeez pulls out and then looks behind. The non-striker is inside the crease. Hmm... who wants a 'controversial' Mankading at this stage? |
| 18.6 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Root gets to his 32nd ODI fifty! 'ROOOOOT' goes the crowd here. Joe is making the most of the life he got. He gets there as he flicks this through square leg for a single. Needs to keep going. |
| Time for Shoaib Malik to roll his arm. |
| 19.1 : S Malik to Joe Root, From around the wicket angles this on off, Root works it to mid-wicket. |
| 19.2 : S Malik to Joe Root, Looks to play the reverse sweep but the ball is too full. It hits the glove of Root. |
| 19.3 : S Malik to Joe Root, Good fielding! Three dots in a row. This is eased towards mid-wicket where the fielder dives to his left and saves a run. |
| 19.4 : S Malik to Joe Root, Just a single now as this is hit down to long off for one. |
| 19.5 : S Malik to Ben Stokes, Malik should have stopped that! A casual effort by him. This is tossed up on off, Stokes strokes it to the right of the bowler who looks to stop it with one hand but fails to do so. A single down to long off. |
| 19.6 : S Malik to Joe Root, Another single to end! Good start by Malik. Root works it through square leg and takes one. |
| 20.1 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Short ball and Root pulls it hard to the man at deep square leg for one. |
| 20.2 : M Hafeez to Ben Stokes, Very full on the pads, Stokes jams it down to long on for one. |
| 20.3 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Short again and Root fails to take toll of it again. He pulls it through square leg for another single. |
| 20.4 : M Hafeez to Ben Stokes, Shorter and on off, Stokes cuts it to point. Imam there fields it and has hurt himself in the process. He is down on the ground getting some stretching done. |
| 20.5 : M Hafeez to Ben Stokes, Stokes uses his feet but gets too close to the ball, he hits it into the ground and to covers. |
| 20.6 : M Hafeez to Ben Stokes, This time it goes through! Stokes slaps it past covers and takes a single. Just 10 runs from the last 3 overs. Pakistan looking to choke England here. |
| 21.1 : S Malik to Ben Stokes, Stokes looks to reverse sweep but it goes off the glove to short third man. |
| 21.2 : S Malik to Ben Stokes, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! The hero of the last game for England is taking the long walk back. Once again an off spinner gets the better of a left-hander today. Malik it is this time. This is quicker and it is just outside off. Stokes misreads the line as he goes to cut. That shot is never on. An outside edge and Sarfaraz takes a sharp catch. 231 more needed in 172 balls with 6 wickets in hand for England. |
| Jos Buttler arrives with England in deep trouble. |
| 21.3 : S Malik to Jos Buttler, This is flatter on middle, Buttler works it to mid-wicket. |
| 21.4 : S Malik to Jos Buttler, On the pads, it is worked through square leg for one. |
| 21.5 : S Malik to Joe Root, On the stumps, Root works it towards mid on. Shadab at mid-wicket dives to his left and stops a run. Pakistan have their tails up at the moment. |
| 21.6 : S Malik to Joe Root, On the shorter side and on middle, this is pulled through square leg for one. |
| 22.1 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Tossed up ball on off, a bit on the shorter side, Root gets back and turns it towards mid-wicket. The fielder inside the circle makes a good stop. No run taken. |
| 22.2 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, FOUR! Good shot in the end by Joe Root! Hafeez delivers it short and outside off, the ball doesn't bounce much but still Root does well to connect properly with his pull shot. Finds the middle of the bat and it races away to the mid-wicket fence. |
| 22.3 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Short again and Sarfaraz doesn't like it. Screams 'come on Hafeez bhai'... Root has pulled this ball again, only for a run though as it goes straight to deep square leg. |
| 22.4 : M Hafeez to Jos Buttler, Continues to bowl short. This time it's outside off and Buttler cuts it through point for a couple of runs. |
| 22.5 : M Hafeez to Jos Buttler, Turning down the leg side, Buttler works it behind square leg for a run. |
| 22.6 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Floated and full on middle, driven down the ground but straight to mid on. |
| 23.1 : S Malik to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Shot! Shoaib overpitches and suffers. Buttler latches onto the ball after it drops around off and smashes it over mid off for a cracking boundary. |
| 0.0 : Mid off drops back. Deep points returns inside the ring. |
| 23.2 : S Malik to Jos Buttler, Quicker and flatter on middle, defended from the back foot by Jos. |
