thank you! Ajmal top edges a pull and captain Cook runs around from mid-on to claim the catch at mid-off, almost colliding with a team-mate in the process. The last-wicket malingering comes to an end after 17 runs in almost six overs and England have won. Hark at that!
England vs Pakistan, 1st ODI at Abu Dhabi, Feb 13 2012 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
1st ODI (D/N), Abu Dhabi, February 13, 2012, England tour of United Arab Emirates
New
PAK
Full commentary
end of over 357 runs • 1 wicket
PAK: 130/10CRR: 3.71 • RRR: 8.73
Wahab Riaz8 (21b 1x4)
Stuart Broad 6-2-21-1
Graeme Swann 7-3-19-2
So, England win by 130 runs, ending Pakistan's seven-match ODI winning streak in the process. Not even Nostradamus saw this result coming. Winning the toss looks to have been key, as batting under lights was so difficult for Pakistan - there was only a little seam movement for Finn but he exploited it ruthlessly. Alastair Cook, meanwhile, can have a wink and a smile ready for the next time he bumps into the likes of Botham and Atherton.
As Khurram notes: "So Pakistan lose by 7 runs to Alastair Cook."
Pakistan, meanwhile, looked a shadow of their hungry, relentless selves of the last few weeks. Ajmal's second spell aside, the bowling was workmanlike and none of the batsmen was able to last very long at the crease - Umar's 39-ball innings was the most enduring. Still, I'm sure we can let them off the odd slack showing, given the sustained excellence of some of their cricket in recent times.
Awards time ... Cook gets most runs (as if we needed to be told that) and he's also named Man of the Match. There are also assorted baubles for Saeed Ajmal and Steven Finn.
Misbah-ul-Haq: "The batting [let us down] - 260 wasn't a big score. I know that batting under lights is difficult but we have to do better against the new ball. Otherwise the wicket played very good. Of course, we can come back. We're going to come back, do things right on Wednesday."
Alastair Cook: "It's been a hard tour, it's been frustrating we haven't played up to our potential ... Glad we got off to a winning start today. It's a different format, less pressure around the bat. Ravi came in and played very well and that helped me. All the lads put in a good performance. Finny bowled well, backed up by Jimmy and Broady - it was a good team performance."
That's the presentations done with, then. England are 1-0 up, with three matches to go - we'll see if Pakistan can strike back against the empire on Wednesday. Thanks for your comments - cheerio!
34.6
W
Broad to Ajmal, OUT
Saeed Ajmal c Cook b Broad 5 (21b 0x4 0x6 29m) SR: 23.8
34.5
2
Broad to Ajmal, 2 runs
dropping short and Ajmal swivels to execute a somewhat ungainly pull. More tailender batting, please!
34.4
1
Broad to Wahab Riaz, 1 run
targeted at the batsman's body, who flips it towards deep square leg
34.3
•
Broad to Wahab Riaz, no run
short, fast, left alone outside off
34.2
4
Broad to Wahab Riaz, FOUR runs
drops short and belted baseball-style for a one-bounce four over long-on. That's more like it
34.1
•
Broad to Wahab Riaz, no run
outside off, pushed into the covers
Seriously, what do these two think they're doing? I know Pakistan have been very good at Test cricket recently - but someone has informed them of the change in format, haven't they? Anyway, Broad replaces Finn ...
end of over 343 runs
PAK: 123/9CRR: 3.61 • RRR: 8.62
Saeed Ajmal3 (19b)
Wahab Riaz3 (17b)
Graeme Swann 7-3-19-2
Steven Finn 10-1-34-4
33.6
•
Swann to Ajmal, no run
turning in from around off, tucked towards short square leg
33.5
1
Swann to Wahab Riaz, 1 run
maintains the line and driven - superb diving stop from Broad keeps the damage down
33.4
1
Swann to Ajmal, 1 run
again probing outside off and the drive finds extra -over
33.3
•
Swann to Ajmal, no run
tossed up, defended back
33.2
1
Swann to Wahab Riaz, 1 run
more room outside off and Wahab has a swing, getting a single to deep midwicket area
33.1
•
Swann to Wahab Riaz, no run
length ball, defended (groans)
end of over 336 runs
PAK: 120/9CRR: 3.63 • RRR: 8.29
Wahab Riaz1 (14b)
Saeed Ajmal2 (16b)
Steven Finn 10-1-34-4
Graeme Swann 6-3-16-2
So, no five-for but a superb showing from Finn. He ripped out the top order and set up the win for England. Er, that is assuming Ajmal and Riaz don't put on another 140 from here ...
32.6
1
Finn to Wahab Riaz, 1 run
on leg and dobbled out to midwicket
32.6
5nb
Finn to Wahab Riaz, (no ball)
ooh, that's a bit lively! Finn looses off a beamer that Riaz ducks under and Kieswetter can't get to. So, one more chance to get his fifth wicket and finish this off
32.5
•
Finn to Wahab Riaz, no run
straighter, but blocked back to the bowler
32.4
•
Finn to Wahab Riaz, no run
bit shorter, bit quicker and Riaz again sticks with a back-foot prod. Twist, man, twist!
32.3
•
Finn to Wahab Riaz, no run
continues to probe outside off and Riaz misses with a push
32.2
•
Finn to Wahab Riaz, no run
length ball, but still no swinging. Are these really Pakistan tailenders?
32.1
•
Finn to Wahab Riaz, no run
beaten outside off
end of over 32Maiden
PAK: 114/9CRR: 3.56 • RRR: 8.16
Saeed Ajmal2 (16b)
Wahab Riaz0 (7b)
Graeme Swann 6-3-16-2
Steven Finn 9-1-28-4
Are the last-wicket pair really going to try and use up the overs, just to draw things out? Come on, the last post has sounded!
31.6
•
Swann to Ajmal, no run
presses forward diligently and defends the stumps
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