Pakistan Wins Third Test Match Against England By 4 Wickets
The team that was down and out does it again. On July 25, I had written, “Former England skipper Nasir Hossain once commented, the only certainty about Pak cricket team is their uncertainty,” and today they proved that once more.
Ranks notwithstanding, England has reasons to believe that they are at the top of the test cricketing nations at this moment. They have belted the uncrowned king of cricket, the Aussies, just the other day. And the memory of their first ever World T20 win is still fresh. They have a lethal bowling attack in Anderson, Broad, Finn and Swan, and a solid strong batting line up that bats deep down till their ninth man. Their fielding is also quick and agile—overall a very well balanced team indeed.
In the first test match England beat Pak by 354 runs, and there was no surprise in that. In the 2nd they were again handsomely beaten by 9 wickets, yet, the third was entirely a different story.
In Kennington Oval, London, Pakistan had a scintillating start, Mohammad Reaz removing Cook only at the score of nine. Then their debutant left arm fast-medium bowler, Wahab Reaz got Strauss to nick a ball that was safely taken by their keeper— 2 down for 35. England started loosing wickets regularly and they were soon down to 94 for 7. Prior and Broad started a rearguard action to build their innings, and by the time they were separated the score was 213. England finished with 233, a respectable score considering where they were with their 7th wicket down. Wahab Reaz finished taking five wickets in his inauguration test match, a bowlers dream debut.
Pakistan took a 75 run lead in their first innings with Azhar Ali who finished not out with 92. England began hesitantly, loosing their first wicket only at the score of 4, and next, their 2nd at 40, nonetheless a solid partnership between Cook and Trott took the score to 156, Cook falling after scoring a well deserved century. England reached 194 for 4, and they threatened to take the match away from Pakistan. However, their young find Mohammed Amir had other idea. Amir demonstrated that he is a true contender to follow the footwork of great Pakistani fast bowlers From A J Karder to Wasim Akram.
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