| 23.3 : S Malik to Jos Buttler, Gets on the front foot and pushes it with an angled bat to cover-point. |
| 23.4 : S Malik to Jos Buttler, Fullish and on middle, pushed down towards mid on. A good comeback by Shoaib after that boundary. |
| 23.5 : S Malik to Jos Buttler, Fires in a full ball on off, Jos pushes it out but finds extra cover. |
| 23.6 : S Malik to Jos Buttler, On the pads, it's helped away wide of short fine leg for one. |
| 24.1 : M Hafeez to Jos Buttler, Flighted and on off, Buttler walks forward with the flick shot but misses and it goes off his pads to cover-point. |
| 24.2 : M Hafeez to Jos Buttler, Allows the ball to spin back in and helps it through square leg for a run. |
| 24.3 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, Once again it's been eased away with the spin to deep square leg for one. |
| 24.4 : M Hafeez to Jos Buttler, SIX! This one has disappeared. As soon as Hafeez drops it short around middle, Buttler immediately goes on the back foot and launches it over mid-wicket for a biggie. |
| 24.5 : M Hafeez to Jos Buttler, Jumps on the back foot to a short ball and punches it down to deep cover for a run. |
| Hafeez stops just in time! It would have been a no ball had he delivered as there was one fielder less inside the circle. Good realization. |
| 24.6 : M Hafeez to Joe Root, SIX! Root clears long on! Fancy footwork by him as he shimmies down to the pitch of the ball and clobbers it handsomely into the crowd. 15 from the over and it seems that England have decided to press on the accelerator. Attack is the best form, they say. |
| Wahab Riaz is back! |
| 25.1 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, Short and pulled down to deep square leg for a run. |
| 25.2 : W Riaz to Joe Root, Around off on a length, defended from the back foot. |
| 25.3 : W Riaz to Joe Root, Another short ball has been pulled down to deep square leg for one. 150 comes up for England. |
| 25.4 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, Digs in a half-tracker again, Buttler pulls it aerially in front of square leg and collects a run. |
| 25.5 : W Riaz to Joe Root, Root repeats the last shot to a short ball and sends it behind square leg for a single. |
| 25.6 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Smart, very smart from Buttler. A bit of magic from Jos. He shows his back leg to the bowler before he has bowled and that puts Wahab off, may be. He delivers it on a length in the line of the stumps and Buttler immediately jumps across the stumps to paddle it down towards fine leg for a boundary. |
| Shadab Khan is back! |
| 26.1 : S Khan to Joe Root, Floated up on off, this is driven nicely through covers for one. |
| 26.2 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Lovely, lovely from Buttler. That has raced off the bat. A little too full and on off, Jos strokes it through covers, he caresses it actually and it races away. |
| 26.3 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, Now strokes it through covers for a single. |
| 26.4 : S Khan to Joe Root, Floats it up on middle, Root blocks it out. |
| 26.5 : S Khan to Joe Root, A full toss, Root pulls it towards deep square leg for one. |
| 26.6 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, Good fielding! Shorter in length and on off, Buttler goes back and punches it powerfully through covers. Hassan in the deep runs to his right and then saves a run for his side. An expensive return for Shadab. 10 from it. |
| 27.1 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, On the shorter side on middle, Buttler works it to mid-wicket. |
| 27.2 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, That was quick! Back of a length and on off, the ball hits Buttler's bat even before he could get his bat down. |
| 27.3 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, Slower one and full outside off, Buttler mistimes it through covers for one. |
| 27.4 : W Riaz to Joe Root, EDGY FOUR! No slip in place and a handy boundary! Runs leaking at the moment. Back of a length on off, Root looks to punch it through the off side but the ball flies off the outside edge down to third man. |
| 27.5 : W Riaz to Joe Root, Another back of a length delivery and on off, Root guides it to point. |
| 27.6 : W Riaz to Joe Root, Another back of a length on off, it is guided down to third man for another run. 177 needed in 132 balls. |
| 28.1 : S Khan to Joe Root, Flighted ball on off, it is mistimed towards cover. |
| 28.2 : S Khan to Joe Root, Shorter and on off, Root goes back and punches it through covers for one. |
| 28.3 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, On off again, Buttler plays it with the turn through covers for another one. |
| 28.4 : S Khan to Joe Root, Floats it up on middle, this is eased down to long on for one. |
