Cricket story by Carl Anders, Fri, 02 Dec 2005 07:52:00 GMT


Update: The Michael Vaughan-led England team is facing a rare series defeat as Mohammed Yusuf and Kamran Akmal slammed tons to take the match away from the tourists. At the end of the third day, England's bowlers looked ready to throw in the towel and to be fair to them; they tried hard on an unresponsive rock-hard, Lahore pitch with a ball that had seen better days.

But the star of the day 3 was undoubtedly, Mohammed Yousuf. Stylish, elegant and decidedly classic shots colored his knock of 183 not out. He looks set to notch up this third double ton. To compound England's misery, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal got his second test hundred as Pakistan surged past England's 288 all out to reach 446 for the loss of five wickets at the end of play yesterday. England's chances of salvaging the series rested on a good first session where they had to get plenty of Pakistani wickets. Night watchman Shoaib Akhtar frustrated England's bowlers before falling to Liam Plunkett. That was the only wicket to fall in the day.

Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Shaun Udal tried their best to dislodge Yusuf, but to no avail. Marcus Trescothick floored a sharp chance of Akmal when he was on 95. But barring that little blemish, Akmal's innings was full of stroke play and Bob Woolmer must be pretty pleased with his young wicketkeeper.

England Coach Duncan Fletcher admitted that the win looked impossible, but that the test could be saved. Even if that does happen, England is all set to lose this series. "If the wicket stays as it is I think our batters are capable of seeing it out.

The win's basically impossible at this stage. We have to make sure that if we get stuck in again we bat properly," he said. England's famed batting line up failed to cash in on a century start given by Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan. This poor first innings showing is sure to cost them the match and the series as well.

Into day 4 of the test match in Lahore and Mohammad Yousuf passed the double century mark before he began to try and smash the English bowlers and have a bit of fun. This lasted for a few overs before he was caught out by Pietersen for 223 off Udal. This is now his best ever test score.

Although the pitch if lifeless, Englands bowlers are rarely looking a threat, especially the fast bowling attack, which although has shown what it can do on a few deliveries has not delivered enough.

Inzamam-ul-Haq has returned to bat after retiring hurt yesterday and has had to face short deliveries as you would expect. He has passed 8000 test match cricket career runs in some style with a 4, which was then followed by a strong lbw shout - not out.

Pakistan are now safe for the series win, unless there is a miracle and on this pitch it seems unlikely. Inzamam-ul-Haq is still struggling with his right arm but can declare and go for the win or carry on batting to frustrate England further, the run rate and the way that Pakistan are attacking points to a possible declaration.

Batting from number 8, Kamran Akmal reached 154 in a brilliant innings from him before being caught off Flintoff by Vaughan. Flintoff is really struggling and seems exhausted trying to bowl with a very old ball. England have already taken more wickets than yesterday, when only 1 was taken but much of this can be attributed to the Pakistan batsmen attacking more today.

Inzamam-ul-Haq easily passed his half century and moved on to 97 in another superb innings. He has now scored over 1000 test match runs this year in just 8 matches.

Naved-ul-Hasan the next batsman in, opened his run tally with a 4 and moved onto 42 not out, his highest test score. He was dropped by Vaughan on 29, who seems to be finding fielding hard with his injury.

Pakistan finally declared on 636 - 8; the declaration came immediately after the run out by Vaughan of the Pakistan Captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, who had been looking for a test century, falling just 3 short. Pakistan lead England by a massive 348 runs on day 4 of play.

England cannot win this test match and are under pressure. They will only be able and trying to salvage a draw.

With only a couple of overs to last before lunch Englands opening batsmen could not have made a worse start when trying to save the draw and some pride. Trescothick was out for 0, lbw second ball to a fantastic delivery by Shoaib Akhtar in a terrible start of the second innings.

Vaughan and Bell are now together at the crease hoping to build some runs without the loss of any more wickets. At lunch on day 4 though Pakistan have a big upper hand and to salvage a draw for England looks like a difficuly prospect in itself. England are currently 5 - 1 in their second innings.

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