Pakistan are England’s opponents in 2019’s ODI at Headingley and it will be only the ninth occasion the visitors will have played such a game in Leeds. Paul Dyson looks back at all of the previous encounters. The photo of Headingley in the 1980s comes courtesy of Mick Pope.
Pakistan played its first ODI at Headingley in 1975 and its first five games in the format at the venue were all in the World Cup. The Asian country did not play against England at Headingley as part of a bilateral series until 2001 and has done so only twice more since.
1975 – Even though the format was very much in its infancy the first World Cup was being held and this match was Australia’s seventh and Pakistan’s fourth anywhere in the world. Australia batted steadily to score 278 for seven in 60 overs. Ross Edwards (80 not out), batting at number six, made the top score and took his side to what was then a high total. Pakistan began badly, slipping to 68 for three but half-centuries from Majid Khan and skipper Asif Iqbal took them to 181 for four. Dennis Lillee returned to the attack and Pakistan lost their last six wickets for 24 runs, the fast bowler finishing with five for 34 – the first five-for in any ODI – and his side had won by 73 runs
1979 – Four years later, and in the second World Cup, Pakistan returned to Headingley to play two games. Their first match was against Canada who, ultimately, posed little resistance. They reached 85 for one but three wickets each to the fast-medium of Sarfraz Nawaz and Asif Iqbal’s medium pace ensured that the North American country crawled to 139 for nine in its 60 overs, Majid Khan conceding only 11 runs from 11 overs. In knocking off the runs in 40.1 overs and for the loss of only two wickets, the highest innings of 57 not out was played by Sadiq Mohammad.
Both England and Pakistan were assured of a semil-final place but served up a compelling game. The hosts struggled to reach 165 for nine in 60 overs. At various stages they were four for two and 118 for eight. Graham Gooch top-scored with 33 but Sikander Bakht took three for 32 and it was only a stand of 43 between wicket-keeper Bob Taylor and fast bowler Bob Willis which took the score to its final total. Pakistan reached 27 for one but a wonderful spell of medium-fast swing bowling from Mike Hendrick reduced them to 34 for six as he took four wickets for three runs in eight balls. A half-century from Asif Iqbal restored some stability and only 20 were required from the last two wickets with Imran Khan at the crease. However two wickets from Geoff Boycott’s medium pace, the second courtesy of a tremendous leaping catch by Hendrick, saw England home by 14 runs.
