Published: Feb 11, 2015, 12:42 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 11, 2015, 12:42 PM (IST)
England stumbled, trotted, sprinted, then pottered to a competitive 250 for eight against Pakistan in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 warm-up match at Sydney. Pakistan’s bowling, led by Yasir Shah, ensured a chase-able total as Gary Ballance and Joe Root registered useful half-centuries. The bowlers did their job, but it remains to be seen whether the volatile Pakistani batting can chase down the total. LIVE UPDATES: Pakistan vs England ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 warm-up match 11.
England started poorly, with the in-form Moeen Ali going early for just four. An attempted flick shot off Ehsan Adil found the leading edge that was duly caught by Younis Khan at cover. Adil and Sohail Khan gave ample reason for Pakistan to feel hopeful with some outstanding new-ball bowling. LIVE STREAMING: Pakistan vs England ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 warm-up match 11.
They were aided due to the fact that Moeen’s fellow opener was Alex Hales rather than Ian Bell, while it was Ballance who came in at No. 3 rather than James Taylor. Both men were playing for a spot in the starting XI, and were understandably cautious at the start. They were scoring at under five runs an over for the first 10 overs before they opened up. Ballance especially played some delectable cover drives reminiscent of the mauling he dished out to India in 2014. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: POINTS TABLE.
However, Pakistan’s perennial go-to man Shahid Afridi soon ended the stand, getting Hales to hoick a ball to Sohaib Maqsood. That brought Joe Root and Ballance together, and the two young players began to maneuver the ball around at a fair clip. Ballance completed a well-deserved half-century, but fell to Yasir Shah almost immediately after. Yasir was not done, getting rid of Eoin Morgan for a duck. Not for the first time since England arrived in Australia was Morgan dismissed without scoring. The English skipper’s woes with the bat have persisted since the blackmail controversy last month. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS.
Ravi Bopara came in next, but never looked at ease and was soon Yasir’s third victim. The leg-spinner was terrific on the day, ending with three for 45 in his 10 overs, and is almost sure to feature in Pakistan’s XI for much of the World Cup. Jos Buttler was unable to use the long handle as he usually does, and was bowled by a well-directed yorker from Sohail. Root was dismissed for 85, but by then he and Chris Jordan provided something of a flourish to the end as England reached a competitive score.
Brief scores:
England 250 for 8 in 50 overs (Gary Ballance 57, Joe Root 85; Yasir Shah 3 for 45) vs Pakistan.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage
