England see off Pakistan in Cardiff
World Twenty20 champions England celebrated their first international since winning the World Cup with a five-wicket win over controversy-hit Pakistan at Cardiff.
The Swalec stadium was only three-quarters full on a humid, overcast day after a dreadful week for Pakistan with further newspaper allegations of corruption in their camp emerging overnight.
England, set 127 to win in the first of two matches scheduled for Cardiff, were struggling on 62 for five at the halfway stage with Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi taking two cheap wickets with his brisk wrist spin.
However, Eoin Morgan was badly dropped at short fine-leg on 13 by Shoaib Akhtar attempting a reverse sweep and England eventually reached their target with 17 balls to spare.
Three Pakistan players, including test captain Salman Butt, have been suspended after allegations in last Sunday's News of the World that three no-balls were bowled deliberately in the fourth test against England.
The Pakistan team held an emergency meeting after new allegations by the newspaper on Sunday that a fourth player was being investigated, leading to speculation that they could pull out of the series.
After Paul Collingwood had asked Pakistan to bat following a 30-minute rain delay, England's premier bowler Graeme Swann showed his versatility in all forms of the game with two for 14 from his four overs. Pakistan scored from only 10 of the off-spinner's deliveries.
Michael Yardy was almost as parsimonious from the other end, taking one for 21 with his flat left-armers.
A late burst of 38 runs from 29 balls between Umar Akmal (35 not out) and Afridi (16 not out), who was dropped twice, took Pakistan to 126 for four. It was the first time they had failed to hit a six in a T20 match.
Shoaib Akhtar, 35 last month, recaptured the searing pace of his youth, albeit in the knowledge that he only needed to bowl a total of 24 deliveries with an opening-wicket maiden.
Although England faltered midway, losing four consecutive wickets from the last ball of an over, their target was always too small if they kept wickets in hand and Morgan (38 not out) and Yardy (35 not out) took them to victory with a sixth-wicket partnership of 67 from 43 balls.
Comment 10 - 29 of 29
This has done cricket so much damage.Every time I watch a game I will be thinking whether or not it has been fixed. Don't think this can be swept under the carpet.So sad.
byron.rodriguezenosienosie, that's a very long name. Is that Ron to your mate on facebook?
match was fixed, these games should be cancelled now, they are all cheats, officials and players, corrupt sport
my sainted aunt, was that american sarcasm, you could, kind of, see it, coming!
well done england ...and well done pakistan must of been hard not to throw a match
was that anouther sell out
Nazi, nissen, the News of the Worlds job is to create as much money for the 'dirty digger' as possible. By any means whatsoever, the truth be damned, as indeed you are. 'You' have never given anything to anybody except the clap! We don't want you here anymore.
WHEY AYE Donney... hope we can argue for the rest of the season :P..big fella!
Rigged..
@Caroline... someone normal and talks with intelligence!...well said.
naughty donney :P
England won the match, Pakistan won the bet.
article 6. @ All muslems' (sic)
Dear Alan,
are we to base our collective condemnation of an entire country on the actions of a few? If that be the case, that would make all of this country venomous, bile spouting cretins, solely based on your remarks and that of the cranks who supported your vile, racist rant. Personally I still remain convinced that the legal precedence of innocent until proven otherwise, is still the basis of law in this country. Long may it remain so.
these comments are supposed to let people express their views on todays 20/20 match, not preach their racist comments like alan ARTICLE 6,
a lot of people have lost their lives in this tradgedy, but to a certain , ignorant prat, thinks its one big joke..
one day he become an adult and write adult comments.
well done england, :) afridi should bat at 3, also I hope they are doing extra fielding practice tonight and tomorrow.
so they let england win then ,how much was that worth lolza
Just find out how much shoaib akhter was pain to drop a dolly and throw a regular ball out to boundry and sheed ajmal how much was he paid to bowl like school kid..... i just see 2 honest guy playing cricket for pakistan UMAR AKMAL AND AFRIDI rest r just corrupted muppets....................get them all out
Gets me why everone here is blaming the NOTW. They are only doing their job which is to expose Liars, Cheats, Adulterers, Thieves, Rapists, Paedophiles,Crooks, Robbers,Misfits and anybody else who is not decent and law abiding. This will obviously affect people who go over the line but it is necessary. There are no newspapers, TV stations or anybody in Pakistan who would have exposed this corruption, Pakis were very foolish to come here and play their tricks, shows they have very poor judgement and are idiots to boot to think they could continually get away with this
For all the religous garbish being sprouted here the koran would not be on the side of the cricketers, there will be no 72 Virgins waiting for them, only the Devil himself old Lucifer
Why dont you just go home and help with the flood relief?? We do not want you here anymore, you have bitten the hand that feeds you
this post is to alan who thinks all muslims are alike you are just like your buddy champions read what i had to say about that idiot i rather not repeat my self i suppose i will do it just for you as you are the idiot at the moment you have taken over so called champions post look ever 1 yet another stupid racist _unt like your brother champions of idiots
thanks 4 that
this is to champions with regards to your post you are a racist and always will stay 1 what has the quran got to do with this, its a book mybe you need to read it first you stupid champion or far from it shall i say get a life
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