LAHORE, 30 November 2005 — England squandered away an early advantage by some poor and careless sweep shots as Pakistani bowlers came on top later in the day to restrict the visitors at 248 for six on the first day of the third and final Test here yesterday.
England, trailing 1-0 in the three-match series, won the all-important toss, for the first time and rightly decided to bat first.
Both sides made two changes in the line up that drew the second Test in Faisalabad last week. England brought in Paul Colingwood in place of Andrew Strauss and included debutant Liam Plunkett in place of unfit spinner Ashley Giles who has returned home for treatment. Pakistan included young batsmen Hasan Raza and Asim Kamal to replace vice-captain Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi, who has been banned by the ICC for one Test and two ODIs.
Openers Marcus Trescothick and Vaughn gave their side an ideal start. England were well-placed at 101 without loss at lunch as Pakistan used all its five bowlers without success in the morning session of the day. At lunch Vaughn was 52 and Trescothick 40 and the visitors looked well entrenched for a big total.
After a wicketless first session Pakistani bowlers came back strongly to claim six England wickets — three in the post lunch session and another three in the last session which had to be curtailed by 13 overs due to poor light.
Off-spinner Shoaib Malik, reported for a suspect bowling action after the first Test, struck thrice in three overs after lunch, to reduce England to 115 for three. His first victim was Vaughn (58), caught by Mohammad Yousuf at square-leg while trying to sweep. Malik then dismissed Ian Bell (4) who was also caught by Yousuf in a similar fashion and finally had Trescothick caught by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal after the seasoned opener had made his 28th Test fifty. Trescothick , who made 193 in the first Test in Multan which Pakistan won by 22 runs, was lucky to have survived earlier in his innings when Akmal had failed to hold an edge.
Skipper Inzamam ul-Haq, buoyed by Malik’s devastating spell, made some quick but clever and effective bowling changes. As a result fast-bowler Rana Naveed ul-Hasan, introduced two overs before tea, brought another success. He forced the in-form Kevin Pietersen to paddle a short-pitched delivery in the hands of the wicketkeeper. Pietersen, who hit 100 and 42 in the drawn second Test, made a brisk 34, adding 68 runs for the fourth wicket with Collingwood.
England were 183 for 4 at this stage.
Naveed had another success after tea when he dismissed all-rounder Andrew Flintoff for 12. England had lost their fifth wicket when the total was 201.
Wicketkeeper Geraint Jones also did not last long. He tried to hit a straight delivery from off-spinner Danish Kaneria but totally missed the line and was bowled for four, as England went reeling at 225 for six.
An struggling Collingwood at 71 and off-spinner Shaun Udal on 10, saw off the rest of the day’s play to finish at 248 for six. Malik finished with 3-58 while Naveed took 2 for 62. Kaneria got the remaining one wicket.
Pakistan, one up in the three Test series, need only a draw to clinch the series while England will have to win this last Test to salvage some pride and draw the series. Pakistan won the first Test in Multan by 22 runs while the second Test played in Faisalabad ended in a draw after a sensational finish on the last day.
