Pounds, baby

After all the promise of the day/night fixture at Newlands, Pakistan capitulated rather unspectacularly, detracting rather from the expected battle at the end of the innings. But England bowled well, and will be taking heart from the fact that young fast bowler James Anderson has proved a revelation, and a match-winning bowler.

The real news of the day, of course, was the fastest ball ever bowled in cricket — 100.2mph (161.3kph), bowled by Shoaib Akhtar. He said at the lunch break that he had planned to bowl it in his second over, and it involved changing his action slightly to get it to break the elusive 100mph barrier. With his arm almost straight behind him, pointing downwards, he whipped it over in one fluid motion, and the ball pitched on middle and was played through the on side by Nick Knight.

A roar went up from the crowd when the speed was displayed on the scoreboard, and any doubts as to who the fastest bowler in the world have now been firmly dispelled. Shoaib was actually quite expensive — Michael Vaughn got a top edge which sailed over keeper Latif’s head for six, and any nicks and scratches went far due to sheer pace.

But it’s a great, great thing watching a genuinely quick bowler put his back into it and produce such breathtaking pace, and I enjoyed his bowling immensely.

England were very tentative batting, with Paul Collingwood the only one to really push on and finish the innings. Vaughn got 52, underlining his huge talent which has seen him score more Test runs than anyone in the world this year, and Collingwood ended on 63*, but otherwise there wasn’t much on offer from the English.

But Pakistan was far, far worse, and were not helped by the nighttime Newlands conditions which highlighted yet again the importance of batting first in Cape Town. The ball swung all over the place in the windy conditions, and with a good line the English bowling proved way too much for the Younis 11.

It was actually the number 11 batsman — Shoaib Akhtar — who got the highest score of the Pakistan innings, when he came in at 80/9 in a totally hopeless situation and clubbed 43 off 16 balls, his highest score in ODI cricket. The next best score was 29 by opener Saeed Anwar, and the rest was a mess.

Young English quick James Anderson rocketed to second in the most wickets table with another four-wicket haul (4/29), and is looking very dangerous indeed. Craig White also really ripped up the Pakistanis, picking up 3/33 off 5 overs, but it was he who Shoaib got hold of at the end — taking 21 off one over — which really ruined his figures. But he bowled better than his figures would suggest, and his swing was a handful.

Chasing 246/8 set by England, Pakistan was all out for 134, meaning they lost by 112 runs. In other words — a big hiding. What it does is seriously open up Pool A, with both England and Pakistan facing crucial games against India next week. These two games will be the key to who goes through to the Super Sixes with Australia, and will be mighty intense affairs.

So what’s the real story behind the subtext of today’s game? Yes — England murdered Pakistan, but does this tell a truth?

England just don’t look threatening enough for my liking — their batting doesn’t go very far, and there is nobody performing solidly at the top of the order. Nick Knight hasn’t really come off, and Trescothick hasn’t either, and their third and fourth batters are usually under pressure, which they don’t handle particularly well.

Alec Stewart can always be relied upon to produce something, but Nasser Hussain has never been the best ODI player and is proving that at the World Cup. And once you’re through those four your’re just about at the tail, because much-vaunted as his batting is I have yet to ever see a really special innings from Andrew Flintoff.

Collingwood looked good today, and Craig White is usually good for a laff, but there’s absolutely no tail — just a very long stump.

The bowlers are amongst it, but let’s face it — their opposition has hardly been tough. If Pakistan get hold of you you know all about it, and no attack in the world is going to get on top of them, but those instances are extremely rare and most of the time they’re an easy lot, offering up their wickets by the dozen.

Which is exactly how they were last night, offering absolutely no resistance, so it’s a little difficult to really judge the England bowling. Their game against Australia is really going to sort that issue out for us, because if they bowl well against Australia (as they haven’t done all season) they’re going to be a danger in the Super Sixes.

Pakistan can consider themselves out of it, unless they get some consistency going. On their day they’ll lose to anyone, but in their favour is the fact that India aren’t looking that hot themselves. I think England are going to beat India (although it’s going to be tough — a day/night game in Durban, with humidity, a difficult wicket and more Indian supporters than you would care to host at a tea party), which means that Pakistan are going to have to beat India if they want to go through.

Look out for the fun in Durbs.

Ultimately I don’t think Pakistan are as bad as the Newlands result would suggest, and England isn’t as good. But Nasser Hussain’s boys won’t be complaining, and if I were to put money on either side: Pounds, baby.

Cheers,

The Twelfth Man