| Massive moment in this run chase! Jos Buttler has misread a delivery and is hit on the pads. The appeal is made for an lbw but the umpire shakes his head. Pakistan know that this is a critical juncture in this match and have taken the referral... |
| 28.5 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, NOT OUT! Correct decision by the umpire! The ball is going over the stumps. Pakistan lose their review. Won't blame them for taking the review though as this wicket would have completely turned the match on their side. It is the slider from Shadab on middle, Buttler lunges and looks to work it but misses. The ball hits the front pad. An appeal is made but the umpire shakes his head. A review is taken. Pakistan need three reds but there is a green and Buttler will con |
| 28.6 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, Ends the over with a run as Buttler slaps it through covers for one. |
| 29.1 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, EDGY FOUR! Tables are turning. England riding on their luck now. Wahab angles across a good length delivery outside off, Buttler tries to force the issue through the line but gets a big fat outside edge. Sarfaraz tries his best to reach the ball with a full length dive to his right but it goes wide of him and finds the third man fence. |
| 29.2 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, Stays on the back foot to a short ball and punches it to covers. |
| Now comes a slip! |
| 29.3 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, Nicely played! A length ball on middle and off, Buttler moves across the stumps and deflects it down to fine leg for a run. |
| 29.4 : W Riaz to Joe Root, Angling away from the batsman, Root remains on the back foot and pushes it with an angled bat through point for one. |
| 29.5 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Another streaky one from the bat of Jos Buttler. A very full ball outside off, Buttler tries to drill it through covers but gets an outside edge behind. It doesn't carry to Babar at first slip who goes down low to stop it on one bounce but ends up deflecting it behind. The third man fielder puts in a sprint across to his left but the ball teasingly touches the rope. |
| 29.6 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, Short in length on middle, pulled through square leg for one. 11 from this over, the asking rate is just over 8! |
| 30.1 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, Picks the leg spinner and strokes it through covers for one. |
| 30.2 : S Khan to Joe Root, Flatter and outside off, Root chops it towards short third man for a quick run. |
| 30.3 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, Shorter in length and on off, Buttler goes back and pushes it through covers for one. |
| 30.4 : S Khan to Joe Root, Shorter in length and outside off, Root cuts it through point and takes two. |
| 30.5 : S Khan to Joe Root, Sweeps it nicely through square leg but only for a run. |
| 30.6 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, SIX! Just a mere flick and it carries all the way! Buttler gets to his fifty in style. His 19th in ODIs. Slightly short and on middle, Jos goes back and hits it over the man at the square leg fence. What an innings this is from Buttler. He has turned the complexion of the game completely. 150 more needed. Also, Asif Ali who was manning that region has fallen awkwardly in an attempt to catch the ball. The physio has come out now. |
| Drinks break. 150 more needed for a win for England. The current partnership has certainly given them hope after all the hiccups. Joe Root has done well to anchor this chase and Jos Buttler is doing what he does best. If these two last the distance, the result most likely will be in favour of the Three Lions. For Pakistan, it's all about hanging in there and trying for a breakthrough. A wicket or two from here and they will fancy their chances more. Currently, from a neutral's point of view, we |
| Hassan Ali is back into the attack. |
| 31.1 : H Ali to Joe Root, Back of a length on off, Root guides it to point. |
| 31.2 : H Ali to Joe Root, Full and on off, it is driven to mid off. |
| 31.3 : H Ali to Joe Root, Nearly plays it on! Looks to play it with an angled bat but the movement into the batsman means it goes off the inner half, just past the off pole. |
| 31.4 : H Ali to Joe Root, Slower one and on off, Root guides it to point. |
| 31.5 : H Ali to Joe Root, Good length and on off, it is worked to mid on for a single. |
| 31.6 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, Uppish but in the gap! Length and on off, Buttler looks to drive it on the up but it goes off the higher portion of the bat and through covers for one. A tight over by Hassan, Pakistan need a few more like these. |
| 32.1 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, Flatter and on off, it turns away. Buttler looks to push it through the off side but it goes off the outside edge to short third man. |
