Prudential Trophy - Pakistan tour of England 2-match one-day international series of the 2nd ODI match played between Pakistan and England at The Oval in 26th May 1978.
England all too depressingly easy win by 94-runs over Pakistan in the second ODI match at The Oval and won the 2-match ODI serie by 2-0, The batting of David Gower the young Leicestershire left-handed and hostile out cricket established English superiority beyond question.
Several explanations may be offered for the apparently vast difference between the two sides in this type of cricket, Certainly the English players are more experienced than Pakistan.
England brought in David Lloyd of Lancashire for the injured Geoff Boycott and John Lever for Phil Edmonds, Bob Willis took over the captaincy.
Wasim Bari won the toss and decided to put England into batting on a wicket which had pace and movement only by the established dead standard of The Oval.
The England innings flowed steadily and professionally from unbarassed start to brisk end by the seventh over Barry Wood (8) deemed it reasonable to drive Sarfraz Nawaz but his stroke was less than straight and he was bowled out.
Then the competent and phlegmatic David Lloyd and Clive Radley settled to the 33-run stand for second wicket partnership in nine overs, before Clive Radley bowled out by Liaqat Ali.
After 60-2, 21 years old David Gower already has a mature air, Above all he played his strokes with the classical time to spare, The call of no-ball is that days invariably too late for an attacking stroke but he took it quickly enough to drive Sarfraz Nawaz.
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| Prudential Trophy - Second One-Day International - England vs Pakistan - The Oval © Getty Images |
English opener David Lloyd added brilliant 34 off consuming 61-balls included five boundaries, before David Lloyd bowled out by Sarfaraz Nawaz.
After Lloyd exit, David Gower and Graham Roope established innings with 105-runs stand for fourth wicket partnership.
Graham Roope (35) caught Naeem Ahmed off Mudassar Nazar, then Ian Botham (1) shifted too soon into high gear and was bowled by Mudassar Nazar, Geoff Miller (0) was lbw to Sikander Bakht a better bowler than some seemed to think.
Then David Gower and Chris Old embarked on the partnership which lifted England into a position of command, They made 55 runs from 44 deliveries, Dropped from one hard and one almost impossible chance.
David Gower made a century in only his second innings in one-day international cricket, it would now be wise to let him grow into the game without undue drum-beating, England set up the 248-6 in their allotted 55-overs.
While Pakistan chasing 249 to win from 55 overs, Pakistan were never in the game in any sense of contention, Sadiq Mohammad (9) was caught and bowl by Chris Old.
At 27 for one in the 12th over, after Arshad Pervez (3) leg before wicket by Geoff Miller at 38 for two in the 18th over, Javed Miandad (0) bowled out by Chris Old, at this stage Pakistan were 39 for three wickets.
Next Haroon Rasheed (20) their main hope of a major assault on the objective went to a leg-side stumping by Bob Taylor off Geoff Miller, Bob Taylor, who was the best wicketkeeper in the world, at 80 for four in the 33rd over.
The persevering and tenacious Mudassar Nazar held on to reach his 50 before he was caught out for 56-runs by Bob Willis off Ian Botham, He batted and bowled combatively in both matches in the series.
Wasim Raja contributed brilliant 44 off facing 60-balls including two 4s and one six, then Sarfraz Nawaz scored 12 off 23-balls with one boundary.
All the England bowlers were economical the overs and significance ebbed away with Pakistan stranded far from port, When they ran out of overs they were 94-runs short with two wickets unused (Pakistan scored 154-8 in 55 overs).
England batsmen David Gower named player of the match for his delightful 114 off 122 deliveries including six 4s with strike rate of 93.44.
Pakistan vs England 1st ODI at Old Trafford, Manchester - 24-25th May 1978
* 1st ODI England won by 132 runs.
England scored 217/7 in 55 overs with top scorer by debutant Clive Radley (79) and David Gower (33), which both players playing their first one-day international match.
Ian Botham (31) and Barry Wood (26 off 90-balls), who was the second player scored with lowest strike rate of 28.88.
Pakistan best bowler by Sikander Bakht 3-56, Mudassar Nazar 2-52, Sarfraz Nawaz and Wasim Raja each took 1-1 wickets.
Pakistan collapsed 85 for all-out in 47 overs, which was Pakistan's lowest total in one-day cricket history, with top scorer by Wasim Bari (19) and Sikander Bakht (16) with their nine batsmens scored single digit-runs.
England best bowler by Bob Willis 4-15-runs with five maidens in his 11-overs spell.
Chris Old took 2 wickets for 6-runs with four maidens in his 7 overs spell, who was first bowler delivered most economical spell in one-day cricket history.
Ian Botham picked up 2 wickets in 17-runs and Barry Wood 2-25.
David Gower named player of the series for England and Mudassar Nazar for Pakistan.
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