ENGLAND v PAKISTAN 1987-88

At Rawalpindi, October 12, 13. Pakistan won by 18 runs. Toss: England. England's defeat was of their own making: with six wickets in hand and 34 required from the last four overs, they contrived by an excess of panic and insufficient intelligent batting to lose all six for 15 runs in sixteen balls. The decisive over was the 47th, the last of Qadir's quota: Lamb, Emburey and Downton made their exits during it. Yet in the field, England had done well, containing Pakistan to under 4 an over for the first 30 overs. A marvellous throw from Broad sent back Ramiz, while wickets in successive overs by DeFreitas removed Miandad (not without a tantrum) and Malik (80 balls, eight fours) just when they were looking to accelerate. However Imran, despite suffering from food poisoning, helped Ijaz (60 balls, one six, four fours) add 79. Even though the Pakistan captain did not bowl or field, England were unable to capitalise on his absence. Gooch and Broad put on 52 in fourteen overs, but Robinson's 33 from 62 balls in 21 overs left England needing 99 from fifteen overs. It was not the kind of pressure their later batsmen needed. Heavy rain, which turned the outfield into a mudfield, although the pitch remained undamaged, precluded the possibility of play on the first day.