Pathetic Pakistan pummelled by England

Published on Tuesday 7 September 2010 15:52

World champions England were barely tested by hapless Pakistan in Cardiff last night as they chalked up their seventh successive Twenty20 victory.

• Tim Bresnan, left, celebrates taking another Pakistan wicket with team-mates on a day when England dominated Picture: Getty Images

Paul Collingwood's hosts coasted to a six-wicket win, while Pakistan provided more evidence that they are still unable to clear their minds for cricket after the 'spot-fixing' stresses of the past week.

Pakistan chose to bat first, but, on a pitch which they also struggled on two days ago, they stumbled to 89 all out. Eoin Morgan and Michael Yardy saw England wrap up the NatWest International Series 2-0 and equal a world-record run of victories in the shortest format.

As on Sunday, Pakistan got off to a flying start - for one over.

Kamran Akmal clubbed the first ball of the match over cover for four off Ryan Sidebottom.

Another seven came from the over, but only 12 more runs in powerplay from the next five.

In that time, Pakistan also lost four wickets. Akmal was first to go, as Tim Bresnan (three for ten) and Stuart Broad shared the early spoils - the Yorkshireman taking two for four in five balls and his fellow seamer two for two in five.

As the wickets kept falling Abdul Razzaq and Umar Gul were handed an unenviable task, but did put on 29 until they went to successive deliveries from Sidebottom.

Bresnan returned to take the final wicket, bowling Shoaib Akhtar. England's impressive quintet of bowling figures was completed by the miserly but wicketless Yardy, who had taken advantage of Pakistan's struggles to hurry through his four overs for only ten runs.

When Afridi got only his fingertips to Steve Davies' aerial clip off his legs for four in Shoaib's first over of England's reply - and Craig Kieswetter then hit Gul for an in-out six over extra cover - early confirmation was provided that Pakistan's trip to Wales would bring them no solace from their troubles off the field.

There was not even the small mercy of a quick kill either, because England had to reassess their chase when Davies chipped an easy catch to mid-wicket off Shoaib and Kieswetter was run out next ball thanks to a direct hit from cover by Umar Akmal.

There was, nonetheless, a yawning leeway for Morgan and Yardy to do the necessary, with six overs to spare.