| 32.2 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, This is eased down to long on for one. |
| 32.3 : S Khan to Joe Root, Root now eases it down to long off for another run. |
| 32.4 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, Outside off and turning away. Buttler guides it to point. |
| 32.5 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, Fires it wide outside off, JB slaps it through covers and takes one. |
| 32.6 : S Khan to Joe Root, Flighted on off, Root looks to drive but it goes off the inner half to covers. |
| 33.1 : H Ali to Joe Root, Good length and on off, Root strokes it to covers. |
| 33.2 : H Ali to Joe Root, On the shorter side and on the body, Root pulls it through mid-wicket, not off the middle but for a single. |
| 33.3 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, Walks right across and works it fine down the leg side for one. |
| 33.4 : H Ali to Joe Root, Length and on off, Root pushes it towards cover for one. |
| 33.5 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, On a good length around off, Buttler hits it through point for another single. |
| 33.6 : H Ali to Joe Root, In the air... but safe! Short and wide outside off, Root waits for it as it is the slower one. He cuts it over point, close to the third man fielder for a brace. |
| Mohammad Amir is back for a crucial spell. |
| 34.1 : M Amir to Jos Buttler, Good start by Amir! Shortish and just outside off, Buttler looks to play it late but misses. |
| 34.2 : M Amir to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Through point! Delicious timing there. Length and angling away. Buttler delays his shot and carves it through point for a boundary. |
| 34.3 : M Amir to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Up and over! 100-run stand up between the two. The duo has turned the game England's way. Need to keep going though. It is the slower one on off, Buttler lofts it over mid off and bags yet another boundary. Consecutive ones. |
| 34.4 : M Amir to Jos Buttler, Good length on off, it is defended. Need not do anything silly now. |
| 34.5 : M Amir to Jos Buttler, Plays the ball to its merit again. Full and on off, Buttler strokes it wide of mid off for a single. |
| 34.6 : M Amir to Joe Root, Another single to end the over! 10 from it. Root pushes it to mid off and gets to the other end. 128 more needed in 90 balls. |
| 35.1 : H Ali to Joe Root, Fuller and on off, Root strokes it to mid off and gives the strike to Jos. Sensible batting! |
| 35.2 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, Well bowled and well played! An inswinging yorker on middle, Buttler jams it out to mid on and gets to the other end. |
| 35.3 : H Ali to Joe Root, Good length again and Root strokes it down to mid on and takes another one. |
| 35.4 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, Another brilliantly timed stroke! Buttler flicks this through square leg. The fielder in the deep runs to his left and keeps the batsmen down to two. |
| 35.5 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, A loud shout but nothing! Buttler is a long way down the pitch. Slower one and on a length. Buttler walks a few steps down the track and then looks to flick but misses. The ball hits the pads and rolls towards the off side. Leg bye taken. |
| 35.6 : H Ali to Joe Root, FOUR! Bad end to the over for Pakistan. Lovely shot by Root. He gets on top of the bounce and then rolls his wrists over. Pulls it all along the ground and to the fine leg fence. The fielder in the deep tries his best by running across to his left but the ball keeps speeding away from him to fine the fence. Another 10-run over. |
| 36.1 : M Amir to Jos Buttler, Fuller and on off, Buttler strokes it through covers for one. |
| 36.2 : M Amir to Joe Root, Length and on off, Root pushes it to covers. |
| 36.3 : M Amir to Joe Root, Moves onto 98 with a single to mid off. |
| 36.4 : M Amir to Jos Buttler, Outside off, Buttler is guilty of going too hard at it. It goes off the inner half and down to mid off for one. |
| 36.5 : M Amir to Joe Root, Now onto 99 as Joe takes a single after creaming this through covers. He won't get a ton in this over though as there is only one ball to go. |
| 36.6 : M Amir to Jos Buttler, Root Won't be able to score his hundred on the first ball of the next over as well. Buttler strokes this towards cover. The fielder there makes a half-stop and a run is taken. |
| Wahab Riaz is back for another spell. |
| 37.1 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, Too high! Shortish and on middle, Buttler looks to pull but the ball does not bounce as much as Buttler anticipated it to. It hits the thigh pad and rolls down to third man. Leg bye. |
