SAQ ATTACK
Mahmood fires ‘stand-ins’ to crushing win
CRICKET came home in 2019 but the next generation showed it isn’t going anywhere soon with a “clinical” dismantling of Pakistan in their opening ODI.
None of the 11 players in the England side would have had any thought of playing in this match at the start of the week.
But thanks to Covid and their own brilliant cricket skills, a back-up England side thrashed the visitors by nine wickets in an utterly dominant display.
Sparked by Saqib Mahmood’s opening burst that reduced Pakistan to 0-2 and then 26-4, England’s newlook team had five ODI debutants.
But they played like a well-grooved and experienced team who expected nothing but a win.
There was a time when Australia were so strong that there was good reason to call their ‘A’ team the second best side in the world and, such is the strength in depth in English white-ball cricket, a similar argument can be made for them.
With World Cup winner Ben Stokes at the helm, they took control from the first ball and chased down their 142-run target with more than 28 overs to spare, thanks to Dawid Malan and Zak Crawley.
“That was a very clinical performance,” said Stokes, who picked up his first win as stand-in skipper at the second attempt. “When you get an opposition four down for not many then you’re ahead of the game – and that’s great as a captain to see.
“The bowlers were absolutely brilliant but we didn’t get put under pressure today. Not every game will go that smoothly for us, but the best thing is that I told the players not to change for the occasion and they didn’t.”
Mahmood certainly rose to the occasion by taking a wicket with the first ball of the match, trapping Imam ul-Haq lbw on his way to 4-42. He then sent Pakistan skipper Babar Azam back to the pavilion two balls later, edging to Crawley at second slip.
It was the sort of start and performance that will leave many wondering why he was not included in the original squad, who are now in isolation. “It is the No.1 side in the world so it is quite hard to displace people who are in the side already,” said Lancashire paceman Mahmood. “It has been a whirlwind, but Stokesy gave us all plenty of confidence by saying we were the guys who deserved to be there.
“Stokesy said that he wanted me to take the new ball and I always thrive when you’ve got that extra responsibility – and I’m glad I was able to back that up.”
Malan and Crawley put the game to bed once Phil Salt was out, with a collection of sweetly timed strokes that could hurt Pakistan again at Lord’s tomorrow.