ICC Champions Trophy: Pakistan stun England to reach final

NEW DELHI: In the first semi-final of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan shocked favourites England by eight wickets with a spirited performance both with the bat and ball to enter their maiden tournament final. After bowling out England for 211, Pakistan made short work of the target and led by Azhar Ali (76). They chased down the total for the loss of two wickets and 12.5 overs to spare.
After putting England in to bat at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on Wednesday, Pakistan bowlers chipped away with the wickets at regular intervals and aided by some good fielding, curtailed England. Four English batsmen got starts - Joe Root (46), Jonny Bairstow (43), Ben Stokes (34) and Eoin Morgan (33) - but failed to convert it further. For Pakistan, Hasan Ali returned 3 for 35 in his 10 while Rumman Raees and Junaid Khan took two apiece. Openers Fakhar Zaman (57) and Azhar then put on a 118-run opening stand.
We break down the match in five:
Scratchy start by England
England survived an early scare when Junaid seemed to have trapped Bairstow, slotted in for Jason Roy, off the second ball of the innings. The length ball jagged back in, to hit Bairstow’s pad and the ensuing appeal looked mighty close. The umpire ruled it in favour of the batsman, but reviews showed the ball would have gone on to hit the off stump. Alex Hales then went on to successfully review another lbw decision off Rumman Raees. Raees, making his debut in place of an injured Mohammad Amir, though got the breakthrough when Hales drove a length ball straight to covers. Root and Bairstow then steadied the England innings and took England past the 50-run mark. Bairstow was looking good taking four boundaries before being sent back by Hasan. The opener took on a short one from Hasan but managed only an edge that was caught at deep square by Mohammad Hafeez.
Pakistan chip away at wickets
Skipper Morgan and Root then consolidated the innings and took England past the 100-run mark in the 22nd over. But once again, Pakistan struck at the right time. Legspinner Shahdab Khan induced an edge from Root that was easily pouched by Sarfraz Ahmed behind the stumps. Root went for 46 off 56 deliveries. Morgan departed soon after, with Hasan claiming the England skipper for 32 off 50 deliveries. Morgan charged down the track only to edge a wide one behind the stumps.
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Bowlers run over England
Junaid was brought back in to the attack for his second spell and he immediately got in to the act with the wicket of dangerous Jos Buttler for 4. Buttler was beaten all ends with a back of length delivery that moved away just enough to take the edge and Sarfraz did the rest. Three overs later, Junaid sent back Moeen Ali with a short delivery. Zaman took a good running catch at deep backward square. Moeen departed for 11 as England slumped to 161 for six. The hosts tried to fight back with Stokes in the middle, but Pakistan’s strong bowling attack meant Stokes was bogged down and the pressure got to the allrounder and he perished to a slower one from Hasan caught at extra cover by Hafeez. He made 34 off 64. Hasan added the wicket of Adli Rashid as England’s tail took the team’s total past 200 before being bowled.
Fakhar Zaman takes on England
Pakistan were off to a fantastic start courtesy youngster Zaman’s feisty knock. He started of with a six off a top edge. Off the heels off his breezy 50 against Sri Lanka, Zaman took on the England attack. Experienced campaigner Azhar, at the other end, started very slowly, but was calm in the middle. Zaman hit a four in every over after getting his eye in. Azhar then upped the ante taking a six and a four off Stokes. Zaman then scored his second consecutive fifty off just 49 deliveries and the duo went on to add 100 runs for the opening wicket – the first triple-figure opening run-stand for Pakistan in 35 ODIs. By the time Zaman departed, stumped off Rashid, Pakistan had reached 118 in 21 overs.
Azhar leads the charge
With only 84 required off 26.5 overs, Azhar and Babar Azam played sensibly. Azhar got to his fifty with a four off Wood and along with Azam he combined for 55-run stand for the second wicket. England failed to get a breakthrough and despite starting the competition as favourites, they surrendered meekly. Azhar finally perished to a slower one from Jake Ball for 76 (100), but the wicket came too late in the day for England. Azam (38*) then took Pakistan to an easy victory.