England having lost all their five matches played so far in the NatWest Series is out of the tournament. This leaves Australia and Pakistan, the two finalists of 1999 World Cup, to clash at Lords in the final on 23rd June.

Australia is right on top but Pakistan under Waqar Younis is demonstrating renewed spirits and there are high expectations for a grand finale. The two remaining matches in the league, Australia v Pakistan and England assume academic importance. Below are brief highlights of matches played so far in the triangular.

1 - Pakistan v England, Birmingham, June 7, 2001
Pakistan won the toss and batting first scored 273-6. Saeed Anwar scored a gallant 77 and Inzamam-ul-Haq continuing on from success in the Old Trafford Test, scored 79. Dominic Cork claimed 2 for 44. Darren Gough 1/53 and Alan Mullally took 1/44. Except for Nick Knight and Michel Trescothick (28) no other England batsmen coped with Pakistan attack. Shahid Afridi claimed 3 for 15 and Waqar Younis, Azhar Mahmood and Saqlain Mushtaq all claimed two wickets each. Pakistan won convincingly by 108 runs. Saeed Anwar was Man of the Match.

2 - Pakistan v Australia, Cardiff, June 9, 2001
Yousuf Youhana (91 not out) and Rashid Latif 66, restored Pakistan's innings after an early collapse, to respectability at 257 in 49.5 overs. Glenn McGrath claimed 2 for 22, Ian Harvey 2 for 39, Brett Lee 1/85 and Shane Warne 3/52. Australia achieved the target comfortably just losing 3 wickets and 4.2 overs to spare. In fact they were never under any threat or pressure from the Pakistanis in the match. Ricky Ponting, the man of the match, scored a brilliant 70. Michael Bevan 56 not out, Steve Waugh 54 not out, and Mark Waugh 47 ensured the victory. Azhar Mahmood was the best of the Pakistani bowlers conceding 37 runs off 8 overs, did not get a wicket.

3 - Australia v England, Bristol, June 10, 2001
This was an absorbing contest in the triangular series. England scored 268 for 4, Nick Knight 84, Marcus Trescothick 69, Ben Hollioake 37 and Owais Shah 28. Brett Lee claimed 2 for 55 and Glenn McGrath 1/45. Australia responded admirably with 272 for 5. Ricky Ponting earned his second successive Man of the Match award with a superb knock of 102 off 117 balls. Mark Waugh 46, Damien Martyn 46, Steve Waugh 26 not out, all contributed to Aussies total. Darren Gough claimed 2 for 44 and Dominic Cork and Alan Mullally took one wicket each but Australia easily won by five wickets.

4 - Pakistan v England, Lord's, June 12, 2001
This was so far, the most exciting and close match in the tournament. England won the toss and then contained Pakistan to 242 for 8. Yousuf Youhana was once again the prime scorer with 81, supported by Younis Khan 41 and Azhar Mahmood 27. Darren Gough, Andrew Caddick and Alan Mullally all claimed three wickets each. England innings in the beginning, was kept well under check by Waqar Younis till it blossomed well through a magnificent 170 run partnership between Marcus Trescothick and Owais Shah for the fourth wicket. England was poised at 196 for four in the 41st over and then came the slide. Six wickets fell for the addition of only 41 runs. England needed three off the last ball but Rashid Latif stumped Andrew Caddick for 10. Pakistan won the exciting match by 2 runs. Man of the match Marcus Trescothick scored 137 (142 balls - 3 sixes and 11 fours). 22-year-old Karachi born Owais Shah scored 62 (94 balls). Waqar Younis claimed 2 for 20, Abdur Razzaq 2 for 41 and Saqlain Mushtaq 2 for 50.

5 - Australia v England, Old Trafford, June 14, 2001
England were dismissed for their lowest ever ODI total - 86. Earlier, Steve Waugh won the toss and elected to bat. England put an early break on Australian batting and contained Australia to 208 for 7 in 48 overs after rain interrupted play. The Duckworth/Lewis calculation rules for the tournament gave England a target of 212 in 44 overs to win. England started cautiously yet determindly chasing what they may have thought an easy target to achieve. But the Australians had other ideas. Known for fighting back and Steve Waugh setting an attacking field they suddenly came back in the match with vengeance. Glenn McGrath providing the first breakthrough by removing Nick Knight for 12. Soon Man of the Match Jason Gillespie struck double blows removing Alec Stewart and Michael Vaughan on successive deliveries. England never recovered and surrendered the match tamely by a wide margin of 125 runs. To give some idea of England's innings, Dominic Cork's score of 17 was the highest. Marcus Trescothick (15) and Owais Shah (10) were the only other double figure batsmen. Glenn McGrath 2/19, Jason Gillespie 3/20, Shane Warne 2/16, Andrew Symonds 2/24 and Ian Harvey 1/6, all bowled Australia to a comprehensive victory. Earlier, Steve Waugh scored 64 the highest score in the Australian innings and Damien Martyn scored 51 not out. Alan Mullally claimed 3 for 50.

6 - Australia v Pakistan, Durham, June 16, 2001
Match was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain.

7 - Pakistan v England, Lord's, June 17, 2001
Pakistan captain Waqar Younis produced the second best ever One-day bowling figures of 7/36 to put England out of the tournament. At the end of his quota England were tottering at 58/7. Later Ben Hollioake and Darren Gough ensured England were not routed below their lowest ever ODI total (86) recorded just two days earlier. England were ultimately all out for 156 in 45.2 overs. Abdur Razzaq scored 75 in Pakistan's 153 for 4 wickets and England conceded the match after a pitch invasion by fans which disrupted a fine match in the end. At 149 the last shot was declared a 4, the crowd, possibly watching a scoreboard that had an error, invaded the pitch. A sad end to tarnish cricket and took away the gloss from Waqar Younis at his best with a remarkable piece of swing and seam bowling.

8. Pakistan V Australia - Nottingham, June 19, 2001
Pakistan convincingly won the thrilling and nerve wrecking match by 36 runs. It was a highly charged and eventful encounter. Once again the spectators disrupted the play, with firecrackers causing ugly scenes. This time the Australians were bent upon walking off for safety. On the run of play both teams displayed masterly skill, grit and tenacity. Thankfully, Pakistan did not panic, a rarity in recent times. At one stage, in reply to Pakistan's total of 290 for 9, Australia was galloping at such a fast pace that even the huge target looked small. Adam Gilchrist was in an explosive mood. He tore Pakistan's attack apart. Waqar Younis was forced to be out of attack after conceding 41 in his first three overs, despite a quick burst of three early wickets. Wasim Akram also came under the heavy stick, 0/68 in ten overs. Pakistan took a sigh of relief when Saqlain Mushtaq first disguised Adam Gilchrist - clean bowled for 70 (44 balls), and in the same over Damien Martyn failed to read the beauty and was snapped in slips for 2. The match then swung back in Pakistan's favour. Still Australia's man of crisis, Steve Waugh and Andrew Symonds maintained the fast pace and steered them within 100 runs of the target. A worried but determined Waqar Younis brought himself back and claimed three more wickets to seal the fate of the match. This was Waqar's fifth haul of six wickets in on-day internationals (6/59). Earlier, Pakistan's massive 290/9 was mainly built around a stylish 79 by Saleem Elahi, a sound 44 by Yousuf Youhana, an attacking 34 by Saeed Anwar and a breezy 28 not out by Wasim Akram. Waqar Younis was adjudged the Man of the Match. Pakistan's return to form and rhythm ensures a grand finale at Lord's on Saturday.

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