Cardiff: With starters – Alex Hales (13) and Johny Bairstow (43) – back in the pavilion, responsibility is now on Eoin Morgan and Joe Root as England seeks to build a solid platform from where the team could launch in an attack To put a big total on the board.
Tournament hosts and favorites England take surprise package Pakistan, who have shown great character to turn their fortune around, in a must-win semifinal clash at Sophia Gardens, in Cardiff.
Ben Stokes comes out at the bat.
England: 128-3 from 27.3 overs
SHUTTER! The absence of Amir seems to have propelled Pakistan. Brilliant bowling for them. Shadab throws him on the fifth stump, inviting Root to strike hard. However, only managed to put it in the gloves of goalkeeper Sarfraz.
Morgan goes for the sweep, but the ball bounces higher than he anticipated, as he apparently hit the top edge and turned to the slips for a catch. The England skipper immediately went up for a check when the referee raised his finger. Review suggested he hit Morgan’s forearm, not the bat. It was too high for a pound too.
England: 118-2 from 25 overs
England march, with Root and Morgan are consolidating the entrances after the first wickets of the two openers. However, the races have dried since Bairstow’s departure. England has hit only 10 limits so far, their lowest limit count in the half way mark so far in this tournament.
England 93-2 from 20 overs:
There was a loud cry from LBW against Morgan from Hafeez’s bowling, but he is safe as England need him and Root to keep Pakistan under control after Bairstow’s farewell at 17 more. If these two manage to support a solid position, this will make things even more dangerous for Pakistan, as it will give Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler permission to hammer and pinch.
England: 80-2 from 16.3 overs:
SHUTTER! Pakistan has recovered. And it is the man of danger, who is walking back to the pavilion. Bairstow was looking goodly as he was playing the big shots with ease. However, seeking to find another limit, Bairstow threw an easy grip on Hafeez in the deep square leg.
England: 77-1 of 15 overs:
Bairstow hand root have done well to stabilize the entrances after the first wicket of Hales. The duo is scoring fast, scoring the limit at their free will.
Shadab Khan in attack, and almost gets a wicket from the first ball. Joe Root tried to drive one on the off-side, but he mis-timed his shot, since the ball was in the air for a while. However, it was just short of the extra short cover.
England: 51-1 from 10 overs:
The Hales goalkeeper has certainly slowed England’s scoring rate. Sarfraz Ahmed has recognized this opportunity to present Imad Wasim in the attack. The left arm spinner has done well to stop England, with an economy rate of 2 runs per each.
Joe Root comes to the bat.
England: 34-1 of 5.5 overs:
SHUTTER! What a time for the 25 year old Raees. Hales takes his left foot in the heart of the defense, but instead of shooting it with the right, the ball is thrown into the hands of Babar Azam.
England: 29-0 of 5 overs:
The two Pakistani bowlers are swinging and sewing all over the place. After a strong appeal on the first time by Junaid, Raees now comes up on appeal, as Hales raps on the pads. This time, the referee raises his finger. However, the two England starters immediately decide to go for a DRS referral, which showed that the ball threw out of the leg stump. Except for these two opportunities however, Bairstow and Hales have been solid out there, playing free-throw shots. They have kept the score ticking at a steady pace.
England: 5-0 of 1 about
Junaid is the spot on the mark immediately, as the ball wraps Bairstow on the pads, as the Pakistani bowlers climb on appeal. The referee says no, but Amir immediately tely signals to his captain for a DRS referral. The ball tracking showed that the ball would have been lighted to shake the stump, having thrown it in line. However, less than 50 percent of the ball would have hit the stump, so the referee’s original decision is maintained.
A full event, this. After all that drama in the first ball of the most, Hales plays a classic straight drive to bring the first boundary of England.
Junaid Khan to get the ongoing process against Junaid Khan as the sun beats at the Cardiff Cricket Stadium.
