Cardiff: Pakistan cricket was at its best at the picturesque Sophia Gardens ground. They snapped the winning run of the England team and marched into the final of the Champions Trophy in style.
Pakistan fans transformed the lush green settings into a sea of green by waving their flags as their team recorded an emphatic eight-wicket win with 77 balls to spare. It was a shattering blow for the home team fans who believe this time their team will lift the Champions Trophy for the first time.
Pakistan showed once again that when their cricket blossoms it is a treat to watch. They excelled in all departments of the game to emphatically announce that they are determined to wipe away the tag of being an unpredictable team.
From the moment they won the toss and elected to field, Pakistan played brilliantly and bowled out England’s mighty batting line up for 211 runs on a wicket where 300 runs should have been scored. Chasing the total, their openers provided a superb start putting on 118 runs in 21.1 overs to set the stage for victory.
Fakhar Zaman hit his second consecutive half century before failing to pick Adil Rashid’s googly while jumping out of the crease and got stumped by Jos Buttler for 57 off 58 balls.
Babar Azam joined Azhar Ali with Pakistan needing 94 runs to win nine wickets in hand. The pair put on 55 runs in 11 overs before Ali fell for an elegant 76, cleaned bowled by a slower delivery from Jake Ball. Needing only 39 more runs, Hafeez and Azam steered Pakistan home before their fans, who gave them a standing ovation.
Earlier, Pakistan pacers displayed their brilliance with Hasan Ali leading the way with three wickets for 35 runs backed by debutant Rumman Raees and Junaid Khan taking two wickets each.
It was a stupendous show from Pakistan against England who were unbeaten in this tournament. Pakistan after winning the toss elected to field. England openers put on 34 runs before Raees - who came into the side in place of Mohammad Amir, who was declared unfit due to a back spasm - had opener Alex Hales drive straight to Babar Azam in the cover for 13. It was a soft dismissal and the partnership could have bettered their best in the tournament of 37 runs put in by Jason Roy and Hales against New Zealand.
Jonny Bairstow, who came in for the out-of-form Roy, played a good innings but played an irresponsible shot. He pulled Hasan Ali straight to Mohammad Hafeez at deep square leg to take a comfortable catch after scoring 43 runs. Bairstow and Joe Root had put on 46 runs in 64 balls.
Halfway mark
At the halfway mark, England were 118 for 2, their lowest score at the halfway stage in this tournament.
Ten runs later, Pakistan picked the vital wicket of Root for 46.
Leg spinner Shadab Khan made Root top edge to the wicketkeeper and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed took the catch gleefully.
Hasan Ali struck again removing England skipper Eoin Morgan who wanted to hit the ball a bit wide but ended up edging to Sarfraz for 33.
When Junaid removed Buttler and Moeen Ali for 4 and 11 runs, respectively, Pakistan moved to the top.
Three wickets fell for 19 runs and with only ten overs to go, England were pushed to 169 for 6 and the run rate dipped to 4.22.
When Rashid too got run out, all the Pakistan fans waved their flags enthusiastically.
