Pakistan v England, 3rd T20, Abu Dhabi, 27 February, 2012

So, 130 to win then. Looked much worse for a long time. It's weird how Pietersen's so comfortable in this format and had been shite for so long in the 50 overs format.

Shittish pitch, from the five overs I've seen. Not really made for T20 batting. I still think we were under par, by probably 10 runs. The reason for this is simply that Pakistan have a very good bowling attack. Almost all their bowling is a banker for cheapness. Hence KP's knock looks slowish, it's a shame Broad is so incredibly shite as a T20 batsman, or he'd probably bumped it up a little.

tricycle wrote:So, 130 to win then. Looked much worse for a long time. It's weird how Pietersen's so comfortable in this format and had been shite for so long in the 50 overs format.

Aye, incredibly weird. Still, I expect it would be difficult for a batsman like him who has constantly had to try and dig England out of utter strike rate slumps, where at least three of his fellow top six have been happy to meander along at a 60-70 S/R. Luckily that's changing.

Brass Monkey wrote:Shittish pitch, from the five overs I've seen. Not really made for T20 batting. I still think we were under par, by probably 10 runs. The reason for this is simply that Pakistan have a very good bowling attack. Almost all their bowling is a banker for cheapness. Hence KP's knock looks slowish, it's a shame Broad is so incredibly shite as a T20 batsman, or he'd probably bumped it up a little.

True, possibly a bit below par but not too much I'd think. The pitch is more a fourth day wicket than a Twenty20 pitch.

Hafeez first baller.

Shite happens. Zia unlucky, so too was Buttler to be fair though.

Finn bowled poorly up top, but apart from that decent bowling. Shame they've got some dashers who can wreck us. Good (and only) practice for SL.

My question now is- where are the cutters? The pitch is clearly gripping and turning. Colly would have been a decent time filler in this match for England.

Pakistan's game to lose now, IMO.

tricycle wrote:My question now is- where are the cutters? The pitch is clearly gripping and turning. Colly would have been a decent time filler in this match for England.

Aye, the pitch suits his batting in a way as well.

They're playing Swann carefully, but it's such an easy rate it's not damaging them. Interesting to see how the other bowlers go.

Run out. That'll probably help Pakistan!

Brass Monkey wrote:Aye, the pitch suits his batting in a way as well.

They're playing Swann carefully, but it's such an easy rate it's not damaging them. Interesting to see how the other bowlers go.

Aye, his style would have been a bit more useful than the dashing six hitters on this pitch.

Farks sake Ten cricket, telecast one over uninterrupted.

Akmal Misbah, good partnership for Pakistan.

Farking hell, this is grating my arse now. They're not even waiting for the ball to be dead to put the stupid telly ads. Prats.

35 from 28 with 7 wickets left looks an easy prospect.

Finn eh? This over should be interesting.

Dernbach, Broad, Finn to bowl, so yes.

Must say that young Finn doesn't understand that length balls late on are absolute chicken 'n' ribs in Twenty20.

Or he could bowl slower on this pitch and force the batsman to generate the pace. This for me seems an ideal cutter pitch.

Umar gone, Afridi in. That's fire to frying pan there.

Squeaky bum time.

Will he bowl a slow ball?

Top choice on this pitch. Afridi gone?

Aye, he's gone. Just a single.

Needs a six off the last ball----Miandad style.

If anyone can Misbah can.

What a cracking finish! Can't believe Pak lost in a way. Broad's over was excellent.