TEST SERIES 2016, PAKvsENG

After 6year!

It started from July 14, 2016 when National cricket team started their fight against English team on the pitch of Great Lord’s. 3:00PM PST the game started, the 1^st inning for Pakistan was not going in stiff position till the captain was in pavilion. After the departure of four batsmen who collectively scored 87runs arrives the man with dreamy debut at Lord’s. It turns to Pakistan side after Misbah ul Haque provided a much needed stand and smashes a ton! His first at Lord’s, that made his name appeared on the Honor board. The skipper was accompanied by under rated but extremely talented Asad Shafiq who scored 73 facing 130 deliveries and later was caught by Chris Woakes the one who was ruling with ball from English side. With 339 as total team Pakistan make their innings end as Woakes claimed 6 wickets.In return Captain Cook scored 81 that was highest from their side and the innings was wind up at 272. Here Yasir Shah the Pakistani spinner played a vital role by trapping 6 batsmen and this name was also displayed on Lord’s Honor board. Incomes the 2^nd innings where Pakistan was alredy standing with lead of 67 further additions of 215 runs gathered a total of 282 runs as target for English side. England didn’t opened with strong position as Rahat Ali guided both opener and another player to dressing room. But the sticking stand of Jhonny Bairstow of 147 balls and of 108 balls by Chris Woakes made troubling situation added 48 and 23 runs respectively till getting caught by Yasir shah. Game one make dramatic end when the last player loss his wicket as Mohammad Amir destroyed the stumps! Achieving a victory of 75 runs Pakistan celebrated with push-ups and saluting the Army camp for training to great celebration and the push up trend was viral on social media. The situation was ideal for Pakistan, confidence level was high the nation was happy but England was looking for better plans to level the series.

The second battle started on July22 this time England was looking keenly for a victory as it was now the game of leveling the series or give Pakistani side a clear lead 2-0. Old Trafford, Manchester was the venue and England batted first here. All plans here were strong enough by English team the Captain played inning of 105runs that give England an supportive start and this become even more helpful after double ton of Joe Root. With firm position England declared their innings on huge total of 589. An eye on bowling card displayed wahab riaz as leading wicket taker with 3 wickets, the hero of Lords remained ordinary here with 1 wicket only. The figures were enough to disbalance the confidence level of team green. Pakistan team put on show poor batting performance, openers went to pavilion without any heavy duty and so does the middle order except of the skipper. Stand of 114 balls and scoring 54 runs he remained top scorer in first inning by Pakistan. Facing a lead of 589 , Pakistan manage to trail 198 and this left England with stronger position to build on target with 391 runs already in hand. Beginning with 2nd innings England loose Alex Hales in earlier span but Captain along with Joe Root add 173 runs and this all together came out as huge target of 564. 2^nd innings broke out for Pakistan & batting order another time exhibited a poor show. Blocking balls didn’t help team Pakistan to achieve the target or end up the match on no result, batting line collapse at 234 and England wipe out the game by gaining victory of 330 runs and leveling the series 1-1 after the Lord’s show. Hafeez remained highest scorer on card with 45 runs where as Moeen Ali, James Anderson and Chris Woakes contributed equally picking up 3 wickets.

 Edgbaston, Birmingham, August 3 game 3 begins!  All set on field team Pakistan, picking up Alex Hales in early 10 over boost up Green team. Till 18^th over the situation was under control as top 3 batsmen were departed to pavilion. Stiff stand from Moeen Ali and Garry Balance brings back Engalnd team into the game. Till last wicket 297 runs as total was displayed on scorecard. Incomes Mohammad Hafeez and sami Aslam to open for Pakistan, England make their position strong from 1^st over after Hafeez was caught on 4^th delivery of James Anderson. Early wicket didn’t broke Pakisatn as Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam provide a worthy stand of 469 balls scoring 139 and 82 respectively. By the end of inning Pakistan scored 400 runs that bring them 103 ahead.  England opened second inning with big come back,till 33 overs openers remained firm on the pitch. After words Cook departed after scoring 66 runs. Middle order performed their duty with responsible sense. 8 players appeared on the pitch and except Garry, Vince and Woakes all managed to score 50 plus before Captain Cook declared the innings on 445 that make 342 final target for Pakistan. For chasing 342 and maintaining better position in series team Pakistan started their final innings. Opener Hafeez get caught in early over and this was not good news indeed. Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali deal with good stand but the res didn’t follow the footsteps. The last on pitch Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali crested a scene of draw after the middle order not make the grade, but this all ended when Moeen Ali caught and bowled Sohail Khan in 71th over of the day. Comfort level was great as England made their lead 2-1 in test series compiled of 4 test matches. England won the third game by 141 runs.

A new day a new game! Step in with confidence of coming back into series team Pakistan while Cook was eyeing to remain hegemonic. Oval was the station of decider!  Here England batted first gathering a better total of 328 runs, Moeen Ali with his 108 runs remained prominent on the score card while on bowling card Sohail Khan’s name was shining with 5wickets. Placing a change in opening couple Azhar and Sami starts the inning. Sami Aslam departed in second over. Middle order in this game was on the mark. After committing so much misfiled mistakes Younus Khan acted as old is gold! Hitting a double ton he gained almost all back he loosed in previous games as it was a much needed stand. On the other hand Asad was witnessed with good sense, smatched 109 runs. These two brings up enough for Pakistan to maintain a solid position. With addition of further runs by remaining players team managed to pose a lead of 214 runs. In second innings both teams were posturing a different image! Team Pakistan started it like they are here to win this game by hook or by crook. The lord of Lord’s was back in action. Getting early wickets gear up team green. English side tried their best to remain with stand on itch but Yasir shah didn’t let them to stay. It was almost a inning defeat, two consecutive wickets on Wahab Riaz’s delivery nearly marked end of England batting with brutal defeat but then come the last join up. Tail Enders managed to draw together a total lead of 39 runs & 40 come into sight as target for Pakistan. Day 4 of game 4, August 14, 2016 the 69^th birthday of Pakistan and the team gifted their nation with enormous come back performance! Leveling the series 2-2 after so many downfalls was no less than winning it. The final match was ended giving 10 wicket victory to Pakistan and also marking the end of test series.

On over all judgment the series produced good cricket. Many names were added in the record list. Lord’s marked new attendance record during first test, 113,637. By every mean this series entertain the viewers, passion, aggression & celebrations a complete combo! About the dropped catches, it would have appeared as great point to criticize incase of different result in last game and indeed it should be because that didn’t happened once or twice. Dropping catches in slip was followed by Team Pakistan as routine! But when the nation is happy from the team they forget and forgive each mistake of past. And on the Independence Day the entire nation was happy of this victory.

Shane Warne said: 2-2 is not a justified result, its poor that test series didn’t hold 5 matches. It can be said that he stated correct words, the winning trophy looks more handsome in two hands rather than 4!?