CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

Pakistan Hit Back To Curtail English Joy

Karachi, March 3 - Pakistan's bowlers produced a fine World Cup comeback here on Sunday to keep England in check and limit them to 249 for nine.

England missed out on a huge total after their openers, led by Robin Smith in his first game of the tournament, had put on 147.

The loss of Smith, just back from a calf injury and who ended his innings with a runner, sparked a collapse that saw three wickets fall for nine runs and the entire nine within the space of 100.

Smith made 75 and skipper Mike Atherton also found his form at last at the top of the order with 66.

But when he followed Graeme Hick (1) to the pavilion in quick succession, both succumbing to fifth bowler Aamir Sohail, a middle-order collapse began that was only staunched by the excellent Graham Thorpe.

The Surrey left-hander bailed out his side with a carefully constructed 52 not out, reaching his half-century in the 50th over, as he shephered the tail home.

Leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed proved Pakistan's key bowler. He took heavy punishment from the openers but then returned with a fine spell to remove Neil Fairbrother, the bemused Jack Russell and debutant Dermot Reeve, outfoxed by a fine googly through the gate. His final figures were three for 53.

Wasim Akram, however, had a miserable day. He bowled unimpressively, chose questionable field placings, fielded erratically and and hurt his hand from a wild throw-in as the Karachi crowd chanted for local favourite Javed Miandad.