England completed a landslide victory input-and-225-hit Pakistan, its heaviest defeat in Test cricket before lunch on the fourth day in the Lord to take the series 3-1, but lost in the field insignificance after fixing the revelations that erupted late on Saturday and sent the game to spiral into another crisis. For the record, Graeme Swann got his ninth haul of five pedestrian, and his first at Lord's, while Omar Akmal biff half century late.
A sombre atmosphere greeted the fourth morning with all the talk about the News of the World story involving a large number of Pakistani players. There was a strange accumulation of England starting to play as hot, as usual, while the visitors were in the locker room when they reached the land until 10am. Even the not-out batsmen, Azhar Ali and Umar Akmal, there could be a quick hit before resuming their entries and the contest was never going to last long.
There may have been the possibility of a repeat of four years ago The Oval when Pakistan refused to take the field, but this time to live up to his word and resumed the game. However, briefly, that lasted. MCC members allowed hitters a soft hand as he reached the crease, but it was a formal recognition of the best.
Swann made the discovery with his ball first 10 days, beating the outside edge Azhar with a beautiful delivery that held its line and took off stump. However, to the lush Swann usually only one conclusion could be turned off with the England players well aware that their actions in this game - and series - will forever be tarnished.
But they remained professional and did what was required. James Anderson, who was quickly replaced Steven Finn at the end of nursery, Kamran Akmal found outside edge to conduct another round miserable for the wicketkeeper who finished with 24 runs in six innings. Amir Mohammad, a young man with much on his mind, quickly wiped another wonderful ball that pitched middle and Swann crumbs and Wahab Riaz launched a simple catch to mid-on as Pakistan just gave in.
Saeed Ajmal was driven directly by a Stuart Broad, but Pakistan to avoid becoming the first to be filmed for less than a hundred times in a test in England since 1958 as Umar threw the bat in 40-ball fifty which included two sixes Swann out in a tenth-pedestrian position 50. However, Swann had the last word when Mohammad Asif was caught at slip when a bottom edge deflected off the boot and secured a place on the honor roll. Honor, however, was scarce elsewhere.
Monday, August 30, 2010
