Penetrating bowling from Pakistan’s seamers and the pressure of a largetarget have resulted in the lights dimming on England’s chances of winningthis game – even before the floodlights have come into effect
George Dobell07-Jun-2001Penetrating bowling from Pakistan’s seamers and the pressure of a largetarget have resulted in the lights dimming on England’s chances of winningthis game – even before the floodlights have come into effect.Wasim and Waqar opened the bowling, hurtling in from the Pavilion and Cityends respectively, as England began their reply to Pakistan’s large total of273-6 in the first match of the NatWest Series of 2001.Trescothick guided Waqar through the covers for the first boundary of theinnings but then chipped the ball in the air between the fielders atmid-wicket and mid on. He followed that with a flat-footed swish outside offstump that had the slip cordon holding their hands over their heads inexasperation.Waqar beat him outside the off stump but the Somerset left-hander responded with a burly heave past mid-wicket for four. He must have been perilously close to being given lbw to Waqar in the eighth over, but responded in fine style, cutting the next ball through cover for four.Brown, too, escaped a mistimed push over the infield, but didn’t live toprosper from this fortune as, attempting to angle the ball through point, hesnicked Waqar to the ‘keeper.Local favourite Knight was the new batsman. He played and missed at hisfirst balls from both Waqar and Wasim, who was delivering a hostile spell,and it took nine balls to get off the mark – and then thanks to threeoverthrows. But a force off the back foot for four seemed to rile Wasim andseveral times in the ninth over the bowler had angry words with theWarwickshire player.Trescothick produced a lovely stroke in the following over, skipping downthe pitch and driving Waqar straight for four and he seemed to be settling. ButWaqar had the last laugh as two balls later Trescothick got a leading edgeto a slower ball and succeeded only in skying the ball to Younis Khan atpoint.Stand-in skipper Alex Stewart was the new man to the crease. He quicklycover-drove Waqar for four but the run-rate rose to six per over as thebatsmen took stock. Azhar Mahmood replaced Waqar at the City end, and AbdurRazzaq took over from Wasim, who left the field for treatment on his leftshoulder, from the Pavilion end.Knight responded with a cut for four off Mahmood and as the fielding restrictions were lifted at the 15-over mark the score stood on 61-2. Miserly spells followed from both bowlers and the pressure forced Stewart into an uppish drive off Mahmood. A wonderful, diving catch by the substitute fielder, Shoaib Malik, taking the ball as he was parallel to the ground at short cover made the score 69-3. Stewart had gone for ten.In the next over Razzaq defeated Knight twice with the fastest deliveries ofthe day, and then saw a good appeal for lbw turned down as the batsmanshouldered arms. It was about survival now for Vaughan and Knight, and thefirst boundary for six overs was greeted with relief by the English supporters.A top edge as Knight attempted to make room against Razzaq resulted in a let-off on the point boundary when the batsman had 25. Saqlain skidded on thelush outfield and dropped a chance he seemed to have under control. ButPakistan didn’t have to wait for long. Vaughan fell in identical fashion toStewart, caught brilliantly at short cover by Saeed Anwar attempting to loftMahmood to leave the score on 86-4.Enter Collingwood for his first international innings on the ground where hehit a career-best score a few weeks ago. They weren’t the easiest ofcircumstances, however, with the rate approaching seven an over and theDurham all-rounder could manage only two before being trapped lbw, playingaround a straight one from Razzaq.Knight provided more resistance with a flowing cover drive for four offRazzaq, and Hollioake brought up the 100 in the 25th over with an edgethrough point, but at the halfway mark Pakistan are clear favourites to wrapup a comfortable victory.