Mastering the Oval

The finale of the English test cricketing summer at the Oval has always been memorable. Ever since Pakistan’s cricketing inception on the British Isles, it  held a special place.The 1954 series ended with Fazal Mahmood’s huge 12 wicket haul of a revered English batting lineup that was regarded as the best of its time.The win notified the cricketing universe of Greenshirts’s appearance on the world stage. Fazal nearly had missed out on being part of Pakistan cricket.It was testament of courage,skill and Abdul Hafeez Kardar’s leadership that Oval bled green.

Similarly, whether its been W’s in the 1992 test series,Mushtaq’s 6 for in 1996 test or Wahab and Amir ‘s 5 fors last time in 2010,the bowlers have found purchase with the bounce and spin on this track to their liking. Since 1967, if one disregards the forfeiture of 2006, Pakistan has been undefeated in tests here.

On this occasion it was the turn of Sohail Khan to take yet another 5 for on the tour. Like in 2010,Wahab and Amir supported.Day one and England were bowled out again on 328 as was the case in Edgbaston.The pitch was supposed to be a belter once the moisture wore off. Cook didn’t want to bat last and it showed.The hosts were at one stage  5 down for 110. Moeen Ali continued his form from that test with his 3rd test 100.He was in blistering mood. His series strike rate bordered on 70.Pakistan lost Sami Aslam early but Yasir Shah finally played a night watchman’s role for Greenshirts scoring 26 key runs either side of stumps.

Asad Shafiq bagging a pair in Edgabston  found himself in a position to amend that stain. He didn’t look back, becoming the first Pak batsman since Wazir Mohammad in 1958 to follow up with a ton after the bagles.His stand with Younus of 150 steadied the ship.Younus was on a mission of his own. His 6th 200+ score especially adding a huge 97 with Amir in that 9th wicket stand meant the visitors abnormally had scored 222 for the last 4 wickets.The lead was 214.Younus had accumulated 218,an innings of sharp contrast to his poor series form as he took the attack to all the bowlers,especially Moeen.

Now the temperature of the game changed.Knowing the lead was almost double of what it was a week ago,the Greenshirts stormed in.It was day 3 but Cook and Hales were in a  defensive shell.Cook was the first to depart, gone early to a scorcher of a delivery by Wahab in the slips.Hales ,who has had a forgettable series so far,was in hot waters with match referee prior to taking guard the second time. Yasir’s splendid 1st inning catch infuriated him.Maybe it was a fair reflection of his stressors, as he went to Yasir himself,plumb lbw at 49.Vince was clueless and perished to the leggie for nought.Leading man of the series runwise, Joe Root rampantly scored 39 but was also caught plumb on the back foot.England were reeling at 88/4 by day 3’s close.Pakistan had started sniffing a famous win.

Johnny Bairstow and Moeen Ali have been the star performers of the English lower order.Why they continue to be in that late an order is a mystery as both averaged 50 plus in this series.On day four,the critical time just before lunch when their stand of 65 in double quick time was finally dissolved by Yasir’s 4th wicket of the innings.England lunched at 191/6 still 23 behind.After the interval,it was a procession waiting to happen,as Wahab ran out Woakes first then got Bairstow caught on mid off within 2 balls.The last pair put on 32 runs to set a meagre target of 40.The leg spinner Yasir Shah claimed a five for to join the club of  all of his fellow bowlers, who all now had 5 fors at the Oval.

Pakistan knocked off the runs in style. Azhar who had scored a 92 six years earlier here smashed one high in the sky from Moeen with an unbeaten 30 to send Misbah’s men victorius.Younus took the man of the match deservedly  whilst Woakes was the Pom’s Man of the series.Only Smith’s South Africa had beaten or levelled England in a four or more  test match series of the English summer since 2001.The series ended on a good note for the visitors after 2006 and 2010 debacles and more importantly the spirit of the game was resurrected by how Alistair Cook and Misbah ul Haq had conducted the affairs throughout.Misbah notched a 23rd win as Greenshirt skipper in his 46th test, a fascinating conversion rate. Kardar must be happy knowing this.Regardless of his future plans, this was his swansong on English soil for sure and he capped  it with the hosts’ Man of the Series award.

This has been Pakistan ‘s fifth win at the Oval overall ,a fair attestation since Fazal’s conquest of 1954.One of the legends of the game, “Little Master” Hanif Mohammad who opened that game for the visitors passed away on day one of the test.He is an all time legend and a grace of the game.A sporting pioneer and a true gentleman.Words are not enough to describe his efforts in Bridgetown Test of  1958.It was only appropriate that Misbah paid tribute to him alongside fans back home considering it was 14 August.

The team that no one had given a chance pre series to impress once again changed perceptions.On the eve of the test,Osman Samiuddin,a well known Pakistani analyst speculated  a 2-2 series score would mean as good as a series win.Capricious as it sounds,that’s how the Greenshirts play.They came, to play on the back of demoralising loss and mastered  the Oval…. again.The Little Master must be pleased up there.