Pakistan does the improbable

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Tour diary blog

Before the England series started, Pakistan was widely expected to draw the test series at best and may be win the ODI series. With the tour behind all of us now, the results are there for everyone to see. Pakistan beat England 2-0 in the tests, a result that could have easily been 3-0, had bad light not figured as prominently as it did during the second test match and infact during entire series. In ODIs, Pakistan topped England 3-2 - a result which again could very comfortably have been 4-1 had Pakistan decided to play skipper Inzamamul Haq and pacer Shoaib Akhter in Game 5 of the one-day rubber.

With the extremely positive results against a side that was the world's number 2 in many eyes, Pakistani team is feeling as good about itself as it has felt in recent memory.

More to follow...

Andy Roberts knocks down his man

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Pakistan gift final game on a platter

Akays Tour diaries

With the series firmly in the bag, Pakistani batsmen decided to take it easy in the final game as they gifted the match on a platter to the visiting English side. England made 206/9 in 50 overs, a gettable total even on a wicket that was slow and low, and offered considerable turn to the spinners. Pakistan in reply could only manage 200 runs after being 122/2 at one stage.

Yasir Hameed and Mohammad Yousuf chipped in with gutsy 50's before both threw it away in sloppy fashion. In the aftermath of these two dismissals, a procession followed, with batters coming and going without wasting too much time at the crease. England bowlers stuck to their task very well with man-of-the-match Jimmy Anderson being the pick of the bowlers with 38/4.

In the first innings, Pakistani bowlers tightened the noose around the visiting team allowing only 206 runs. Rana Naved, youngster Mohd Asif and spinner Arshad Khan were the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan. Vikram Solanki top-scored for England with 49 runs.

© Adeel Khan