Zia Rana

January 28, 2012

Pakistan outclassed England in all aspects of the game and won the second Test comprehensively by 72 runs.

Pakistan scored 257 runs in their first innings and England took a lead of 70 runs by thrashing 327. The home side was bowled out at 214 runs in their second innings and set a target of 145 for the visitors to win the match. The magical spinners of Pakistan bundled out England for mere 72 runs.

The second Test of the three match series reached its destiny on January 28, 2012, at Sheihk Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Abdur Rehman was declared ‘Player of the match’ for his superb leg spin bowling as he grabbed six wickets in the second innings and eight in the match.

Earlier Pakistan started their second innings at 125 runs in 61 overs for the loss of four wickets, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq were unbeaten on 46 and 35 respectively.

The duo played an important role in establishing the innings for the country by contributing 88 runs valuable partnership for the fifth wicket. Asad was the first batsman who lost his wicket on 43 runs as Azhar continued to secure the other end while adding useful runs.

He achieved his fifty and went on to score 68 runs before he was caught by the wicketkeeper Matt Prior off James Anderson at the total of 170. The tail enders accumulated few useful runs before the whole team was sent back to the pavilion at 214 runs.

Monty Panesar was the chief wicket taker with six, Graeme Swann held two as Anderson and Stuart Broad claimed one wicket each.

England required 145 runs to win the match and level the series but they put themselves under pressure by playing defensive cricket. They scored just 18 runs in the first 14 overs and paid the price by losing the first wicket in the 15th over when Alastair Cook was caught and bowled by Mohammad Hafeez on seven runs.

The first wicket fell at 21 runs which was the start of the disaster for the visitors as the wickets started tumbling at regular intervals. The Pakistani spinners became unplayable and the English batsmen found it hard to negotiate with their lethal deliveries.

Captain Andrew Strauss showed some resistance while securing one end as the wickets were going down like nine pins at the other end. He was the fifth batsman to go back to the pavilion after scoring 32 runs once Rehman claimed him lbw.

Matt prior was the other batsman who achieved double figures as none other batsman could get that. Four of their batsmen were unable to open their accounts as the whole team was crippled at 72 runs in 36.1 overs.

Rehman was the star performer with six wickets, Ajmal held three as Hafeez chipped in with one wicket.

Pakistan won the fighting Test with a good margin of 72 runs and won the three match series 2-0 at the moment with their sheer team work.