2nd Test - Pakistan v England

Abdur Rehman spins Pakistan to a series win

Rehman picked 6 wickets dismissing England for 72 ensuring a 2-0 series win against the number 1 Test team.

England were on top as they managed to take some all important wickets early in the Pakistani second innings. Azad Shafiq and Azhar Ali just managed to calm things around as they came together last evening to take the fight back to England.

Both the openers came out very defensive on a hazy morning, Shafiq in particular was contend to block deliveries on a regular note. England in quest of a breakthrough back Monty Panesar and he did not disappoint his captain.

It was just a matter of time as he was spinning the ball alarmingly, Shafiq’s outside edge was taken at first slip by Anderson and England were smiling big. Azhar Ali at the other end went on to make a fantastic fifty under pressure. England were searching for their next wicket as Ali and Adnan Akmal manages to hang around for a while.

Strauss decided to take the new ball and Anderson struck soon, Ali was at the receiving end as he walked soon after making a good fifty, Broad at the other end unsettled Akmal mentally which eventually led to his downfall.

Pakistan just managed to escape a close call just at the stroke of lunch, Saeed Ajmal and Rehman managed to carry their bats to lunch and the duo added some important runs.

Pakistan were 198 with seven wickets down going to the lunch with their tail wagging. Swann got rid of Abur Rehman in very first over afte the tea, leg before. Ajmal who was resisting at other end was caught at slips off the Panesar's bowling with momentum shifting towards England. Gul the next man in hit a might blow over midwicket and Junaid khan fell last victim for Panesar. Panesar picked up six wickets in an innings to claim five four after 2008 against New Zealand.

As expected Misbah opted for spin straightaway bringing on Hafeez from end of the wicket, and bringing Gul from the other end. However, England openers displayed watchful batting. Specially Cook looked positive in footwork and defended very good deliveries safely. They resisted against good bowling effort from Pakistan and denied them any early wickets. Hafeez got rid of Cook in 15th over, taking a simple return catch. 

Bell was the next man in line from Pakistan and his poor luck in the door continued. Ajmal's doosra got rid of him as he batted one delivery through legs to stumps. Pietersen was the next man in, and was off the mark straightaway on very first delivery. However, he could not hold fortress and registered another failure on the tour getting LBW off Rehman's bowling. Morgan was the next man in, and out as well. He didn't trouble the scorers at all and was cleaned bowled off an absolute jaffa off Rehman's bowling in penultimate over before tea to leave England reeling on 37 for 4.

England started at 39/4 in the post tea session and continued with their downward spiral. There was sharp spin which combined with the consistency in line and length from Rehman and Ajmal proved to be a deadly combination. Strauss with 32 and Prior with 18 were the only two players to get into double digits. Rehman was on a roll, first getting Strauss to a ball that spun sharply in and then cleaning up Broad's off stump with a big spinning delivery. On the way he managed his first 5-for, picking 6 wickets in total. Ajmal supported him well from the other end, picking 3 wickets, including the important ones of Bell and Prior. 

England capitulated in that session without a semblance of a fight. Chasing 145, they were all out for 72 in 36 overs, scoring just 33 in that session and losing 6 wickets. Misbah was calm even during the presentation but expressed his gratitude to Almighty and then to the curators who prepared a wicket that supported the way Pakistan play their cricket. That one hour of play after tea combined with half hour prior to tea would raise a lot of questions as far as English resistance to spin is concerned. They will have to do some soul searching too, before heading to the dead rubber, where they will be playing for pride.