Last Wicket Pair Lift England
December 11, 2000 - 0:0
KARACHI, Pakistan A gutsy stand spanning almost an hour and a half between England's last wicket pair Ian Salisbury and Darren Gough stole the initiative from Pakistan in the third and final test on Sunday.
Salisbury and Gough put on 39 to cut the deficit on first innings to just 17 runs and then England forced Pakistan further on to the back foot by reducing them to 26 for two in their second innings.
They recovered to reach 71 for three, a lead of 88, by the close of the penultimate day. England have the edge but a third draw in the series is the most likely result.
England had spent 179.1 overs compiling their 388 and it was not until the 138th over that opener Mike Atherton surrendered his wicket.
He was brilliantly caught one-handed in front of first slip by wicketkeeper Moin Khan off Abdur Razzaq for 125. Atherton batted for 579 minutes, faced 430 balls and hit just nine fours.
When he had reached 121 he overtook Wally Hammond (7,249) to become England's fifth highest scorer in tests after Graham Gooch (8,900), David Gower (8,231), Geoff Boycoot (8,114) and Colin Cowdrey (7,264).
Paceman Waqar Younis was the pick of the bowlers, taking the wickets of Graeme Hick and Ashley Giles on Sunday after England had resumed on 277 for four to finish with four for 88 off 36 overs.
Fifth Failure After hick had fallen to Younis in the first over of the day for 12, his fifth failure of the series, England were indebted to Craig White, who made a spirited 35, and then Salisbury and Gough in taking them within striking distance of Pakistan's 405.
Pakistan, who have not lost in 34 tests in Karachi, wobbled at the start of their second innings, losing Imran Nazir for four and Saeed Anwar for 21 to a stunning catch on the boundary by Graham Thorpe off a top-edged hook.
First innings century maker Inzamam-ul-Haq and Salim Elahi redressed the balance with a stand of 45 but left-arm spinner Giles raised England's hopes again by dismissing the dangerous Inzamam shortly before failing light halted play with 7.3 overs to be bowled.
Inzamam was bowled for 27 offering no stroke to a delivery which turned prodigiously from outside the leg stump.
The wicket was Giles's 15th of the series, making him the highest England wicket taker in a test series in Pakistan. He beat Nick Cook's 14 achieved in 1984.
(Reuter)
Salisbury and Gough put on 39 to cut the deficit on first innings to just 17 runs and then England forced Pakistan further on to the back foot by reducing them to 26 for two in their second innings.
They recovered to reach 71 for three, a lead of 88, by the close of the penultimate day. England have the edge but a third draw in the series is the most likely result.
England had spent 179.1 overs compiling their 388 and it was not until the 138th over that opener Mike Atherton surrendered his wicket.
He was brilliantly caught one-handed in front of first slip by wicketkeeper Moin Khan off Abdur Razzaq for 125. Atherton batted for 579 minutes, faced 430 balls and hit just nine fours.
When he had reached 121 he overtook Wally Hammond (7,249) to become England's fifth highest scorer in tests after Graham Gooch (8,900), David Gower (8,231), Geoff Boycoot (8,114) and Colin Cowdrey (7,264).
Paceman Waqar Younis was the pick of the bowlers, taking the wickets of Graeme Hick and Ashley Giles on Sunday after England had resumed on 277 for four to finish with four for 88 off 36 overs.
Fifth Failure After hick had fallen to Younis in the first over of the day for 12, his fifth failure of the series, England were indebted to Craig White, who made a spirited 35, and then Salisbury and Gough in taking them within striking distance of Pakistan's 405.
Pakistan, who have not lost in 34 tests in Karachi, wobbled at the start of their second innings, losing Imran Nazir for four and Saeed Anwar for 21 to a stunning catch on the boundary by Graham Thorpe off a top-edged hook.
First innings century maker Inzamam-ul-Haq and Salim Elahi redressed the balance with a stand of 45 but left-arm spinner Giles raised England's hopes again by dismissing the dangerous Inzamam shortly before failing light halted play with 7.3 overs to be bowled.
Inzamam was bowled for 27 offering no stroke to a delivery which turned prodigiously from outside the leg stump.
The wicket was Giles's 15th of the series, making him the highest England wicket taker in a test series in Pakistan. He beat Nick Cook's 14 achieved in 1984.
(Reuter)