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Multan Test: Pak beat England
Pakistan have defeated England by 22 runs in the first cricket test in Multan.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 09:53 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Multan: Pakistan's leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and paceman Shoaib Akhtar today scripted a sensational 22-run victory against England in the first cricket Test of the three-match series. England, needing 198 for victory, were bowled out for 175 midway into the second session on the last day as Kaneria routed England's top order with four for 62 and Akhtar finished off the tail with three for 49. England got a formidable first innings lead of 144 runs after it made 418 in reply to Pakistan's 274. Pakistan was bowled out for 341 in its second innings on Tuesday and it left England needing 198 runs for victory. Jones top-scorer Wicketkeeper-batsman Geraint Jones was the top-scorer for England with 33. He added 49 runs for the eighth wicket with Shaun Udal (18) to give England a glimmer of hope after the visitors had slumped to 117 for seven. However, once Jones dragged Akhtar's delivery back onto his stumps after lunch, Kaneria knocked back Udal's middle-stump to make it 166 for nine. Number 11 batsman Steve Harmison hit two fours before Akhtar finished off the match when Younis Khan grabbed a two handed diving catch in front of him in the first slip. England, needing 174 runs on the last day, hobbled to 138 for seven by lunch with their Ashes heroes Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen departing cheaply. Spinning magic Overnight batsmen Ian Bell (31) and Andrew Strauss (23) saw off the three-over spell of Akhtar after England resumed at the overnight 24 for 1. They added further 40 runs before Kaneria spun his magic and removed both batsmen in his third over of the day. Bell got a big edge to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal while three balls later, Strauss offered a simple catch in the slip. Sami pushed England further back when he had Paul Collingwood trapped leg before to make it 67-4. Flintoff (11) tried to release the pressure with two boundaries before Kaneria lured him to play an expansive stroke and gave an easy catch to Younis Khan at deep deep mid-wicket. Pietersen's run of poor scores on the tour continued when Sami found a thin edge of his bat behind the wickets with England still needing 97 runs for victory. Akhtar changed ends for his second spell and uprooted Ashley Giles (14) middle and leg stumps with England slipping their way to 117-7. (AP)
Topics mentioned in this article
Cricket New Zealand Cricket Team Pakistan Cricket Team
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