England batsmen fail again
England will do well to avoid defeat in their opening tour match in Pakistan this morning.
They will resume on the final day of three on 39 for six — a lead of just 84 runs. Although the tourists’ bowlers performed well on a misbehaving wicket, England suffered a second successive batting collapse.
Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen, who all failed to reach double figures in the first innings, were dismissed cheaply once more.
Vaughan decided to declare on the overnight score of 256 for nine, leaving Marcus Trescothick unbeaten on 124. Liam Plunkett and James Anderson eventually took five wickets between them.
Ashley Giles was forced to return to the team hotel with a stomach upset but fellow spinner Shaun Udal impressed with figures of three for 36. Geraint Jones did well with the gloves, clinging on to a total of five catches.
England’s second innings proved even more disastrous than the first. Strauss (6) was the first to go, nicking one to slip. Vaughan (0) was trapped leg before and Pietersen (10) was clean bowled.
Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood were the not out batsmen left to attempt a rescue act when they return to the crease this morning.