| 37.2 : W Riaz to Joe Root, Cometh the hour, cometh the man! England's best batsman rises to the occasion when his team needed him the most. What a super, super innings this is! His 15th ODI ton and the first one of the World Cup this year. Yes, he got a life early on 9 but take nothing away from the knock he has played. He gets there by chopping this to point for a run. Raises his bat and takes the helmet off and soaks in the applause. He would want to stay there till the end and finish this chas |
| 37.3 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, On the middle pole, Buttler works it to mid-wicket for one. |
| 37.4 : W Riaz to Joe Root, FOUR! England are doing it easily now! Root waits for the ball to come to him, then just opens the face, uses the pace of the bowler and guides it through point for a boundary. |
| 37.5 : W Riaz to Joe Root, Back of a length on off, Root now sensibly pushes it through covers for one. |
| 37.6 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, Good running! Short and on middle, Buttler mistimes the pull through mid-wicket. The mistimed shot helps the batters take two. Another productive over for England. 103 more needed in 72 balls. |
| Shadab Khan is back on. |
| 38.1 : S Khan to Joe Root, Flatter and on off, Root guides it to point. |
| 38.2 : S Khan to Joe Root, Another flatter delivery and outside off, Root cuts it late but finds short third man. |
| 38.3 : S Khan to Joe Root, Top edge but safe! Root looks to sweep but the ball flies off the top edge due to the extra bounce. It lands in no man's land in the short fine leg region and the batters take two. |
| 38.4 : S Khan to Joe Root, Another dot as Root once again finds point with his cut. |
| 38.5 : S Khan to Joe Root, OUT! Root departs shortly after getting to his ton! The mainstay is out of here. Shadab Khan strikes. The pressure which was building due to the dot balls has paid off. The leggie this time fires it outside off, it is the quicker one. Root looks to drive it square on the off side but the ball flies off the outside edge and since it was bowled very quick, at 111 KPH to be precise, the ball carries to short third man where Hafeez makes no mistake. End of the 130-run stand |
| Moeen Ali is the new batsman out in the middle. |
| 38.6 : S Khan to M Ali, The leg spinner to end. Moeen blocks it out. Brilliant over by Shadab. Probably the game changing one. Just the couple and a massive wicket from it. |
| 39.1 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, Down the leg side, Buttler misses the pull and it has been wided. |
| W Riaz to Jos Buttler, On the pads again, Buttler works it towards mid-wicket for a run. Pakistan will not be disappointed with that single as they now have Moeen Ali on strike. 250 up for the hosts. |
| 39.2 : W Riaz to M Ali, Ali is off the mark now as he pushes it through covers for one. |
| 39.3 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Creamed! That has got to the fence like a tracer bullet. Full and on off, Buttler just leans into it, gets bat to ball and finds the gap in the cover region for a boundary. |
| 39.4 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, Goes short and does not offer any room. Buttler works it through square leg for one. |
| 39.5 : W Riaz to M Ali, Good short one but does not bounce as much as Wahab would have liked it to. It is well-directed though. Ali works it through square leg for one. |
| 39.6 : W Riaz to Jos Buttler, Keeps strike for the next over by hitting it wide of mid off. 91 needed now in the last 10. |
| Powerplay 3 about to begin! Pakistan can now put a maximum of 5 fielders outside the ring. |
| 40.1 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, Floats it up on off, Buttler strokes it through covers and takes one. |
| 40.2 : S Khan to M Ali, Stumping chance goes abegging! The skipper has himself to blame here. It is the googly on middle, Moeen walks forward with the flick shot against the turn but the ball hits the outside edge and hits Sarfaraz on the body. The Pakistan skipper fails to gather it quickly and Moeen has enough time to return. |
| 40.3 : S Khan to M Ali, Uppish but safe! Ali pushes hard at it, it goes through mid on for a single. |
| 40.4 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. They pick up a single. |
| 40.5 : S Khan to M Ali, Another edge! Another googly and Moeen fails to pick it again. He looks to defend but the ball goes off the outer half to short third man for one. |
| 40.6 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, One more single to end! Another good over from Shadab. This is worked through mid-wicket for a single. Tidy stuff from the leggie. |
| Hassan Ali is back on. |
| 41.1 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, Good length and on middle, Buttler looks to flick but mistimes it towards mid-wicket. Once again, the mistime shot helps him take two. |
