MANCHESTER, England, 19 June 2003 — Mohammad Hafeez’s One-Day International best 69 was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s two-wicket victory, with four balls to spare, against England at Old Trafford here on Tuesday.
The result put Pakistan 1-0 up in the three-match series and ensured Michael Vaughan’s first international as England’s one-day skipper got off to a losing start.
Pakistan roared on by their own fans, who made up the bulk of the capacity 18,000 crowd and invaded the pitch at the finish, were coasting to victory at 139 for two before they lost six wickets for 55 runs to set up an exciting finish.
Abdul Razzaq was 12 not out and Mohammad Sami whose inside out four off debutant Rikki Clarke, took Pakistan to within two runs of victory, was seven not out. Hafeez dropped on 22 by Marcus Trescothick at mid-on, after he’d chipped paceman Andrew Flintoff, faced 112 balls including eight fours. It was the 22-year-old’s third fifty in 10 One-Day Internationals.
Earlier Pakistan restricted England, who won the toss in this day night match, to a below par 204 for nine with off-spinner Shoaib Malik taking a One-Day International best three for 26.
Lancashire quick James Anderson, 20, who claimed four for 29 in England’s 112-run win when the teams last met, at the World Cup, in Cape Town in February, finished with three for 59 as Pakistan faltered in sight of victory. England fast bowler Darren Gough, 32, in his first England international since the triangular series final against India last year after being sidelined with a knee injury, then had Azhar Mahmood (16) well caught by debutant Jim Troughton at midwicket to leave the tourists 194 for eight.
Gough took two for 38 but not even he could pull this match round.
Pakistan’s openers put on 60 before Clarke struck with his first ball, Imran Nazir (33), skying the medium-pacer to Vikram Solanki at point.
Hameed, dropped at slip by Trescothick off Ashley Giles made 23 before the left-arm spinner had his revenge when one-day debutant Anthony McGrath, running back from mid-on, took a fine catch.
Pakistan wobbled on 139, losing two wickets with Yousuf Youhana (8) run out by Vaughan’s direct hit from cover and Younis Khan bowled by Anderson for nought.
Anderson then had Hafeez caught by Clarke at mid-on
Earlier England were well set at 96 for two before slumping in the face of tight Pakistan bowling. All-rounder Flintoff top scored with 39 with only recalled opener Vikram Solanki and McGrath also passing thirty.
The series continues at The Oval tomorrow and finishes at Lord’s on Sunday.
ICC to Discuss World Cup
Compensation Claim
In London, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is due to meet yesterday with the threat of a World Cup multimillion-dollar compensation claim high on the agenda.
The governing body’s executive board will discuss the claim from the Global Cricket Corporation (GCC) following this year’s tournament in South Africa.
The GCC, which was responsible for selling the tournament’s marketing and broadcasting rights, is claiming around $80 million in lost revenues after two matches failed to go ahead, according to a source within the ICC. England refused to play their World Cup game against Zimbabwe in Harare over security concerns, and New Zealand boycotted their game in Kenya for the same reasons. India’s players, meanwhile, refused to sign playing contracts tying them to the official World Cup sponsors, arguing that they already had personal deals with rival companies.
