After losing the first one-dayer against England at the cricket headquarters in Lahore by 42 runs Pakistan turned the tables on the visitors by winning the second fixture at the same venue by seven wickets to level the series 1-1.
The fans can do their own guess work if the hosts would continue the winning streak to bag the short version series as well like the Test rubber.
Shoaib Akhtar, the Rawalpindi Express, though hampered by a calf injury, confused the rival batsmen with sensational pace, mixing it, off and on, with slower deliveries that put out the players.
At least two of the English batsmen, Trescothick and Plunkett were foxed by Shoaib's new trickery of lowering down the speed. Even otherwise with his long striding run he tried to let loose his thunder and lightning which jolted the batsmen. Shoaib landed terrible blows on the England team with a five-wicket haul. In company with Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, the strongly-built Shoaib polished off the English top order.
At 130 for 8 England looked down and out, though later on Plunkett, hitting a first ODI fifty, and super sub Vikram Solanki, coming in at No 10 added what was a record 100 runs to save the face of England. Yet the target of 230 appeared a small one considering that these are the days of high scoring.
Many may question the continued use of spin by Inzamam-ul-Haq when Solanki and Plunkett were together and had settled down to steady the innings. Perhaps Sami and Rana or even Shoaib may have removed one of the batsmen. Any way it was a sweet triumph, with effortless ease.
For Pakistan Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal laid a solid foundation of the innings, both batting in an assured vein and scoring with judgement. It was good to see Kamran come to a second one-day century. He drove and hooked with power. Perhaps the problem of opening batsmen has been resolved for after the failure in the first match he played wristily and stroked courageously.
Butt was more aggressive but hit safely and with style that delighted the full house at the Qadhafi Stadium. He was unlucky to miss the half century after scoring 67 in the inaugural tie.
Both Inzamam and Mohammad Yousuf were happy with their own contributions of 31 and 28. They looked in full trim.
Inzamam in this match crossed the milestone of 11,000 runs in one-day internationals which only the Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar has done with a personal aggregate of 13,909.
From the Pakistan point of view it was a good match and like the first one was enjoyable, though the home side lost it despite a fine endeavour.
First one-dayer: On a day when New Zealand set a record by successfully chasing an almost impossible 331 Australian total to stun the latter Pakistan in an another thriller lost the first one-dayer by 42 runs.
No doubt England had given a tall target of 328 to Pakistan in the lights in which seeing the deliveries was well nigh difficult, if not impossible. However, Salman Butt (67), Younus Khan (60), Mohammad Yousuf (59) and Shoaib Malik (50) contemptuously flicked the English bowling to make the run-rate above 7:00 per over.
That would certainly have overhauled the England total. Salman's was a brilliant and charming innings and proved once again that he could be relied upon as a solid national opener. At Lahore he batted with devil-may care power and boldness.
Perhaps Pakistan were unfortunate to lose the wicket of in-form captain Inzamam-ul-Haq early. An edge to wicket-keeper Jones sent him back. But Durrell Hair again did his biased job by raising the finger when Razzaq had not touched the ball of medium-pacer Plunkett. Benefit of doubt should have gone to the batsman; why shouldn't Hair refer the matter to the third umpire.
England batted responsibly and their players made gutsy contribution to their huge score of 327. Strauss (94), Prior (45), Pieterson (56) and Flintoff (72 not out) played aggressively to make Pakistan's task daunting.
Flintoff's was a major effort since he grabbed five wickets as well.
One fails to understand why Pakistan could not save runs in the last few overs?
An early breakthrough by English bowler Anderson encouraged the visiting team. Kamran, as one saw, was unfortunate to be out for as he had completed the hook shot the ball hit the stumps.
The run-out of Shoaib Akhtar too harmed the cause of Pakistan for he is a big hitter and may have boosted Pakistan's total when runs were needed.
Captain Inzamam says that the sub rule spoiled Pakistan's chances for Pieterson was replaced by Plunkett who took 3 wickets for 51.