| 41.2 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, A dot! Very full on off, Buttler jams it out to covers. |
| 41.3 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, Another slower one on off, Buttler strokes it through covers for a single. |
| 41.4 : H Ali to M Ali, Goes full again. Ali strokes it to mid off. |
| 41.5 : H Ali to M Ali, This is angled into the batsman, Moeen works it beside the pitch and a single is taken. |
| 41.6 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, Goes for the yorker but ends up serving a low full toss on the pads, Buttler works it down to fine leg for one. Top over by Hassan. Back-to-back good overs for Pakistan. Run rate needed just above 10 now. |
| 42.1 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, Brilliant running and Shadab is not a happy man. Buttler hits it a little wide of the fielder at sweeper cover and the batters take two. |
| 42.2 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, Buttler must have decided to see Shadab out here. He eases it down to long off for one. |
| 42.3 : S Khan to M Ali, Flatter and outside off, Moeen cuts it late but straight to short third man. |
| 42.4 : S Khan to M Ali, Another single as Moeen works this through square leg. Not taking any risks against Shadab here. |
| 42.5 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, Once again Jos gently knocks it past point and gets to the other end. |
| 42.6 : S Khan to M Ali, A single to end Shadab's spell! 6 from his last. He has impressed today, 2 wickets for 63 runs. Ali works this through square leg and takes one. 75 needed in the last 7 overs. |
| 43.1 : H Ali to M Ali, Very full and on off, Moeen strokes it to covers and takes one. Singles won't harm Pakistan here. |
| 43.2 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, Nearly drags it on! Slower one and outside off, Buttler looks to drag it through the leg side but it goes off the inner half, past the off stump and down to fine leg. Good running sees Buttler take two. |
| 43.3 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, Good delivery again! On off, not letting Buttler free his arms. The batter strokes it to cover for one. |
| 43.4 : H Ali to M Ali, Lovely fielding! Saves a run for his team. It could well be a very important one. Moeen strokes it uppishly but past the diving cover fielder. Wahab hares after it from mid off. He does not give up and at the very end pushes it back in with a dive. |
| 43.5 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, Classic batting! Knows the leg side is the longer part of the ground so works it with soft hands through that region and takes two. |
| 43.6 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, Another slower one and on off, Buttler strokes it towards cover for one. Brilliant from the duo, without much risk, they have managed to hit 10 in this over. 65 needed in 36 balls. |
| Mohammad Amir is back on. |
| 44.1 : M Amir to Jos Buttler, Excellent start to the 45th for Pakistan! Length and outside off, Buttler looks to hit it through the off side but misses. |
| 44.2 : M Amir to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Powered! Gets to his ton with a boundary. 9th in ODIs and first in World Cup. This guy just keeps delivering when his team needs him to. No real celebrations from him though as he knows the job is not done yet. Amir dishes this full and outside off, Buttler bludgeons it past mid off and a boundary results. |
| 44.3 : M Amir to Jos Buttler, OUT! 100 and gone! That is the wicket Pakistan needed. Pakistan now favorites to win this game. Amir, the most experienced Pakistan bowler, has delivered. It is the slower one and outside off, Buttler looks to cut but there is some extra bounce. It flies off the outside edge and straight to short third man where Wahab takes a high pressure catch. Pakistan are elated. The England dressing room is in shock. |
| Chris Woakes is in next. |
| 44.4 : M Amir to C Woakes, A single! Length and outside off, this is hit through point for one. |
| 44.5 : M Amir to M Ali, Goes very full, difficult to get under such deliveries, Moeen hits it down to long on for one. England need boundaries! |
| 44.6 : M Amir to C Woakes, Another single as this is pushed to mid off. 7 runs and the huge, huge wicket of Buttler. 58 needed in 30. |
| 45.1 : H Ali to C Woakes, Looks to open up the off side but Hassan bowls it very straight. Woakes hits it towards point for one. |
| 45.2 : H Ali to M Ali, In the air... but safe! Heart in the mouth moment for England. short and on the body, Moeen looks to pull but is hurried into the shot. It hits the glove and lobs towards the leg side. Sarfaraz runs towards it but can't get to it. A single taken. |
| 45.3 : H Ali to C Woakes, Very full and on middle, once again cramping the batter for room. Woakes hits it down to long on for one. |
