Patience pays off for relieved Misbah
Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq was one ecstatic fellow after their nail-biting triumph over England in second Test match at Dubai’s international cricket stadium on Monday. The confident leader was sure of the victory in the final session as according to him it was "just a matter of two balls" but the team spirit and enthusiasm displayed by England was very “frustrating” for Pakistan, reports ESPNCricinfo.
Having lost overnight batsmen Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow early in the day, England were staring at an inevitable defeat on the fifth and final day. However, some dogged rearguard defence from Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood pushed the contest into the final hour as Pakistan bowlers toiled for wickets.
The last day of the Test started for England on 182 for 3, but after early blows, Rashid and Stuart Broad batted out 15 overs before Broad fell to Wahab Riaz, but Mark Wood proved even more indomitable as a partnership between Rashid and Wood for 29 overs took the match beyond tea.
Exciting climax
The spirited English lower order made Pakistan think upon their strategies. "Obviously, in these sort of games you have to look at all the points," said Misbah. "When they were batting in the morning, we got breakthroughs but then, after getting eight wickets, there was a partnership and that was frustrating.”
With approximately 39 balls were remaining, Yasir Shah came in to bowl for Rashid. Adil was inclined to hit a shot on a sharp leg- break by Yasir, and got dismissed which was a very discouraging moment for Rashid.
"This is actually a game which changes in a couple of balls but at times it doesn't happen, even the last wicket can play for an hour or 15, 20 overs," Misbah said. "But we knew that it's there and obvious. The pressure is on them when the game is close and that's what happened. Adil was playing well and he committed a mistake and we won."
"It was tense in the end because it was touch and go," said Misbah. "I think credit to England as it was tough to play on a last-day Dubai pitch, in the last innings, when the ball was turning from the rough and two quality bowlers were bowling. Obviously we missed a few chances, but I think still a win is a win, no matter how close it was."
Misbah acknowledged the gritty Rashid and Wood partnership, that almost denied them a win.
"They were not in any sort of hurry and weren't panicking," he said. "When you are playing like that, less bothered about the good ball, you are just concentrating on the next so that was the impressive factor.
"It's all about the game of patience," he said. "They just gave us a tough time and took the game so close and that is the beauty of this game. That is why all want to play this game and love this game."
The third and final Test of the series will start from November 1 at Sharjah.