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 England v Pakistan 2nd Test, Old Trafford, Manchester, 31May- 4 June 2001 PAKISTAN WON BY 108 RUNS Series 1-1  PAKISTAN HAVE THE LAST LAUGH The weather turned in a good performance, considering my six weeks working at Old Trafford bringing all but a day's play, and the pitch, after mixed previews was the setting for a belter of a match. And come the end of a pulsating final evening England were edged out by the better team, no-balls 'n' all. The game was played at a frenetic pace almost throughout, Pakistan setting the tempo with 370 on the first day. Inzamamn was imperious, after early good work by England amongst Manchester showers. When Youhana departed straight after lunch, he took command, aided by younis Khan. England's only answer was a handful of costly overs from Vaughan and Trescothick, which never really tested the Pakistani pair, but merely served to get the ball out of shape via the boundary boards. Powerful stroke-play from Inzamam, was followed by Rashid Latif's flashing blade and some one0day style hitting from Akram and Saqlain, pushing them past 400 on the second morning. England had theri won scare losing Atherton and trescothick early, but then Vaughan and Thrope blossomed to produce an assured display of batting, acting mercilessly on anything short or wide. They added 267 and set England up for a first innings lead and safety in the result. but the tail decided to throw away the good work as Pakistan pounced to dismiss the last eight wickets for 75 runs. Stewart weas left bewildered at the non-strikers end on 39 not out, as his team crumbled. Second time around the pitch was still playing well enough for Pakistan to force a healthy lead, with Inzamam again the most impressive bat on display. The England seamers toiled hard, but signs of some spin will have set Saqlian's eyes alight for the fourth innings showdown. another 323 on top of their 46 run lead left England a mountain to climb, but they went out all guns blazing before the close of the fourth day. Trescothick bludgeoned fourteen from the last two deliveries from Waqar to set up a possibly thrilling finale. The England openers took the score to 146, before things started to go wrong. After lunch Thorpe was undone by a jaffa from Waqar while Saqlain applied constant pressure finishing with 4 for 74 from 47 overs. Wasim had his last hurrah at Old Trafford, while Waqar could smile that st the second attempt he had beaten England with his match-winning spinner. Inzamam was a deserved man-of-the-match for his imperious batting. For England Matthew Hoggard showed promise with six hard-fought wickets, while Cork battled on for just the one. The batting looks solid, but the support bowling needs the spin option, and Craig white to bolster the lower order. As for Nick Knight's safe hands and good early-season form, the less said the better. Richard Kendall |
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