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Pakistan vs England 2nd ODI: Yasir Shah, visitors return to Lord’s to script turnaround

While the result at Rose Bowl in Southampton went in England's favour, Pakistan did show signs of their competencies. Can they put on a show for their fans at Lord's?

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Pakistan will have to create more chances against England to turn things around  © Getty Images
Pakistan will have to create more chances against England to turn things around © Getty Images

A 44-run loss, courtesy the Duckworth Lewis method, a not-up-to-the-mark display, almost a so-so kind of a performance now has left Pakistan trailing 0-1 to England in the five-match ODI series. Did Azhar Ali’s men-in-green really turn up or were they still commemorating their climb to the No.1 Test spot? That is not as important a question as this: Is Pakistan’s ODI team good enough to beat Eoin Morgan’s on-song England side? While the result at Rose Bowl in Southampton went in England’s favour, Pakistan did show signs of their competencies. Can they put on a show for their fans at Lord’s? Can they level the series at the Home of cricket? Well, striking a balance between the bat and ball might just be the key for them. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs England 2016, 2nd ODI at Lord’s

Despite winning the toss in the first ODI, Pakistan could not put on a challenging total. Sharjeel Khan failed to deliver on the expectations that he set for himself against Ireland with a swashbuckling hundred. Mohammad Hafeez’ misery with the bat continued. And the lower-order failed to finish on a high. Pakistan ended at 260 for 6. If not a huge total, then at least a defendable one. Half-centuries from captain Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed were vital in taking their ship forward mid-innings. READ: Pakistan vs England 2016, 2nd ODI at Lord’s, Preview and Predictions: Visitors aim to level series 1-1

Having done their homework well, Pakistan would have known that they need to get England’s opening pair out cheaply. Alex Hales was picked up Umar Gul but a dropped catch of Jason Roy by Sarfraz proved to be costly. Roy along with Joe Root put on an important partnership that was instrumental in leading England to a win. Of course, Pakistan had a chance to bounce back, when Root departed with the hosts’ score reading 158 for 3, but the visitors could not sneak through another wicket as Morgan and Ben Stokes stayed put till rain allowed the DL method to go in England’s favour.

Now with Lord’s the venue of the second ODI, Pakistan though, have a chance to repeat the kind of performance they had put together the last time they played there. It wasn’t too long ago, just a month back when they beat Alastair Cook’s side by a 75-run margin and took 1-0 lead in the Test series.

While coach Mickey Arthur seeks to calculate and identify players who would take Pakistan Cricket ahead in the limited-overs concept, and raises the stakes to perform or perish, it will be important to see how this series helps him in formulating an action plan for the future. Arthur had said, “I’ve actually started, the other night, going through potential players in Pakistan who can fulfill roles we think we’re going to need to evolve.”

He added, “I said to the players this morning nobody’s safe. And if you’re over 30 you’ve got to be coming to table more often than not otherwise it’s an opportunity to blood some younger players. I’m telling no secrets, nobody is 100% safe in the ODI side and the guys know that. Everybody knows they’re on notice.”

England meanwhile, have almost all boxes checked. Their batsmen have played responsibly, their bowlers have been accurate and stuck to plans, and the fact that they have a strong bench strength only adds to their potentials in the limited overs format.

Pakistan though can certainly take a leaf or two from their path to improvement. Among the batsmen Sharjeel will have to show a calm approach. He will have to give the England bowlers respect for bowling good lines, not try to get impatient. Hafeez might just have to deliver now, before he runs out of time. He has been struggling for some time now. Among the other batsmen, Shoaib Malik will have to take charge being a senior player in the side. Promoting him up the order might be a choice, but that will have to be seen.

In the bowling department, if the seam attack of Mohammad Aamer, Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul can somehow be more penetrating and purposeful, it might make the job easier for Azhar Ali. Imad Wasim the left-arm spinner has shown promise, and will only get better. But bringing leg-spinner Yasir Shah, Pakistan’s hero of the England tour, might be a step in the right direction. Shah is a wicket-taking weapon and can force the England batsmen into making mistakes.

Rest assured, Pakistan can never be underestimated, be it any format. Morgan will know about their fighting spirit that was on show in the Test series. And now that Arthur has given ultimatum to everyone on the team sheet, perhaps one or two of them might just pull up their socks and turn up as game-changers.

(Karan Dewana reporter with CricketCountry, loves following and playing sports. He is a Team India fan and loves winning. Follow him on his twitter handle @karan13dewan)

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