Thursday, 28 Mar, 2024

Sports

Pakistan In Tight Leash

Saleque Sufi | banglanews24.com
Update: 2020-08-23 12:10:16
Pakistan In Tight Leash Jos Buttler praises Zak Crawley after huge stand

Pakistan Vs England Test Series
3rd Test at Ageas Bowl Southampton, Aug 21-25, 2020 
England 1st Innings 583 /8 Declared in 154.4 Overs (Zack Crawley 267, Jos Buttler 152, CR Woakes 40, JR Root 29, Fawad Alam 2/46, Shahin Afridi 2/141, Yasir Shah 2/173, Asad Shafiq 1/24) 
Pakistan 1st Innings 24/3 in 10.5 Overs (Azhar Ali 4*, Anderson 3/13) 
Pakistan Trails by 559 runs in the 1st innings with 7 wickets at hand. 

Milestone setting 359 runs 5th wicket partnership between Zack Crawley (267) and Joss Buttler (152) put England into impregnable position towards winning the series come what may in the test series against Pakistan. Declaring at 583/8 England looked in total control with Pakistan finishing the day two at 24/3 is looking down the barrel. 

England won the first test at Old Trafford by 3 wickets. The rain affected second test ended in tame draw. Pakistan after 10 years in all possibilities is going to loose a test series in England. It seems that only rain over two days at least can save Pakistan from losing the test. 

When looked back in retrospect many would blame the ultra defensive strategy of Pakistan think tank. Pakistan desperately required winning the test for squaring the series. That could better happen if they had appeared with 5 specialist bowlers like they did in the first test. Shadab Khan or Fahim Ashraf was the 5th bowling option. Both can bat as well. On a flat wicket under reasonable sun shine Pakistan attack desperately missed a 5th bowling option.

Wonder how circumstances alter cases. At Southampton on the same ground only a week back wicket was seaming and bouncing. Heavy overcast condition was helping prodigious swing. Surviving against quality bowling of both team looked very challenging. On sun shining days the wicket became flat. Seam movement was surprisingly gone. Losing the toss and bowling Pakistan had to manage strong wind as well. Yet taking 4 wickets of Burns, Sibley, Roots and Pope Pakistan was looking pretty at England on 127/4. But tall Crawley was looking very impressive from the start. He was playing lovely looking strokes playing pacers with ease and reading Yasir much better than any English batsmen. Buttler joined him at a seemingly desperate situation. How beautifully this pair batted. Pakistan attack looked rattled as the pair playing brilliantly sewed up a milestone setting 359 runs 5th wicket partnership (England’s best in test cricket).England declaring at 583/8 not only batted Pakistan out of the test but also secured the series for England. 

22 years old Crawley converted his first test century to a huge 267. His glorious innings had 34 eye catching boundaries and one strike across and over. He swept and reverse swept Yasir making his surprise deliveries ineffective. World Cricket witnessed the emerge of a batting star. Pakistan attack in no way was ordinary. Shahin, Abbas and Nasim kept probing all the way. Having his debut only in December 2019 against New Zealand at Hamilton it was only his 8th test. He may not have played the series at all had Ben Stokes did not have to rush to New Zealand to attend his ailing father. Buttler’s was a little bit controlled innings of 152. His match winning innings at Old Trafford and this innings of quality secured his place in English test team. 

Pakistan attack struggled on a flat wicket. Azhar had to use part timers Asad Shafique and Fawad Alam. Asad took one wicket and Fawad two when England was pushing for quick runs. Pakistan desperately felt the absence of a genuine 5th bowling option. 

England possibly should have declared a bit earlier, Possibly 550 was more than enough. In that situation England could have put more pressure on Pakistan had they declared half an hour earlier. Even then in 10 overs England sending back Pakistan openers and most importantly Babar Azam pushed Pakistan back to the wall at 24/3. English bowling maestro Anderson picked all three wickets taking his ally of wickets to 596. This test if weather does not interfere massively may see his entering the elite 600 wickets club.

England in firmly in control. Only possibility of the match is an outright English win and grabbing the series 2-0. Only rain washing out at least two of the three remaining days can save Pakistan.

The task of Pakistan is carved out. Azhar must play an innings of substance. Asad Shafique has not done much in the series till now. Fawad Alom has to pay back the confidence in him. Primary task is to get up to 384 to avoid following on. That will not be easy at all. 

BDST: 1210 HRS, AUG 23, 2020
SMS

All rights reserved. Sale, redistribution or reproduction of information/photos/illustrations/video/audio contents on this website in any form without prior permission from banglanews24.com are strictly prohibited and liable to legal action.