Pakistan totals 265-7 against England in 4th ODI

Author: 
STEVE DOUGLAS | AP
Publication Date: 
Mon, 2010-09-20 23:16

The match at Lord's went ahead despite England's anger at Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt's accusation that England players threw Friday's match at The Oval, which Pakistan won to keep the five-match series alive at 2-1.
Butt's allegations came after an investigation was opened by the International Cricket Council following claims the scoring in Pakistan's innings on Friday was prearranged.
Mohammad Hafeez top-scored for Pakistan with 64 while Abdul Razzq smashed 44 not out off 20 balls as the tourists made 265-7 after winning the toss. Graeme Swann, who made the shortlist for the ICC Cricketer of the Year award, was England's most impressive bowler with 4-37.
The day's action opened under glorious blue skies in northwest London but under a cloud of controversy, overshadowed by events that occured over the weekend and on the morning of the match.
Butt's allegations made on Sunday were dismissed by the England and Wales Cricket Board as "wholly irresponsible and completely without foundation" in a statement issued a day later.
England captain Andrew Strauss said his players were disappointed their integrity was being questioned and said they and the ECB were considering legal action. He added they had mixed feelings about playing Monday but felt they had a responsibility to do so.
These latest claims come as the end draws near of Pakistan's tour, which has been mired in scandal since three players — Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir — were accused of "spot-fixing" in the fourth test at Lord's last month.
The trio were charged and suspended under the ICC's anti-corruption code and have returned to Pakistan. A fourth player, Wahab Riaz, was also questioned by police under caution last week but was released without charge.
Riaz was involved in a confrontation with England batsman Jonathan Trott in the nets before Monday's match. The ECB said words were exchanged between the two players and match referee Jeff Crowe has spoken to the pair.
Pakistan's openers gave their team a great start, reaching 62 before Kamran Akmal departed in the 14th over on 28 when he hooked a short ball by Broad straight to Strauss at square leg.
Swann came on to relieve the England seamers and provided the next four breakthroughs, the spinner taking his first wicket in his first over by bowling Asad Shafiq for 11.
Swann then sent Mohammad Yousuf back to the pavilion in his second over after the veteran batsman edged to wicketkeeper Steven Davies on 3. The score at that time was 94-3.
Tight bowling after that meant Pakistan's progression was snail-paced. Frustration at being tied down was probably at the heart of Hafeez's dismissal, the opener top-edging to Trott at gully as he attempted to thrash Swann to midwicket. Hafeez, who was dropped on 32 by Michael Yardy, hit five fours and a six in his 100-ball knock.
In his last over, Swann bowled Fawad Alam for 29 to leave Pakistan on 155-5 in the 38th but the team prospered after the offspinner's superb spell ended.
Captain Shahid Afridi smashed 37 off 22 balls, including two sixes, in a 54-run sixth-wicket partnership with Umar Akmal, who made 21. Both were caught attempting big hits to the boundary but allrounder Razzaq's entertaining late cameo, which featured five successive fours to finish the innings, gave Pakistan a challenging total to defend.
England made two changes to the side that lost at The Oval, bringing in batsmen Paul Collingwood and the fit-again Ian Bell for Luke Wright and Ravi Bopara.

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