| 45.4 : H Ali to M Ali, Swing and a miss! Done in pace there is Moeen. Slower one outside off, Moeen swings but is way too early into the shot. Misses. |
| 45.5 : H Ali to M Ali, Once again, the slower ball foxes Moeen. It is banged in and on middle, Moeen is once again very early into the pull shot and fails to connect. Pressure building. Dots are gold dust at this stage for Pakistan. |
| 45.6 : H Ali to M Ali, Finally gets hold of one but not off the middle. It is down towards long on for a brace. The fielder there misfields but no extra run taken. Just the 5 from the over. 53 needed in 24. Run rate above 13 now. |
| 46.1 : M Amir to C Woakes, Another couple but boundaries are what England need. Full and on off, Woakes strokes it wide of long off and takes two. |
| 46.2 : M Amir to C Woakes, SAFE! Another couple! Terrific delivery though from Amir. It is the slower one and the line is key here. It is wide outside off. Woakes is early into his lofted cover-drive. It goes high up in the air. There are two fielders converging, one from sweeper cover and the other from cover. They don't get to it and the batsmen take two. |
| 46.3 : M Amir to C Woakes, FOUR! Edgy but Woakes won't care! Welcome, welcome boundary for England. Poor ball to be honest with third man up. Short and outside off, Woakes throws his bat at it but gets an outside edge to the third man fence. They need more. |
| 46.4 : M Amir to C Woakes, A dot! Full and wide outside off, just inside the tramline. Woakes swings but misses. |
| 46.5 : M Amir to C Woakes, Outside the tramline this time! Woakes lets it be and it has been wided this time. |
| M Amir to C Woakes, Another wide! Amir is not happy. It is a close call. Slower ball and it's outside off. Woakes swings again but misses. Umpire feels it is a wide and signals so. |
| M Amir to C Woakes, Goes back to bowling it on the stumps, Woakes looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. The ball goes towards point. A leg bye taken. |
| 46.6 : M Amir to M Ali, FOUR! Second boundary in the over! 15 from it. That is more than the run rate they need to go at. Ali bags his first boundary and England will hope this gets him going. Short and on the body, Ali swivels and pulls it all along the ground through square leg. The fielder in the deep runs to his left, dives, gets a hand to it but can't stop the ball. 38 in 18! England back in the game. |
| Wahab Riaz to bowl now. |
| 47.1 : W Riaz to C Woakes, DROPPED! A difficult chance, a good effort in the end by Asif Ali. Wahab bowls it full and on off, Woakes ends up carving it uppishly towards covers. Asif runs in, dives forward but can't hang on. Two taken by the batsmen. |
| 47.2 : W Riaz to C Woakes, Top class stuff! Nails the yorker on middle, Woakes can only dig it out towards the bowler. 4 more of these is what Sarfaraz will be saying. |
| 47.3 : W Riaz to C Woakes, SIX! Misses by a little and Woakes makes him pay. Crucial hit this. It is full, misses the yorker but just a little. Woakes lofts it over the long off fence. Short boundary so even half a connection would do. 8 from the first three balls. 30 needed in 15! |
| 47.4 : W Riaz to C Woakes, Goes to over the wicket and bangs it in the pitch. It is the slower one. Woakes slaps it through covers for one. |
| 47.5 : W Riaz to M Ali, OUT! In the air... taken! Wahab strikes back! Good delivery this. It is short and outside off, on the slower side. Moeen may not have been expecting it. He first looks to ramp but due to the lack of pace on the ball, he tries to guide it over point. But it comes from the bottom half of his bat and he ends up lobbing it to point where Fakhar Zaman takes it. |
| Jofra Archer walks out to bat in a pressure cooker situation. 29 needed off 13 balls. |
| 47.6 : W Riaz to C Woakes, OUT! Two in two for Wahab Riaz. That is probably the final nail in the coffin. He got Moeen off a short one and gets Woakes by bowling a pacey delivery. It is short and on off, Woakes looks to cut but due to the extra bounce, the ball takes the outside edge and goes into the gloves of Sarfaraz. The crowd has gone mad! Hard to guess who is playing at home! |
| Adil Rashid is the new batsman. |
| 48.1 : M Amir to J Archer, Full and on off, Archer squirts it through covers for one. |
| 48.2 : M Amir to A Rashid, Thinks of paddling it but Amir spots him moving across. He bowls it even wider outside off. Rashid fails to put bat on ball. |
| 48.3 : M Amir to A Rashid, Good fielding by Imam! This is very full and outside off, it is squeezed out towards deep point. The fielder there is waiting for the ball to come. Imam from covers runs to his left, collects the ball in front of him and keeps it down to one. Good urgency shown by the Pakistan opening batsman. |
