England death star Dernbach seals dramatic series victory
ENGLAND Twenty20 skipper Stuart Broad insists his side are on course to defend their world crown later this year after a masterful display of death bowling from Jade Dernbach ensured a nerve-jangling five-run series clinching victory over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.
Kevin Pietersen continued his recent rehabilitation with the bat, striking an unbeaten 62 from 52 balls, as England laboured to a total of 129-6 with Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal ending the tour as he started it, collecting a cluster of wickets and recording impressive figures of 4-23.
Ajmal’s efforts looked set to be rewarded as, with seven wickets in hand, Pakistan were well placed to knock off the 32 runs they needed to take the series 2-1 with four overs left.
A defiant Broad, however, applied the brakes and conceded just four runs from the penultimate over and when Dernbach was summoned to bowl the final six balls the hosts suddenly required 13 for victory.
The Surrey paceman kept his nerve, castling Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq with the final ball of the match, before he embarked on a memorable celebration that culminated in a perfect knee slide in front of his jubilant team-mates.
Broad, who will lead his side in Sri Lanka in September with England looking to retain the title they won in the Caribbean two years ago, had his captaincy credentials tested to the limit during such a tense finale but both he and his charges passed with flying colours.
“Twenty20 is a thinking man’s game and it can change every ball. As a team, we need to keep our emotions in check and keep calm,” he said.
“You have clear principles and clear plans in order to achieve that. We held our nerve at the end. It’s hugely exciting and I’m excited about how this team is shaping up.”
Pietersen, fresh from scoring back-to-back hundreds in the one-day series that England won 4-0, was named man of the series to underline his return to form.
The last fortnight has represented a pleasing U-turn in fortune for the South African-born star, who began the winter dazed and confused under the spell of Pakistan’s spinners, but concluded it in the sort of dismissive form which made him such a captivating spectacle during the early part of his career.
“I’ve worked my backside off over the last few weeks,” he said. “I had a two-month lay-off and it takes time to get back into the swing, and their bowling attack surprised us. In T20 you have to change gears, I got that right today.”