LONDON, 21 June 2003 — James Anderson claimed England’s first one-day hat trick and Marcus Trescothick struck a savage 86 as the hosts beat Pakistan by seven wickets with a massive 28 overs to spare in the second one-dayer yesterday.
The 20-year-old Anderson, who also took a wicket with the first ball of the match, removed all rounder Abdul Razzaq and tail-enders Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami to wrap up Pakistan’s 44-over innings of 185 at The Oval.
Trescothick then tore Pakistan’s pace attack to shreds, his 55-ball onslaught including 76 in boundaries — 16 fours and two sixes.
The left-hander, using the pace of the ball, hammered three boundaries in an over off Shoaib — who reached speeds of almost 99mph — and Azhar Mahmood, and outdid that with four off Sami.
He also hit two sixes as England, hardly the most stylish of one-day sides under former captain Nasser Hussain, cruised home in 22 overs under blazing sunshine.
They hit 132 in boundaries and scored at eight-and-a-half an over to level the three-match series at 1-1. Pakistan were left trying to make sense of the carnage.
Shoaib, the world’s fastest bowler, was conceding almost 10 an over before dismissing Michael Vaughan (10) and James Troughton (0), both caught behind.
He also had Vikram Solanki, who had made eight in a first-wicket stand of 109 before ending on 40 not out, dropped off a no-ball and, next delivery, spilled at slip.
Shoaib ended with two for 69 from nine overs, while Azhar Mahmood conceded 35 off three. Andrew Flintoff, with 26 in 13 balls, rubbed in the humiliation with three consecutive boundaries off Mahmood to end the game.
England, however, fielding the same inexperienced side that lost at Old Trafford, deserved their luck for an entertaining display.
“That was very special - and I take no credit as captain,” Vaughan said. “Anderson set the tone from the first ball and everything just came off for us.”
For Pakistan, there was only the consolation of Yousuf Youhanna’s high-class 75 not out. They won the toss and little else as Imran Nazir was immediately dismissed lbw by Anderson. Their problems intensified when four middle-order wickets fell for 19.
Yasir Hameed chopped Darren Gough on to his off stump and Younis Khan, rooted to the crease, edged behind first ball to make it 61 for four.
Soon it was 80 for six when Solanki leapt up at gully and, Jonty-Rhodes style, parried a Rashid Latif waft before catching the rebound.
Youhanna and Mahmood put on 72 before Mahmood pushed at a wide Rikki Clarke delivery and was well caught above his head by Solanki at gully.
Anderson, still playing club cricket a year ago, finished things off, his last ball a yorker. It was England’s first hat trick in 373 one-dayers.
Trescothick then took up the baton.
By Shoaib’s second over, he was driving consecutive half-volleys through extra cover followed by a cut to the fence. Next ball, a 98 mph leg-side wide, also hurtled to the boundary. Mahmood was treated with similar disrespect before Trescothick, on 30, had his one escape, a towering top-edged pull dropped at fine leg.
“I think we tried to bowl too fast and lost our line and length,” said captain Latif.
Trescothick, driving and cutting, reached his 13th one-day half-century off 37 balls, including 48 in fours, as 92 came off 10 overs. After a top-edged six off Shoaib, though, his luck ran out when another big top edge off Razzaq was caught behind.
The teams meet again in the deciding game at Lord’s tomorrow.
