Younis hopes for Pakistan revival

By AFP
February 14, 2012

ABU DHABI: Experienced batsman Younis Khan hopes Pakistan do not panic and try their best to bounce back against a resurgent...

ABU DHABI: Experienced batsman Younis Khan hopes Pakistan do not panic and try their best to bounce back against a resurgent England in the second day-night international on Wednesday.

England on Monday took the first of four one-day matches by a convincing 130-run margin after Pakistan were bowled out for just 130, with paceman Steven Finn taking a career-best 4-34.

Skipper Alastair Cook had hit his highest one-day score of 137 to guide England to a challenging 260-7, a target Younis said Pakistan should have achieved.

"I hope there is no panic," said Younis. "We should not panic because we have not batted badly in the last four five matches, so we need to try our best and put Monday's performance behind us."

Pakistan never recovered after Finn claimed their top four batsmen in just 29 balls and Younis believes that lack of partnerships let the team down.

"England had a very good partnership between Cook and (Ravi) Bopara and that helped them," he said of the 131-run third wicket stand. "It wasn't a difficult chase but we failed to put up a reasonable stand."

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who took 24 wickets in the preceding 3-0 Test series win, grabbed a career-best 5-43 but England still managed a challenging total. (AFP)

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