England suffered a crucial setback to their second Test challenge today with the loss of two crucial wickets just before the close of the second day at the Iqbal Stadium. Replying to Pakistan's first innings total of 316, the tourists had overcome the loss of Marcus Trescothick with Michael Atherton and captain Nasser Hussain forging a determined 56-run partnership spanning 100 minutes with the close only half an hour away. But just as it seemed they had successfully withstood Pakistan's attack, Atherton and Hussain fell in successive overs from Saqlain Mushtaq to leave the tourists on 110 for three at the close.
Atherton had batted for 163 minutes to score a resolute 32 when he pushed forward to Saqlain and the ball bounced up off his pad, onto his bat and Yousuf Youhana took a diving catch at silly mid-off. That was a big setback, but the tourists' fortunes took a major turn for the worse four overs later when captain Hussain played back to Saqlain and the ball clearly hit his bat before rebounding onto his pad but umpire Steve Bucknor upheld Pakistan's appeal. Hussain had made 23 in nearly two hours at the crease and fell just three runs short of finally eclipsing the 25 he made against South Africa at Centurion last January - his highest Test score this year. The decision, which Hussain accepted without any reaction, completed a bitter end to England's day after Saqlain and last man Danish Kaneria has pushed their Pakistan's score beyond 300 with a spirited stand.
Resuming on 243 for five with high expectations of posting a formidable total with Youhana (77) and Moin Khan (65) having already forged an unbroken 92-run stand, Pakistan were rocked by England's determined fightback. Ashley Giles claimed two more wickets to grab the first five-wicket haul of his short Test career and Yorkshire pair Darren Gough and Craig White claimed a wicket apiece to leave Pakistan on 283 for nine with Saqlain and last man Danish Kaneria at the crease.
Kaneria gave every impression of being a number 11 batsman by edging White behind before he had scored, only for Graham Thorpe to dive across Atherton at first slip and spill the chance. It was a missed opportunity England would live to regret with Saqlain manoeuvring the strike so successfully that Kaneria faced only eight of their 57-ball partnership and helped forge a crucial 33-run stand Saqlain batted for 75 minutes for his 34 and, having frustrated England then made England pay for failing to take their chances. It took Gough's return to the attack to finally end the deadlock, outwitting Saqlain with a slower ball which he chipped high in the air and allowed Marcus Trescothick to collect a straightforward catch. (PA)
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
