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England defeated by Pakistan A in less than three days
November 8, 2005
England faced a crashing 6 wickets defeat in hands of Pakistan A in its second warm up 3-day match at the Bagh-e-Jinnah Stadium at Lahore. Chasing a gettable total of 245, Pakistan A had made 31/1 at stumps yesterday. The morning session saw night watchman Shahid Nazir frustrating the English bowlers with his hitting and he along with Imran Farhat put Pakistan A with a fair chance of winning the game. Farhat was forced to retire hurt when he was hit by a rising delivery from Steve Harmison and Nazir’s adventurous knock came to an end but by then he had scored 43 in just 31 balls. It was then responsible knocks from Shahid Yousuf and Hasan Raza that batted England out of the game. Farhat returned back after Yousuf’s dismissal and he along with Raza took Pakistan A to a memorable victory. Hasan Raza made strong claims to a spot in the Pakistan Test XI for the first test at Multan by scoring an unbeaten 71, Raza lifted the English bowlers for three glorious sixes. England has had an inauspicious start to its Pakistan tour as their batting hasn’t been able to put on the runs on the board. If that wasn’t enough they have been hit with Michael Vaughan’s keen injury. The visitors who were short of fielders today had to get in their assistant coach Matthew Maynard to field for a while with some of its players deciding to practice at the Gadaffi Stadium.
England XI 126 & 256 lost to Pakistan A 138 all out & 246/4 (Hasan Raza 71 Shahid Yousuf 57 Shahid Nazir 43 Imran Farhat 37*, Andrew Flintoff 3/67) by 6 wickets
Collingwood, Strauss score fifties; England might lose Vaughan for the 1st Test
November 7, 2005
England fared better in their second innings as they got 256 runs on the board leaving Pakistan A with a gettable target of 245. Pakistan A at stumps on Day 2 were at 31/1 with Matthew Hoggard giving the breakthrough for the visitors removing left handed Taufiq Umar. The second day’s play wasn’t really good for the tourists as they lost their skipper Michael Vaughan for an injury. Michael Vaughan who just faced a ball twisted his right knee while attempting a third run with Andrew Strauss. Vaughan who had on-field treatment was forced to retire hurt and it’s likely that he might have to miss out the 1st Test at Multan starting in another five days.
Earlier in the morning resuming at an overnight score of 127/8, Pakistan A closed their innings adding up only 11 runs. Steve Harmison wasted no time as he sent the No. 10 and No.11 back into the pavilion in quick time. England’s second innings was controlled by a 100-runs partnership between Strauss and Collingwood for the 3rd wicket. Both batsmen scored fifties with Paul Collingwood being the aggressor with 4 sixes as he hit 61 in 70 balls. Ashley Giles then came down the order as he always does and scored a valuable 49 to help England make a decent total of 256. Eighteen year old leg spinner Manjoor Amjad took 5 wickets and 1st innings destroyer Mohammad Asif accounted for three wickets.
England XI 126 & 256 (Collingwood 61 Strauss 56 Giles 49 Jones 30, Manjoor Ajmad 5/97 Mohammad Asif 3/44) lead Pakistan A 138 all out (Hasan Raza 34 Amin-ur-Rehman 32 Imran Farhat 23, Matthew Hoggard 4/39 Ashley Giles 3/14 Steve Harmison 2/54) & 31/1 (Imran Farhat 12*, Matthew Hoggard 1/22) by 213 runs at stumps on Day 2
England’s batting woes continue
November 6, 2005
England’s batting crumbled to a mediocre total for the third time in a row. This time it was its 1st innings against Pakistan A at Lahore where they were bowled out for a paltry 126. The batting lasted just a little over 35 overs. England were at a disastrous position at 53/7 and the lower order somehow took them past hundred. England are playing their second warm up game of their tour to Pakistan. The English bowlers have been keeping up the pride as they made the home team struggle at 127/8 at the end of Day 1 at the Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore. For Pakistan A, the damage was done by the 22 year old quick bowler Mohammad Asif who took 7 wickets. Pakistan A were rocked by Matthew Hoggard who got 4 wickets and Ashley Giles who took 3 wickets. The home team’s skipper Hasan Raza who has been recalled in the Pakistan Test Squad was the top scorer of the day with 34.
England XI 1st Innings 126 all out (Shaun Udal 23 Ashley Giles 21 Michael Vaughan 17, Mohammad Asif 7/62 Shahid Nazir 2/18) trail Pakistan A 1st Innings 127/8 (Hasan Raza 34 Amin-ur-Rehman 32 Imran Farhat 23, Matthew Hoggard 4/39 Ashley Giles 3/14) by 1 run at stumps on Day 1