Cricket: Pakistan for White-wash of England

-DR. ABDUL RUFF

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Displaying their blowing strength, once again, Pakistan has already won the first two tests against England in Mideast and is looking forward to clinch the series 3-0.

The first two Pak-England tests being conducted in Mideast were tough without letting English batboys dance with flow of easy runs at the crease and went in favor of Pakistan thanks to their bowling prowess.  English team was reduced to almost nothing with just 72 runs in an innings making it the worst runs for the UK empire in test history. The third test is rather interesting with bowling taking the natural course.  In the first innings English bowlers removed the Pak batboys with a meager 99 runs pointing to some important aspect of Islamic faith, while Pakistani bowlers let the visitors from UK with 140 plus runs.

In fact English wanted to avenge their 72 runs score in test two in the same token, but Pakistan somehow managed to get out of English noose. But then the London boys allowed the Pakistanis 99 runs. Not even a run more. They were very particular about stopping the run flows.

In the second innings Pakistan could manage 365 runs with two 100 plus for batboys. In fact, English boys tried their level to restrict Pakistani runs for too long but without wickets, they were forced to release more runs.

England were left to fight hard to save defeat and with it the humiliation of a first-ever series whitewash at the hands of Pakistan in the third and final Test at Dubai Stadium. Needing to chase their second best achieved target in all Tests of 324, England finished the third day at 36-0. Pakistan could have got Cook's wicket had Taufiq Umar not dropped an easy catch in the third slip off paceman Umar Gul when the England opener had made just four. That is how Pakistan plays when they get some good runs. But England still needs another 288 runs with all ten wickets intact in the last two days. England's most successful chase to win a Test was the 332 they made against Australia in Melbourne in 1929. Now it looks impossible.

Pakistan owed their total to a brilliant career-best knock by Ali and Younis's sensible bating as well as weak bowling of English boys. Together they added 216 for the third wicket in a frustrating stand which almost plunged England into submission.  Pakistan was 295-3 at lunch but lost cluster of wickets but thereafter the fall began. Pakistan were well placed at 331-4 before losing their last seven wickets for a mere 34 runs following good bowling from England spinner Indi origin Panesar and Graeme Swann

When in bating, England has managed to survive this tricky passage of play without losing any wickets. Pakistanis probably did not target the wicket or LBW and let the boys enjoy at the crease and sleep well for the final onslaught on Feb 06.  Pakistan, going by their track records in the previous tests, would remove all 10 2wickets on day four. Still a long way to go for the English but playing Rehman and Ajmal tomorrow will be important as a huge rough is there near the off stump for the left handers and England have 6 of them.

Though England would like to make merry at the crease, Pakistan will be looking for a whitewash, which they have not achieved against England so far. .