Pakistan defeat England and win the ODI series - JUST

Pakistan have done themselves proud. After winning the test series, they have gone on to win the ODI series as well. One thing which is heartening for the Pakistani team is that they have won matches in this series in every way possible.

The match started out well, with Inzamam winning the toss, and letting it be known that 270 was a par score on this pitch. Yet, things stared off pretty slowly. From 34 for no loss, Pakistan went to 34 for 3 and then 58 for 4. It required three minipartnerships with Inzamam at the lead with Shoaib Malik and then Shahid Afridi to take the score to 174 fo6, which then collapsed to 174 for 7. A brief fiery innings from Rana Naved took Pakistan to 208 for 8, before plummeting to 210 all out off 47 overs. The English bowling really was tight and exemplary, with both Kabir Ali and Liam Plunkett bowling some tight and deadly spells. England did what every bowling attack wishes, taking wickets right after each other to leave Pakistan reeling on multiple occasions. If not for Inzamam's disciplined innings, where he played and placed the English bowling wherever he wanted. England did well to slow down Afridi, and keep Razzaq in check by bowling him out first ball.

England must have thought they had everything figured out, with a low score to chase, and after having Pakistan on the back foot the entire game. Yet, Pakistan came forward with a disciplined and decisive bowling effort. Prior and Strauss gone, leaving England at 13 for 2, to some gorgeous bowling from Naved. Shoaib Akhtar just blew one past Solanki, taking an inside edge onto the stumps. Trescothick and Flintoff settled things somewhat, to take England to 70, before Trescothick, Collingwood, Flintoff, Jones and Plunkett all fell leaving England literally reeling at 114 for 8. Shahid Afridi once again reasserted himself, with 3 wickets , basically running through the middle order of England. England held on though, with Kabir Ali and Blackwell fighting the Pakistani bowling to reach 164, before Blackwell was run out. Kabir Ali continued to fight on with Anderson, and when the 49th over started, England needed 14 runs off 2 overs, with an asking run rate of 8. It seemed difficult, yet attainable, but Younis Khan took perhaps the catch of the series to dismiss Anderson for 11, and Pakistan won the match by 13 runs. Great performance.