PERTH Australia, Reuter: England gained a psychological edge over Pakistan in advance of Wednesday’s final of the Perth challenge one day tournament by beating them in the final over warm up game.
They maintained their 100 per cent record in the competition by scrambling home by three wickets with two balls to spare after a middle order collapse handed the initiative to Pakistan.
Chasing a 50over target of 230, England looked set for a comfortable win at 156 for three in the 38th over. Openers Chris Broad and Bill They had given them an excellent start with a century
stand.
But the loss of four wickets, including man of the match broad for 97, for 24 runs in five overs left England needing 22 from the last three overs.
Phillip Defreitas and John Emburey rode their luck to collect 24 off 16 balls to secure victory but skipper Mike Gating was not happy that his side had almost thrown the game away.
The Pakistan innings was marred by the controversial run out of Rameez Raja in the 26th over an incident which is unlikely to help between the two sides ahead of the final.
Rameez was caught off a gating no ball but not hearing umpire Dick French’s call, tucked his bat under his arm and walked towards the pavilion. He was well out of his ground when the stumps were broken by wicketkeeper Jack Richards from Bill Ashley’s return.
French gave Rameez out despite one of the game’s laws which states that a batsman can be given run out off a no ball only if he attempts a run.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 9, 1987
