Pakistan held their nerve in a tight encounter against the Marylebone Cricket Club team, consisting of international cricketers, in their one off Twenty20 encounter.
The MCC team was boosted by the likes of captain Sourav Ganguly, Brian Lara and Chaminda Vaas. However, it was Pakistan who prevailed on the day as Umar Gul struck twice to remove both, Lara and Ganguly, as the team chased Pakistan’s total of 165.
Pakistan based their innings around the openers who stormed the first five overs before Shahzaib Hasan fell for thirty-four runs. Chris Harris showed off his niftiness in polishing off Fawad Alam and the Pakistan captain, Shahid Afridi.
But Umar Akmal held Pakistan’s challenge in his palms as he graced his way to a half century in the tour match at Lord’s. It propelled Pakistan to 165, every run worth its weight in gold in hindsight, Harris ending up with three wickets.
The MCC had Lara showed glimpse of his repertoire before Umar Gul ended his innings of thirty-seven. Gul, also, ensured that Ganguly would hardly trouble the scorers. Shoaib Akhtar also played his part in an early breakthrough and in dispensing of Harvey.
Adrian Blizzard though was having none of it, pulverizing the bowling with seventy-three runs from only fifty-nine balls, punctuated by three sixes and six boundaries, and also featuring in a partnership with Ian Harvey, before Mohammad Aamer stopped him in his tracks with two balls remaining in the innings and nine runs to end. Eventually MCC fell short by a mere margin of six runs!

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