Pakistan win Twenty20 match by 5 wickets

By Sam Hathaway
August 28 2006

Pakistan were on top today and looking strong with their key man back but England failed to capatilise from a good start after Pietersen and Strauss fell for ducks. Englands batting performance lacked any real venom as the home side ended on 144-7.

Trescothick and Bell made a good start before Bell fell to Akhtar after the Warwickshire man edged a ball off the paceman to the keeper. But it was soon to get worse for England as Pietersen fell first ball and Strauss managed to face 2 balls before being caught by Kamran Akmal off Mohammad Asif's bowling.

Collingwood also batted poorly and managed 2 off 11 balls as England were in serious trouble.

Dalrymple and new boy Yardy then started to dig England out of the mess they had made and impressed with Dalrymple making 27 and Yardy scoring 24* with the only six of the England innings.

Chris Read made 13 before he was caught by Naved-ul-Hasan off Razzaq.

Yardy and Mahmood tried to reach a 150 total at the end of the innings as England finished on 144-7. This was a below par score considering the circumstances and it was left down to the bowlers yet again to give it a real go.

Englands bowlers were quite impressive but with the low total the batsman had presented it was always going to be tough.

Stuart Broad was on a hattrick as he claimed two wickets in two balls and fellow England debutant Michael Yardy took a fantastic catch to end Shahid Afridi's exciting 10-ball 28.

Yardy and Dalrymple's off spin bowling steadied the ship slightly in the middle of the innings but Pakistans batsman were too good as they went on to win by 5 wickets.

Lets hope for a better performance in the one dayers.