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18-Sep-2010 06:30:00 GMT
England v Pakistan, 3rd ODI, The Oval

Waqar Hails Gul-inspired Pakistan Triumph

Lodon: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis claimed his team's 23-run victory over England in the third one-day international at The Oval on Friday was a team effort despite Umar Gul's devastating six for 42.

Gul produced a brilliant spell of swing bowling to decimate England who were set just 242 to win.

England were in control as Eoin Morgan (61) and Luke Wright (48 not out) put on 98 for the sixth wicket but when Morgan chipped Gul to midwicket panic set in.

Gul then ripped out Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, normally a calm head in tight situations then holed out to the last ball of Gul's 10th over giving him his last four wickets for six runs in three overs.

The win keeps the five-match series alive with Pakistan now trailing 2-1 and it was Gul who was the difference between the sides although Abdul Razzaq chipped in with two wickets.

Waqar said: "We could have got few more runs but the boys backed it up with the bowling. It was a team effort.

"After the two losses we really needed something like this and I am really glad with the way it came. Umar Gul bowled superbly but Shoaib Akhtar as well.

"We needed early wickets and we picked up two and then the game was on.

"I don't want to call it a fluke. We batted well and then backed it up - we needed something like this and the series is still alive."

England captain Andrew Strauss said: "It leaves a bit of a sour taste. We are very disappointed with the way we chased down those runs. But Pakistan are capable of putting you under pressure with the ball and they were able to do that.

"Eoin Morgan and Luke Wright looked comfortable but it just goes to show how the game of one-day cricket can change very quickly."

It was at this ground in last year that Gul took his extraordinary five wickets for six runs in the World Twenty20 against New Zealand and he showed his liking for South London with another brilliant performance.

Wright was lucky to last as long as he did as he was the recipient of an error by umpire Billy Doctrove who failed to call for a television replay when pictures showed the batsman had been out stumped when on 26.

Wright's foot was in the air when Umar Akmal - standing in as keeper for his injured brother Kamran - broke the wicket after Saeed Ajmal had beaten Wright in the flight.

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi remonstrated with the square leg umpire but to no avail and Wright escaped.

James Anderson was the pick of the England bowlers in the Pakistan total of 241 all out - which looked around 20 runs below par.

Anderson took three for 26 and conceded just one boundary in his stint whilst Tim Bresnan also took three wickets wrapping up the innings when he bowled Gul in the last over.

Fawad Alam top-scored with 64 and Asad Shafiq made 40 but Pakistan could not accelerate significantly towards the end of their innings apart from a brief flurry from Abdul Razzaq (31).

Alam faced 86 balls as he set about rebuilding the innings after Pakistan lost two wickets in the first three overs and were 31-3 by the tenth.

Shahid Afridi's dismissal seemed to sum up Pakistan's tour as he was run out in bizarre circumstances.

The tourists' captain was running to the non-striker's end when a throw from Swann deflected off his bat onto the stumps and he was run out for 34 just as he was preparing to attack the bowling in the last ten overs.

Pakistan looked to have little chance of defending their 241 when Steve Davies and Strauss got England off to a flying start but Gul had other ideas.

He bowled Strauss off the inside edge for 57 before trapping Michael Yardy leg before.

Wright and Morgan seemed to have the match at their mercy but Gul returned to cause mayhem and take the game away from England.


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