Pakistan knocked down world no.1 England

The lethal bowling of Pakistan, led by Saeed Ajmal, humiliated the best team of the world, England, by a huge margin of 10 wickets in the first Test of the series with more than two days to spare.

Saeed Ajmal Celebrates after Dismissal of Graeme Swann in the 1st Test against England in Dubai
Saeed Ajmal Celebrates after Dismissal of Graeme Swann in the 1st Test against England in Dubai

England was bowled out on 192 runs in the first innings and Pakistan responded with 338. The English batsmen surrendered for 160 runs in their second innings and set a mere target of 15 to win the match which was achieved without any loss.

The match was played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on January 17, 18 and 19, 2012.

Saeed Ajmal was rightly declared ‘Player of the match’ for his ten wickets haul in the match.

Earlier Pakistan started the third day with 288 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 104.3 overs, Adnan Akmal was unbeaten on 24 as his partner had yet to appear at the crease. Umar Gul joined him on the third day but was gone in the very next over with the addition of just one run in the total.

Adnan took charge of the game with a little support from the tail enders and scored his deserving fifty in the 118th over. He was the last batsman to be dismissed on 61 runs when the score board displayed 338 runs for Pakistan.

Graeme Swann was the star performer for the visitors by grabbing four wickets, Stuart Broad claimed three, James Anderson two and Jonathan Trott held one.

England had a catastrophic start as the express bowler Umar Gul was unplayable and clinched their three top order wickets at the total of just 25 runs. Saeed Ajmal struck again in the second innings by taking the important wicket of Ian Bell at four runs as 10 runs were added in the score.

Trot and Eoin Morgan tried to consolidate the innings and accumulated 39 runs for the fifth wicket. The later was caught by the wicket keeper Adnan Akmal off the leg spinner Abdur Rehman on 14 runs.

The wickets started tumbling as there were signs of panic among the English batsmen and Trott was the next batsman to depart at 87 runs while contributing 49 runs from his blade. Matt Prior was the next batsman to follow him at the same score and they were destined to calamity.

Swann played a brave innings of 39 runs in the end before the whole team was sent back to the pavilion on 160 runs.
Gul broke the back of their batting with four wickets while Ajmal and Rehman shared three wickets each.

Pakistan was required to chase an easy target of 15 runs which was smashed by Mohammad Hafeez on the 16 balls with the help of three fours and the victory was accomplished with a wide margin of ten wickets.

Pakistan is 1-0 up in the three match series and will enter the second Test with much more confidence on January 25, 2012 at Abu Dhabi while England have to regroup themselves against the destructive bowling of the opponents.


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