| 48.4 : M Amir to J Archer, OUT! No. 9 goes down! Pakistan a wicket away from winning the match. Amir gets his second and who is the catcher? Wahab Riaz. You just can't keep him out of the game at the moment. This is outside off, Archer swings but the ball takes the top edge. It goes uppishly towards third man where Riaz takes a good catch running in and then diving forward. |
| Mark Wood is the last batsman for England. |
| 48.5 : M Amir to A Rashid, Another one full and wide outside off, Rashid throws his bat at it but the ball goes off the outside edge down to third man for a single. |
| 48.6 : M Amir to M Wood, A single! 25 needed from the last 6 balls. Slower one and outside off, Wood is early in the stroke. He miscues it down to long on for one. |
| Wahab Riaz on a hat-trick! Mark Wood on strike... |
| 49.1 : W Riaz to M Wood, Not a good hat-trick ball! He bowls it well wide of the stumps. Wood had made room to hit it but misses. |
| 49.2 : W Riaz to M Wood, FOUR! 21 in 4 now! Fours won't do it for England. A high full toss on off, Wood hits it over covers and the ball races away. |
| 49.3 : W Riaz to M Wood, A dot! That is probably it, 'IF' Wahab does not bowl an extra. A yorker outside off, Wood fails to put bat to ball again. |
| 49.4 : W Riaz to M Wood, Just a single as Wood strokes it towards cover. |
| 49.5 : W Riaz to A Rashid, Wahab runs in from a short run-up. He bangs it short and it is the slower one. Rashid mistimes his pull towards mid-wicket for one. |
| 49.6 : W Riaz to M Wood, FOUR! But Pakistan won't care! THEY HAVE WON THIS GAME BY 14 RUNS! Wahab bowls it short again and on the body, Wood helps it on its way to the fine leg fence. All smiles and hugs in the Pakistan camp at the moment. |
| Pakistan cricket at its mercurial best! Bowled out for 105 in the last match, posted their best World Cup score in this one and have defeated the numero uno ODI side who also are the title favourites! In a recent ODI series in England, the green team was clean swept by the hosts but the Sarfaraz-led team has won it when it mattered the most, in a World Cup. This win also breaks the deadlock for Pakistan who were on a 11-match losing streak. |
| It was supposed to be a high-scoring game and it turned out to be so. Pakistan left behind the disappointment of the previous match and posted 348 on the board. Their top batsmen batted responsibly and concentrated on building handy stands. In reply, England lost their star openers inside Powerplay 1. Their skipper also didn't last long and Ben Stokes also followed him, leaving England reeling on 118/4. |
| With the backs to the wall, Joe Root found an able ally in Jos Buttler and together the pair put on a show. Root shifted to the job of anchoring the chase while Buttler started to bat in his usual manner. They amassed 130 runs together off 105 balls and that brought the Three Lions in contention. Joe completed his century, also the first ton by any batsman in this World Cup but soon got out. Pakistan got the opening they wanted and once Buttler also departed after completing his century, the Asi |
| Mohammad Hafeez is the Man of the Match for his all-round contribution! Says everyone had the belief that they can do it as they were playing well but not winning the crucial stages. Mentions today they gave everything and it was a team effort. States they were confident today, they practiced well and they had a good meeting. Further adds they needed someone to stand up and the rest to contribute. Tells the bowlers were very good and so were the batters. Admits the first game was not that good b |
| England skipper, Eoin Morgan says it was a very good game of cricket but he is very disappointed that he is on the losing side. States this ground is a high-scoring one and the outfield is quick. Admits that they needed partnerships but they lost early wickets. Feels that Root and Buttler kept them in the game but could not take them over. Reckons a partnership early on and it could have been different. Points out that the fielding between the two sides was the difference. Further adds the perfo |
| Pakistan captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed says it's a team effort. Credits the batsmen first who took them to 348 and then says the bowlers delivered. Mentions the first 10 overs are very important and it is crucial to not lose early wickets and Imam and Fakhar got them off to a good start. States they tried different things, they started with Shadab as Roy and Bairstow struggle against spin and it worked. Stresses fielding is a very important part and today they fielded better and also bowled better. Te |
| End of an entertaining contest! After serving a few one-sided games initially, the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is picking up its intensity. On Tuesday, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will lock horns in Cardiff at 1030 local (0930 GMT). Do join us then for all the action. Cheers! |
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