Strauss inspires England to second win by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Headingley, Leeds
Scorecard:	England v Pakistan
Player:	Kamran Akmal, Asad Shafiq, SCJ Broad, AJ Strauss, IJL Trott
Event:	Pakistan in England 2010

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DateLine: 12th September 2010

 

England almost snatched defeat from the jaws of win before sealing a four-wicket win over Pakistan in the second one-day international. England, chasing 295 for victory, were cruising at 220 for two but slumped to 260 for five. The hosts eventually got home with three balls to spare to go 2-0 up in this five-match series.

 

Kamran Akmal top-scored with 74 in Pakistan's 294 for eight. He put on 122 with fellow opener Mohammad Hafeez before Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq shared 74 for the third wicket. Stuart Broad's 10 overs cost an expensive 81 runs but the seamer's four wickets helped prevent Pakistan from reaching 300.

 

Shafiq in only his third match at this level, drove off-spinner Graeme Swann for six over long-on on his way to a maiden ODI fifty off 57 balls. But he then cut Broad to backward point where Bopara, despite colliding with Strauss, held the catch.

 

Strauss received solid support from Jonathan Trott in a second-wicket stand of 146. Strauss's 134-ball innings ended when he missed a sweep against Ajmal and was lbw to leave England 248 for four.

 

England, not long after Strauss was out, needed 42 off the last five overs. Ravi Bopara and Michael Yardy got the target down to 13 off 12 balls before Bopara lofted off-spinner Saeed Ajmal to Mohammad Hafeez at long-off. However, new batsman Tim Bresnan cut Ajmal first ball for four and England needed six off the last over, from seamer Umar Gul. Bresnan was unable to score off a near yorker length first delivery but the second was an offside wide and that left England needing five off five balls. Bresnan's top-edged hook for four off the next ball, a bouncer, saw England draw level and then a single with Bresnan out by yards had Fawad Alam's throw hit the stumps, saw the hosts to victory.