Pakistan vs. England - 3rd ODI

[greg]

Afridi playing a quiet innings so far 28 off 12 balls.

[Mike]

Afridi is trying to hit every bowler out of the attack. I was going to say that they might have to try G Jones shortly but luckily Afridi has been run out. Phew, I thought this was going to be a massive total.

How did the run out happen? Yousuf struck the ball to Collingwood at point who slightly fumbled. Yousuf set off for the run but Afridi was looking at the ball and only took off when Yousuf was in his half of the pitch. Collingwood recovered quickly and got the ball back to Jones who dislodged the bails. Afridi scampered but was well short at the end. It would have been better for Pakistan and the rapturous crowd if Afridi had not run as Yousuf would have been out instead.

[Victor Frankenstein]

bit of luck to run out afridi, 31 off 14 balls, he could really have made it impossible (if it wasn't already). Mohammad Yousuf quietly going about his business as usual. He seems to me to be a bit like Rahul Dravid or Graham Thorpe in that he doesn't do much, isn't overly flamboyant and is a bit of a forgotten man in the press, and yet you look back at the score card and he's happily accumulating the runs without a fuss, and at a fair old rate too, only 4 boundaries but stil scoring at nearly a run a ball, top stuff.

Pakistan scoring at over 6 an over with plenty of wickets in hand for the final 10 overs, they could easily get 360+ here, although if they get carried away we still have the bowling ability to take quick wickets, just need to hang in there and try and reduce the scoring rate somehow.

[Occasional Fan]

Unfortunately, though, Victor, England have apparently no idea how to contain the runs at the moment. The rate has been consistently high throughout the innings. They are going to have a huge target to chase here.

[Victor Frankenstein]

Congratulations to Yousuf on his half century, still plenty of time for him to get a century here, top innings.

Keep the faith OF, in my head i know we're going to collapse to around 150 all out but i've decided to take the Ernest route of eternal optimism, Pakistan will score 362-8 but England will win with 365-4 with 3 balls to spare

[Pure_Iman]

hi,

afridi was playing realy well,,,and it was like he is going to make another century then a silly mistake by yousuf got him run out.i am sad,,,i realy want him to perform well in my city karachi but ,,,,akmal played well,,

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Victor Frankenstein

Keep the faith OF

Well, a fifth wicket helps! Yousuf getting just desserts having run out Afridi by getting run out himself.

[Mike]

Yousuf run out making the same mistake as before - hitting the ball to Collingwood at backward point and running. This time Inzamam wasn't suckered into the run. Collingwood dove full length to his left to stop the ball, gathered, spun around to throw on his right side and made a direct hit leaving Yousuf stranded. Fantastic bit of fielding from Collingwood. No batsman should attempt a run if it goes in Collingwood's direction.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

England - Harmison in particular - are not helping their own cause with their offer of nine wides so far.

Apologies to Stephen Harmison, on whom this comment was unduly harsh (I must have misheard something on the commentary). The card shows England's 13 wides to date going pretty evenly against all the bowlers.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Mike

Collingwood dove ...

Mike - are you American? I'd never suspected it before.