Pakistan have all but guaranteed a place in the final of the ATG Test Championship with a 5 wicket victory over England. Their bowling strength undoubtedly was the difference between the 2 sides and has been pivotal in their progress through the competition. Jimmy Anderson's ankle injury deprived England of a thoroughbred bowler but similarly the Pakistanis missed the injured Fazal's consistency.
Stokes opted to bat 1st on a hard, bouncy pitch but lost both openers within the first 3 overs. England never really recovered and were all out for 175 (3 wickets apiece for Wasim Akram & Waqar Younis). Younis Khan smashed a Fred Trueman no ball for six in the 1st over of the 2nd day and went on to make a valuable 74. Pakistan recovered from 134-6 to make 331, in which Wasim Akram hit an unbeaten 83 from 95 balls at no 9.
The match turned decisively Pakistan's way on day 3 as their bowlers restricted the home side to 211. Jack Hobbs stood apart of the English batsmen with a superb five hour innings of 122. Saqlain Mushtaq impressed once again for Pakistan and was the pick of the bowlers, taking 5-54. Imran Khans team required only 56 for victory but on a gloomy 4th morning they struggled to get over the line. Trueman uprooted Younis Khan's off stump 2nd ball of the innings and nervy running between the wickets from Zaheer Abbas & Saeed Anwar cost the latter his wicket. When Trueman removed Imran for 1 the visitors were 33-5, but Inzamam Ul-Haq (25no) & the dependable Imtiaz Ahmed finished the job.
Pakistan have few weaknesses and deserve their success. England have flattered to deceive since their promising start. Saqlain bowled with guile and skill in England's 2nd innings and was Man of the Match.
Pakistan return back home for their final game, where they will take on their old rival India at Karachi. As for England, they will hope for a final chance to restore some pride against South Africa, as they travel to Johannesburg.
England 1st Innings 175-10 (62 Ov)
BA Stokes 69, IT Botham 40, Wasim Akram 3-24, Waqar Younis 3-41, Imran Khan 2-25
Pakistan 1st Innings 331-10 (118.2 Ov)
Wasim Akram 83*, Younis Khan 74, Imran Khan 48, SF Barnes 3-46, FS Trueman 3-68, BA Stokes 2-53
England 2nd Innings 211-10 (79.1 Ov)
JB Hobbs 122, KP Pietersen 26, Saqlain Mushtaq 5-54, Waqar Younis 2-25, Abdul Qadir 2-71
Pakistan 2nd Innings 56-5 (24.1 Ov)
Inzamam-Ul-Haq 25*, FS Trueman 2-22
Pakistan win by 5 wickets
Man of the Match: Saqlain Mushtaq
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