***Official*** England in Pakistan

[irfan]

Pakistan to win IMO -Anderson not doing anything with the strike nor is Ali farming the strike

 

[Jono]

Just as I post that, he edges it to Younis Kahn who takes a fantastic catch. Good fight back from England, but really Pakistan should have never let it get that close.

 

[pakster]

Pak by 13...phew!!...Tell you what, these low scoring close games are brilliant.

 

[ClownSymonds]

Younis Khan! Wonderful!

 

[Fusion]

Great fight by England! Well done Pakistan on a series win!

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

England to lose by 11, any takers?

2 runs off, dang. I was close!

 

[pakster]

Gem of an innings from Kabir, bowled well too - He should be a permanent member of Englands ODI team..

 

[Steulen]

Just as I post that, he edges it to Younis Kahn who takes a fantastic catch. Good fight back from England, but really Pakistan should have never let it get that close.

It could also be argued that England should never have let it come to this chasing just 211.

But that's what you get when you're a mediocre ODI side like England.

 

[ClownSymonds]

First up in the presentation party, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan...

And the General gives all the players 2 lakh rupees (however many that is).

 

[Beleg]

2 lakh rupee = 1900 pound sterling.

 

[ClownSymonds]

2 lakh rupee = 1900 pound sterling.

Not bad at all, considering the fact that the man of the match awards have all been something like $1000, in both Tests and ODIs.

Inzamam's average goes up to over 40. Well done.

I wonder if the Pakistani media and/or public will be angry about the president's gift to the cricketers.

 

[Jono]

It could also be argued that England should never have let it come to this chasing just 211.

But that's what you get when you're a mediocre ODI side like England.

Yeah and then you could say Pakistan should never have only posted 210 and lose 3 wickets for no runs etc. etc.

But at 8/100 odd, its almost match-won. Whereas despite England being favourites to get the 211 needed, they still needed to get it on a slowish wicket, so you can forgive them for struggling, not to mention 1) they aren't that good in the shorter form of the game, as their results have shown over the past 18 months 2) they were missing a few key players (some good, some not good yet still somehow make the side).

Pakistan are almost the perfect ODI team IMO, but they shouldn't let games slide like that. I mean everyone thought it was over, the commentators were talking about random stuff and from England being 110-150 no one really noticed. Then suddenly people realised the game wasn't over yet. I remember suddenly Waqar and Botham going "You know... this game isn't over yet" when I was thinking that around 15 runs ago, with the way Blackwell and Ali were getting easy runs and Akhtar dropping Ali off his own bowling.

None the less, Pakistan won the match and the series so all is well. England on the other hand have around 3 or 4 holes in that team.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I haven't seen any of our innings yet (oh to be rich & idle! ) but it looks like a pretty gutless effort from our top order (Freddie &, to lesser extent, Tres excepted).

Or was it just inspired bowling?

 

[ClownSymonds]

I haven't seen any of our innings yet (oh to be rich & idle! ) but it looks like a pretty gutless effort from our top order (Freddie &, to lesser extent, Tres excepted).

Or was it just inspired bowling?

A bit of both, really. Tres shouldn't be excepted - he's been pathetic since his big innings in the first Test, and continues to be.

I'm glad to have Pakistan win now. I would've missed it had they not, because I am flying to Tokyo tomorrow.

 

[BoyBrumby]

A bit of both, really. Tres shouldn't be excepted - he's been pathetic since his big innings in the first Test, and continues to be.

Was going solely by his score today. 23 not great from an opener at all, but more than Prior, Strauss, Solanki & Collingwood managed between them.

Looks like we're doomed to have to pre-qualify for the Champions Trophy.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Gem of an innings from Kabir, bowled well too - He should be a permanent member of Englands ODI team..

I think we can safely say that's not going to happen. Seeing as even when he bowls well and the track is helpful he still ends up with 2-51.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Was going solely by his score today. 23 not great from an opener at all, but more than Prior, Strauss, Solanki & Collingwood managed between them.

Looks like we're doomed to have to pre-qualify for the Champions Trophy.

What does having to pre-qualify for the CT actually entail? Is it a series of games against Namibia/Bangladesh/USA/Outer Mongolia or is it something slightly more challenging? If it's the former, I say bring it on.

 

[BoyBrumby]

What does having to pre-qualify for the CT actually entail? Is it a series of games against Namibia/Bangladesh/USA/Outer Mongolia or is it something slightly more challenging? If it's the former, I say bring it on.

Pretty much, although the up-and-coming Outer Mongolians have been rather unjustly overlooked.

I think the top 6 ranked teams come next March qualify for the tournament proper (two groups of 4 this time), with 7-10 playing off in a round robin for last two. So, as it stands it'll be us, Windies, Zimbas & Banglas playing off.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Pretty much, although the up-and-coming Outer Mongolians have been rather unjustly overlooked.

Behind the times, are we? The Outer Mongolians have been given a last chance by the ICC - Genghis Khan's body will be sent to a deathmatch (literally) with Eirik Bloodaxe and Peter Chingoka for one spot in the Champions' Trophy.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Pretty much, although the up-and-coming Outer Mongolians have been rather unjustly overlooked.

I think the top 6 ranked teams come next March qualify for the tournament proper (two groups of 4 this time), with 7-10 playing off in a round robin for last two. So, as it stands it'll be us, Windies, Zimbas & Banglas playing off.

Actually, I've just heard from someone else (not involved with this board) that it involves more than just four teams - they suggested it involved Kenya, USA, Canada and Holland, too. They didn't sound too sure though. Anyone know exactly?

EDIT: Nope, a quick look on the ICC website tells me it's exactly as BB says. Ah well, at least we get to play a couple of gentle warm-up games - give KP a chance to get that maiden ODI double-century out of the way before the real fun begins.