Mighty Finn seals England victory
AN Alastair Cook century and a Steven Finn four-wicket haul proved a winning combination for a second time in two days as England took a 2-0 lead in their one-day series against Pakistan.
Skipper Cook, with a beautifully composed 102, set the foundations when he became the first England player since Paul Collingwood in 2007 to hit back-to-back one-day international centuries as his side posted 250-4.
That proved enough as Finn also replicated his heroics from the series opener, returning identical figures of 4-34, to skittle out Pakistan 20 runs short of their target.
“We thought around 250-260 would be a really hard total to chase down,” said Cook. “After batting on it we knew when we bowled up front that was the easiest time to bat.
“I thought Steven Finn was outstanding. I think his first five overs only went for seven runs.
“We got ahead of the game then. I thought we also fielded outstandingly well. We saved a lot of runs. It was a really good team performance. We’ll enjoy it tonight.”
Finn, whose performances provided the only highlight of the 5-0 drubbing at the hands of India last October, is rapidly making an irrefutable case for a promotion to the Test team.
The Middlesex giant hasn’t played a five-day game for his country since the Adelaide Test at the end of 2010 but the 22-year-old is hopeful that his rapid improvement with the white ball will see him get a chance with the red one in the not too distant future.
“Every game I get to play for England it’s an honour to put the jersey on,” he said.
“Obviously in the Test team the bowlers ahead of me are better than me at the moment. If the England selectors are sitting back and thinking I might be good for Test selection, then that’s good too.”
SECOND ODI
ENG 250-4 | PAK 230 ALL OUT
The Toss: England are unchanged and, after calling correctly, captain Cook fancies a bat
15.3 Overs: KP hustles and bustles his way to 26 before Ajmal gets the better of him again. Same old story
39.6 Overs: Cook becomes the first Englishman to reach back-to-back ODI centuries for five years
50 Overs: England finish on 250-4 thanks largely to Cook (102) and Bopara (58)
15.2 Overs: Pakistan lose their first wicket with the score on 61 as Anderson snares Hafeez
44.2 Overs: Afridi looks in the mood but then misses a straight one from Anderson to leave Pakistan on 207-6
48.6 Overs: Fast and straight does the trick for Finn who ends with another four-wicket haul as Pakistan fall 20 runs short