2nd Test: Pakistan v England at Faisalabad, 29 Nov-3 Dec 2000 CricInfo Live Report

2nd Test: Pakistan v England at Faisalabad, 29 Nov-3 Dec 2000
Mahmood Ahmad

England 1st innings: Day 3 - At Lunch, Day 3 - At Tea, Day 3 - Stumps,
Live Reports from previous days

THREE QUICK WICKETS BRING PAKISTAN BACK INTO THE MATCH

England lost three wickets in the space of seven balls for the addition of just one run, as the Pakistani pace bowlers brought the home side back into the match. England had seemed to be in control but, once again, the final momnets of the day saw another dramatic swing in fortunes.

The new ball was taken during the 117th over, and brought almost immediate rewards. Wasim Akram, bristling with aggression, trapped Thorpe lbw with the last ball of the 119th over, with the score on 274. Thorpe had shown unerring concentration for 246 balls and had hit 8 fours during his innings of 79, the highest in the match so far.

The first ball of the next over saw Hick tempted by a short delivery from Razzaq. With two fielders back for the shot, and just a few overs left in the day, it was a curious choice of stroke from the English enigma. Sure enough, the mistimed pull was well taken at deep square leg by Youhana. When, three balls later, Giles gave a simple catch to Afridi at second slip England had been reduced to 275 for 8.

Craig White and Andy Caddick saw England through the closing moments of the day, before they gladly accepted the offer to go off early due to bad light. When stumps were drawn, England were 282 for 8, still 34 behind. White and Caddick were unbeaten on 6 and 2, respectively.

Earlier, Alec Stewart, one of the two not out batsmen at tea, continued to struggle against the spinners as he managed to add just five runs to his score. Trying a sweep shot off the young leg-spinner, Kaneria, he gave a simple catch to Razzaq at mid on. The former England skipper scored 13 (43 balls) as he added 32 with Thorpe for the fifth wicket.

Abdul Razzaq became the most successful bowler for Pakistan so far in the match, after his haul of two wickets in one over. He finished the day with figures of 2 for 50. Wasim and Kaneria have figures of one for 57 and two for 73 respectively.

Pakistani bowlers have given away 47 extras during the England innings so far, which includes 30 no-balls.

Pakistan will be hoping to quickly dispose of the England tail in the morning. A lead of twenty or thirty runs to either side could be vital on the last day, as the pitch becomes somewhat two-paced, and takes more spin.

ENGLAND MAKES STEADY PROGRESS AS THORPE REACHES FIFTY

England lost one wicket after lunch as they made steady progress to reach 227 for 4 at tea on the third day of the second Test. When stumps were drawn for tea, Thorpe was not out on 62 and his county partner, Stewart was on 8.

The only success for the home side came on the third ball of the seventh over after lunch, when Youhana caught Salisbury at short leg off the bowling of Arshad Khan. This was the first wicket for the off-spinner in this Test match.

Salisbury played well for his 33 off 136 balls. Although he scored slowly, his stay at the crease proved quite damaging for Pakistan, as he added 97 precious runs with Thorpe for the fourth wicket.

Alec Stewart, coming to the crease after the dismissal of Salisbury, took some time to get used to the conditions. He hit his first boundary - a straight drive off Arshad - after facing more than six overs.

Meanwhile, Thorpe kept on the good work while watching Stewart struggling a bit against the Pakistan attack. He reached his fifty in magnificent fashion, hitting Saqlain for a well timed four. He took 151 balls to get to his second score of fifty or more in the present series.

Although Pakistan took only one wicket during the session, their bowlers bowled quite tidily giving away only 45 runs in 23 overs of play. Arshad was comfortably the pick of the lot as he conceded only 27 runs off 22 overs and got the breakthrough for Pakistan.

ENGLAND CONSOLIDATE AS BOWLERS FAIL TO GET BREAKTHROUGH

A succession of appeals brought nothing but frustration for Pakistan as England reached 182 without losing further wickets during the first session of the third day. At lunch, Thorpe and Salisbury, batting cautiously, were unbeaten on 40 and 26, respectively.

Moin Khan used all six of his bowlers, beginning with young Kaneria and Saqlain, so far the most successful of the bowlers. Wasim Akram bowled his heart out when he relieved Saqlain. He delivered nine hostile overs giving away just 14 runs, but failing to take a wicket.

Pakistan started the day hoping to apply early pressure on the visitors. However, Thorpe and the nightwatchman Salisbury had other ideas. They batted solidly throughout the session.

Salisbury showed his batting potential as he played all the bowlers with confidence. He hit his first four, nudging Saqlain to fine leg. It was a beautiful shot and noticeably improved the confidence of the English leg-spinner.

Thorpe was slower at first, but he soon opened up after hitting a delivery from Wasim for four, pulled to the mid-wicket boundary, though he was perhaps fortunate to survive a confident appeal of caught behind, off the bowling of Saqlain.

Moin brought on Abdul Razzaq and off-spinner Arshad Khan in the last hour of play. Razzaq had little luck as he failed to take the wicket of Salisbury despite finding the edge of the bat on numerous occasions.

Arshad was equally unfortunate at the other end as he induced Salisbury to edge one to the Moin behind the wicket only to see the skipper drop the chance.

England finished the session still 134 runs in deficit, but they will by satisfied with their performance after losing two quick wickets in the dying moments of play yesterday.

With seven wickets still intact, they have a very good chance of getting a big total and then applying pressure on Pakistan.