Tells the story, doesn't it, even as the ominous form of the tourists underlined Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram's threat to ``finish off the Test series at Headingley''?

In fact, Akram himself led the way in Pakistan's brilliant showing against Durham at Chester-le-Street this weekend in the Tet- ley Series game that will also serve as a warm-up game for the tourists ahead of the second Cornhill Test against England beginning at Head- ingley on August 8.

The Pak skipper smashed 68 off 67 deliveries to propel his team to 309 all out, in reply to Durham's 307, then grabbed two quick wickets in the Durham second innings to put his side on course for a win.

When Akram came in to bat, Pakistan were on a precarious 157 for six. Again, the batting of the tourists collapsed for no apparent reason, as frontline batsmen of the order of Saeed Anwar (20), Ijaz Ahmed (17), Salim Malik (30) and Inzamam ul Haq (44) appeared to be to- tally disinterested in taking a routine county attack apart.

Ironically, the man who did the bulk of the damage was left- arm fast bowler Simon Brown. And while Brown toiled on the field, to return figures of 5 fore 88, the England selectors were taking the decision to drop him from the England team for the second Test. With this haul, Brown now has 63 wickets to his credit this season - reason enough, one supposes, for him to be dropped from the national side.

Jokes aside, the picture changed when Akram walked out to bat. Scattering the bowling to all parts of the ground, Akram in partnership with wicketkeeper Rashid Latif (55) put on a partnership of 129 for the sixth wicket and lifted Pakistan into the realms of safety.

Akram's innings was studded with nine boundaries, while Latif smashed 10 fours in his 55 off 72 balls. The 129 run partnership lasted for just 120 balls - an indicator of the total contempt with which the county bowling was treated by the two Pakistan stars.

Akram then came back with a two-wicket burst that, allied to two wickets with consecutive balls from Ata-ur-Rehman, reduced Durham's second innings to 15 for four. The close of play score of 96 for 7 in fact represented what, for Durham, was something of a fight- back as off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who had bowled brilliantly in the first innings as well, came back for a devastating spell that mesmerised the Durham batsmen.

Durham's second innings got off to a wretched start when West Indies Test star Sherwin Campbell was out without scoring, playing on to Rehman in the fourth over. In the very next delivery, Rehman despatched John Morris and Durham were in trouble at two for five.

Rehman failed to claim the hat-trick, John Daley blocking his next ball, but the same batsman edged Akram to Latif before the Pakistan captain uprooted Stewary Hutton's off stump to reduce the county to 15 for four.

Then it was Saqlain's turn to join the fun, and at the end of the day only Durham skipper Mike Roseberry, batting with a cracked finger courtesy an Akram lifter in the first innings, remained defi- ant with 30 not out.

In the event, Durham are a mere 94 runs ahead, with just three second innings wickets to go and a whole day's play remaining. A si- tuation from which it is very very difficult to see beyond an emphat- ic Pakistan victory.

And when it happens, Pakistan will yet again have its bowlers to thank. Akram's analysis,a t the end of the second day, reads 12-8- 9-2. Rehman has figures of 15-3-41-2. Saqlain, who took four wickets in the Durham first innings, has figures of 12-527-2. And Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed are not playing, preferring to rest ahead of the second Test.

All of which must be causing sleepless nights to the England selectors, as they figure out how to stop Pakistan from administering the coup de grace when the second Test begins at Headingley later this week.