England's opening batsman Marcus Trescothick said Monday he was shocked after a powerful explosion in a gas cylinder disrupted play on the second day of the second cricket test at Iqbal Stadium. "You don't expect things like that when you're out in the middle. Suddenly a big noise happens which takes you a little by shock," Trescothick said. "Keep fingers crossed nothing else bad happens," he added. Trescothick was about to face paceman Shoaib Akhtar in the 29th over of England's first innings when the blast occurred in Ejaz Ahmed Junior stand at 3:28 p.m. (1028 GMT) - half an hour into the last session of the day. Trescothick immediately ran toward the dressing room after the blast but stopped midway as security personnel cordoned off the square and players stayed in the ground. "Our security man Faisal (Nigel) kept us together until we had worked out what had happened," Trescothick said. Officials said a carbonated drink cylinder exploded in the stands and slightly injured one policeman. "My instant reaction was that it was something quite serious, but Faisal's instant reaction was it's probably a gas cylinder," Trescothick said. Trescothick was batting on a fluent 41 before the blast occurred, but could add only seven more when play resumed after nine minutes and was caught behind off the bowling of paceman Mohammad Sami for 48. Trescothick decided to stay with the England team after his father-in-law sustained serious head injuries in a domestic accident back home last week. "Things are not too good at home but they are improving which is good news. I am getting regular updates," Trescothick said. The left-handed opener led England in the first test at Multan after Michael Vaughan could not recover in time from a knee injury. He hammered 193 in the first innings but could not stop Pakistan from a stunning 22-run win after England collapsed on the last day and was bowled for 175 - needing 198 runs for victory. (AP)
Explosion shocks Trescothick
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