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England, Pakistan Test drawn

Last updated on: November 24, 2005 19:27 IST
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England hung on for a draw on an exciting final day of the second Test on Thursday after a superb exhibition of fast bowling from Shoaib Akhtar and Rana Naved put Pakistan in with a chance of victory.

Pakistan were boosted early in the day by Inzamam-ul-Haq's 24th Test hundred which effectively ended England's chance of a victory. The draw keeps England's hopes of levelling the series alive at 1-0 down with one Test to play.

England were set an improbable target of 285 to win and after collapsing to 20 for four under a barrage of short balls from Shoaib and some cunning bowling from Naved, dug in to reach 164 for six when bad light ended play.

Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell all fell for ducks and captain Michael Vaughan for nine as Shoaib, who finished with 3-61, and Naved (3-30) took two wickets apiece.

But up stepped Ashes heroes Andrew Flintoff (56) and Kevin Pietersen (42) to rescue England from their horrible start.

Pakistan's hopes of a win were rekindled when Pietersen, who scored 100 in the first innings, fell just before tea brilliantly caught at short leg by substitute Asim Kamal and England went into the break on 107 for five.

But Flintoff, who had put on 80 with Pietersen, then added 38 with Jones before falling with an hour remaining in the day when he swung at a short ball from Shoaib which hit his gloves and went straight to substitute Hasan Raza at point.

Plucky Geraint Jones (30 not out) and an obdurate Ashley Giles (13) shared a seventh wicket stand of 26 runs to see out the day, which ended 16 overs early in fading light.

ENGLAND HOPES

Pakistan, who won the first Test in Multan by 22 runs, resumed the day on 183-6 with England still harbouring outside hopes of a victory if they could rattle through the home side's tail.

But Inzamam turned his overnight 41 not out into his second hundred of the match in the morning and Pakistan declared their second innings on 268 for nine just before lunch.

Inzamam, who became Pakistan's top century maker with 24 hundreds, hit nine fours and a six in his 134 balls to set England an huge victory target and enable his bowlers to put some pressure on the English batsmen.

"Inzamam played two fantastic knocks and he was the difference between the two sides," said England captain Michael Vaughan.

The series now moves on to Lahore for the second Test from Nov 29, which England must win to save the series.

"The cricket is tough for us out here but we are enjoying our time and hopefully in Lahore there will be one result, an England win, and it will be 1-1," Vaughan added.

Scorecard

Pakistan (1st innings): 462

England (1st innings): 446

Pakistan (2nd innings): 268 for 9 declared

England (2nd innings): (target 285):
M Trescothick b Akhtar 0
A Strauss b Naved 0
M Vaughan lbw b Naved 9
I Bell c Akmal b Akhtar 0
K Pietersen c sub (Kamal) b Naved 42
A Flintoff c sub (Raza) b Akhtar 56
G Jones not out 30
A Giles not out 13
Extras: (b-4, lb-8, nb-2) 14
Total: (for six wickets in 48 overs) 164

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-5, 3-10, 4-20, 5-100, 6-138.

Bowling: Akhtar 11-2-61-3, Naved 12-3-30-3, Sami 6-1-18-0, Kaneria 12-4-27-0, Afridi 7-2-16-0.

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Source: REUTERS
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