England v Pakistan, 2006
England v Pakistan, 2006
Julian Guyer
15-Apr-2007
At Birmingham, September 10. England won by three wickets. Toss: England.
An all-round display of immense character from Sajid Mahmood saw England to a serieslevelling
victory. After Strauss won his first toss in five games, Mahmood squared up Mohammad
Yousuf with a fine delivery that he edged to slip. It was an ideal response to abusive chants from
some Pakistan supporters at a player of Pakistani descent. Confronted at last with a pitch assisting
England's seamers, the touring batsmen were desperately disappointing; only Younis Khan
countered suggestions that their gifted top order was replete with flat-track bullies. But there was
still sufficient life in the surface to make England struggle chasing a modest 155. Mahmood came
to the crease at 118 for seven, after four wickets fell in 20 balls. But he made sure of victory
with three successive fours off Naved-ul-Hasan when he was reintroduced into the attack. That
reduced the target to six, and the composed Yardy struck the winning run with 19 overs to go.
Man of the Match: S. I. Mahmood.
Man of the Series: Younis Khan.