Pakistan beat England by 10 wickets to draw series – 2-2 Pakistan team makes Day special for their well deserving cricket fans on 70th Independence Day anniversary.

  • England 328 & 253; Pakistan 542 & 42-0

 

 

By.Asghar Ali Mubarak

The Pakistani cricket team has won the final test match against England by ten wickets and draws the test series 2-2 at oval and provided the nation to celebrate the double jubilations on Pakistan Independence Day. Pakistan team makes Day special for their well deserving Pakistani cricket fans on 70th Independence anniversary. The Pakistani team knocked off their target of 40 to win the match on Sunday, after bowling England out for 253 earlier in the day. Pakistan was in this position after getting to 542 in their first innings following a disappointing 328 from the host English team. Younus Khan was the main difference between the sides, hitting a match-winning 218 to give Pakistan what proved to be a decisive 214 run lead after their first innings declared man of the match. Despite struggling for form throughout the summer, the 38-year-old finally hit form to save his side from defeat in the four-match series. Yasir Shah again terrorized the English batsmen, taking 5-71 in the second innings as they collapsed from 193-5 to 221-9. For Pakistan Yasir Shah picked up another five-wicket haul in Test cricket as Pakistan clinch memorable victory against England at The Oval on Independence Day, squaring the series 2-2.For England, Moeen Ali impressed with the bat, hitting 108 on the first day, and Jonny Bairstow also continued to be in good nick with fifties in both innings while others fell. While Moeen Ali was important with the bat, he again struggled with the ball – going at an expensive 5.57 runs per over during his 2-128 in Pakistan’s 542.After the lunch, Pakistan picked up two wickets in two deliveries ending the stubborn resistance from Jonny Bairstow while the other batsman, Chris Woakes, got run out after a sloppy call from Bairstow.English tail resisted against Pakistani bowling. However, they could only give Pakistani batsman a target of 40 runs which they achieved without any loss.Openers Sami Aslam (12) and Azhar Ali (30) took green shirts over the line, giving Pakistan a 10-wicket win over England and levelling the test match series 2-2.Earlier, Yasir Shah dismissed England all-rounder Moeen Ali ahead of lunch, bringing to an end Ali and Bairstow’s partnership that saw England narrow Pakistan’s lead to 20 runs.The leg-spinner had Moeen Ali caught behind at 32, giving Pakistan a breakthrough just when Ali, who scored 108 in the first innings, seemed to be gearing up for another long, stubborn knock.Earlier in the session pacer Sohail Khan dismissed Gary Ballance for 17. England was 194 for 6 at lunch.On third day of the match  Younis Khan’s masterful double ton and key wickets by Yasir Shah left England hanging by a thread on the third day of the final Test at The Oval.England trailed Pakistan by 126 runs with four men down at the close of the day, after Younis’ 218 put Pakistan in the driving seat with 542 runs in response to England’s first innings total of 328.Yasir Shah had strengthened Pakistan’s grip on the match when he dismissed three key England batsmen in the closing hours of the day’s play. Shah had dismissed Alex Hales at 12, Joe Root at 39, and James Vince for a duck, putting his team in clear sight of victory.Fast bowler Wahab Riaz had struck earlier to dismiss skipper Alastair Cook for just 7 runs.England had been 88 for 4 at stumps with Gary Ballance at 4 runs not out and Jonny Bairstow at 14 runs not out.Alastair Cook’s side when four more wickets tumbled with just 209 on the board, with Jonny Bairstow departing following a battling 81. This left England still behind Pakistan’s total with Stuart Broad and Steven Finn at the crease.The pair ensured the tourists would have to bat again, but shortly afterwards Broad departed for five, caught by Younis off Yasir Shah, who ended with five for 71.With Jimmy Anderson the last man out following a lively 17, openers Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali patiently took the match home shortly after tea, Ali finishing things off with a six down the ground. A grim day for England was made even worse when Finn pulled up just two deliveries into his first over with the ball clutching his left hamstring, Younus Khan was the main difference between the sides, hitting a match-winning 218 declared man of the match