London, June 08: England booked their place in the second round Super Eights of the ICC World Twenty20 with a 48-run win over Pakistan at the Oval on Sunday.
The hosts, 48 hours after their shock four-wicket loss to the Netherlands, bounced back to record a win which, because their net run-rate was now superior to that of the Dutch, ensured their progress in the tournament.
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Pakistan, finalists at the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago, now face a make or break Group B clash against the Netherlands at Lord’s on Tuesday.
Kevin Pietersen came back from an Achilles injury to lead England to a total of 185 for five with 58 after missing Friday’s Dutch debacle at Lord’s.
Pakistan, chasing 186 for victory, saw Stuart Broad take two wickets in as many balls to reduce them to 41 for three at the end of the six-over powerplay.
Kamran Akmal holed out to Luke Wright at deep mid-wicket before opener Salman Butt exited for 28.
Pace bowler Broad led England’s attack with three for 17 from three overs.
At the 10-over half-way stage Pakistan were well behind the required run-rate at 63 for three.
And by the time the hard-hitting Shahid Afridi reached the crease they were 87 for four in the 13th over.
Afridi could only manage five before he skied off-spinner Graeme Swann to substitute fielder and former Irish cricketing star Eoin Morgan in the deep.
Pakistan’s innings petered out as they finished on 137 for seven with captain Younis Khan stranded on 46 not out.
Earlier, South Africa born shotmaker Pietersen faced 38 balls with three sixes and five fours before he was caught at short third man by Umar Gul off Saeed Ajmal.
Spin bowler Ajmal had dropped a caught and bowled chance when Pietersen was on 30.
Pakistan made an early breakthrough after Younis won the toss.
Teenager Mohammad Aamir, a left-arm quick like his boyhood hero Wasim Akram, marked his international debut by removing Ravi Bopara but it needed a superb catch at backward point by Shoaib Malik to leave England nine for one.
Opener Luke Wright, who struck England’s first six of the tournament, a pull off the 17-year-old Aamir, kept the run-rate high in the overcast conditions by striking five fours in as many balls faced.
But a stand of 53 was ended when Umar Gul yorked Wright for 34.
—-Agencies–