Edgbaston T20: Umar, bowlers script Pakistan win

Pakistan’s Umar Akmal is one to watch for the future

In what was a neutral venue for Monday’s T20 international between Pakistan and Australia, Shahid Afridi’s side felt at home at the Edgbaston cricket ground in England, as the stadium was packed in a sea of green.Mohammad Amir and Saeed Ajmal bagged three wickets each while, Man of the Match Umar Akmal scored 64, as Pakistan beat Australia by 23 runs.

Australia welcomed back Mitchell Johnson, who joined Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait, to complete an impressive pace battery. While, speedster Umar Gul returned from a shoulder injury to bolster Pakistan’s attack alongside Shoaib Akhtar and Amir.

Electing to bat, Pakistan’s innings did not get off to the best of starts as they lost opener Shahzaib Hasan (0) on the fourth ball of the first over. Kamran Akmal joined Salman Butt in the middle, but having done the hard work, the wicket-keeper had to take the long walk back after a dismal run-out. Akmal was dismissed for 23, with the score at 45 for 2.Australia’s joys knew no end with Butt perishing on the very next ball. Tempted to play across the line of a David Hussey turner, he ended up lofting an easy catch to David Warner at deep mid-wicket.

However, Pakistan’s woes would not end there. New South Wales all-rounder Steven Smith was introduced into the attack in the eighth over, and he bagged the prized wicket of danger man Afridi, ought for naught. It was possibly poor shot selection that contributed to the Pakistan skipper’s downfall. Smith sent down a full delivery, and Afridi was struck on the front pad as he opted to go for the sweep. Pakistan: 47 for four.

Promising youngster Umar Akmal joined Shoaib Malik at the crease and made his intentions clear early – hoisting Smith for two consecutive sixes to propel Pakistan’s score to 67 for 4 after 10 overs.

Akmal and Malik staged a remarkable fight-back, adding 51 runs in just 25 balls before Malik (21) nicked a Nannes delivery to wicket-keeper Paine who made no mistake. However, Akmal would go on to score Pakistan’s fastest T20 fifty off just 21 balls, an innings laced with three sixes and six fours.

Tait made his presence felt for the first time cleaning up Abdul Razzaq (7) with a reverse-swinging yorker in the first ball of his third over.

And, he would get his second wicket soon after, dismissing Akmal (64 off 31) with a slower delivery that dismantled the bails. Tait’s ended with figures of two for 25.

Pakistan scored ten of the final over and set a testing target of 168 for the Australians.

In reply, Australia’s chase got off to a disastrous start, as Amir trapped Shane Watson (0) leg before, in the very first over. Skipper Michael Clarke made his way to the middle. However, the early jolt seemed to have spurred on explosive opener David Warner, who took Akhtar to the cleaners in his first over, hitting five consecutive fours to take Australia’s total to 22 for one after two overs. The 35-year-old quickie found the English conditions rather difficult, going for 34 runs off his two overs.

Clarke’s stay at the crease was short lived, as the Aussie captain played a back-foot cover drive off a Razzaq delivery, straight to his Pakistani counterpart at short cover.

Warner and David Hussey added 52 runs for the third wicket before Hussey (34) skied an Afridi ball to Malik. Then came the big one – Saeed Ajmal was introduced into the attack in the 12th over in a bid to curb Warner’s attacking instincts.And he did exactly that. Warner (41) cleared the left leg to play the ball through the off side, failed to read the straighter one and had his stumps shattered. Australia at this stage: 85 for four.

Mr. Cricket, Michael Hussey walked in to steady the ship with Cameron White. The partnership would last just 24 runs, as White (17) mistimed an Amir slower one, only to see it gobbled by an absolutely stunning catch from Afridi.

It was all downward for the Aussies from there as Amir got rid of Smith (15) while, Gul cleaned up Hussey (18) and Paine (1), in quick succession. Australia all out for 144, 1-0 down in the two match series.