Fastest bowler plays village game

Shoaib Akhtar attracted new cricket fans to Berkswell

The fastest bowler in the world has helped a village cricket team to victory in the West Midlands - by showing his batting skills.

As Pakistan faced England in the third Test, their paceman Shoaib Akhtar scored 57 runs off 31 balls in just 26 minutes for little Berkswell.

Akhtar, who is returning from an ankle injury, played against the St George's club, from Telford, Shropshire.

He went on to take the last two St George's wickets.

His presence at the match helped attract some 500 spectators.

Berkswell club member Paddy Milnes told BBC News: "Normally we can expect one man, a cat and a dog."

Berkswell's social secretary Jem Leach said: "It had been a good afternoon - he has played his part.

"He hasn't come here as superstar and lorded it."

I had fun with the club - I had fun with my team mates Shoaib Akhtar

Berkswell won by 144 runs, against their top-of-the-league rivals in the third tier of the Birmingham league.

Berkswell signed up the 30-year-old bowler, who is nicknamed the Rawalpindi Express, as an overseas player thanks to club captain Dominic Ostler.

Ostler played under current Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer for Warwickshire during the 1990s.

Akhtar told BBC News after the match: "I had a good practice. I had fun with the club. I had fun with my team mates."

Speaking of his batting performance, he said: "It was bit of entertainment for the crowd, all the fast bowlers like to bat."

He said playing in a match after five months lay-off had left him feeling stiff.

He will talk to Pakistan team management before a decision is made on whether he plays in the fourth Test against England at the Oval.