Just a short post for now.. Too happy to write anything :D
Victory against any opposition is sweet, but victory against the World's top Test Team is memorable. Pakistan were able to beat England by 72 runs, who were chasing a small target of 145.
For sure this has to go down as one of the best victories ever by a Pakistani team. Defending just 145 against one of the best batting line up of the world would have been a tough job in any case but Pakistan never let England go off the hook. Chief destroyer surprisingly was Abdur Rehman who grabbed 6-25 from just 10.1 overs, Saeed Ajmal supported him well with 3-22 becoming the fastest bowler to reach 100 wickets in test matches for Pakistan.
Apart from the brilliant performance by the spin bowlers one must not forget the contribution of the young middle order batsman of Pakistan, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, who absorbed enormous pressure when Pakistan were 54-4 in the second innings still trailing by 16 runs, and added 88 precious runs which turned out to be the telling difference in the end.
This victory becomes more special keeping in mind the turmoil Pakistan team was in, after the Spot fixing saga, losing its three main players, doubts on the other players, a nation who has been deprived of cricket at home, a nation starving for happiness, this was special.
This was 2nd lowest total defended in the fourth innings by any team and the 5th time that England lost when they had to chase a target of 145 or fewer.
One must have looked at Mohsin Khan sitting in the dressing room, acting with every ball, praying, showing frustration when something went wrong, hugging the staff when Pakistan got a wicket and at the end when they won.
One must have also looked at the way players were gathering around him in happiness, change of coach still? or a permanent job for MK?! Its going to be a big decision to make for a team who looks stable after such a long time, especially after Dav Whatmore has resigned as a coach of Kolkata Knight Riders just for talking up the position of coach with the Pakistan team.
Another heartening thing to see was the unity Pakistan team has within, the way they celebrate for each other, at every wicket. Bowlers supporting each other, batsman praising each other, It's something you never associate with a Pakistan team.
We can criticize the tactics of Misbah ul Haq, the slow pace the batsman go at, the poor performance of the fast bowlers, the fact is, Misbah is doing the job for us. from the 12 matches he has captained Team Pakistan, he has lost just single and winning 8 matches, and not losing even a single series.
People who were of the view this team is only performing against minnows must change their views now. Pakistan have beaten the best team in the world! Although Pakistan team still has a long way to travel, It for sure is not like the previous teams, there is something sparkling about it!
Victory against any opposition is sweet, but victory against the World's top Test Team is memorable. Pakistan were able to beat England by 72 runs, who were chasing a small target of 145.
For sure this has to go down as one of the best victories ever by a Pakistani team. Defending just 145 against one of the best batting line up of the world would have been a tough job in any case but Pakistan never let England go off the hook. Chief destroyer surprisingly was Abdur Rehman who grabbed 6-25 from just 10.1 overs, Saeed Ajmal supported him well with 3-22 becoming the fastest bowler to reach 100 wickets in test matches for Pakistan.
Apart from the brilliant performance by the spin bowlers one must not forget the contribution of the young middle order batsman of Pakistan, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, who absorbed enormous pressure when Pakistan were 54-4 in the second innings still trailing by 16 runs, and added 88 precious runs which turned out to be the telling difference in the end.
This victory becomes more special keeping in mind the turmoil Pakistan team was in, after the Spot fixing saga, losing its three main players, doubts on the other players, a nation who has been deprived of cricket at home, a nation starving for happiness, this was special.
This was 2nd lowest total defended in the fourth innings by any team and the 5th time that England lost when they had to chase a target of 145 or fewer.
One must have looked at Mohsin Khan sitting in the dressing room, acting with every ball, praying, showing frustration when something went wrong, hugging the staff when Pakistan got a wicket and at the end when they won.
One must have also looked at the way players were gathering around him in happiness, change of coach still? or a permanent job for MK?! Its going to be a big decision to make for a team who looks stable after such a long time, especially after Dav Whatmore has resigned as a coach of Kolkata Knight Riders just for talking up the position of coach with the Pakistan team.
Another heartening thing to see was the unity Pakistan team has within, the way they celebrate for each other, at every wicket. Bowlers supporting each other, batsman praising each other, It's something you never associate with a Pakistan team.
We can criticize the tactics of Misbah ul Haq, the slow pace the batsman go at, the poor performance of the fast bowlers, the fact is, Misbah is doing the job for us. from the 12 matches he has captained Team Pakistan, he has lost just single and winning 8 matches, and not losing even a single series.
People who were of the view this team is only performing against minnows must change their views now. Pakistan have beaten the best team in the world! Although Pakistan team still has a long way to travel, It for sure is not like the previous teams, there is something sparkling about it!
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