Pakistan in shambles as England scent win by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

---

Ground:	Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Scorecard:	England v Pakistan
Player:	MJ Prior, Umar Gul, SCJ Broad
Event:	Pakistan in England 2010

---

DateLine: 31st July 2010

 

At the close of third day England were in total control of the match as the Pakistani side was reduced to 15 for 3. This was after Matt Prior scored his third Test hundred which allowed the hosts to declare at 262 for 9 giving Pakistan 435 runs to chase.

 

Earlier Pakistan battled gamely for the first two sessions to stay afloat in the game. Umar Gul took charge as he batted positively and aggressively to take his side's score to 182 before his 35-run tenth-wicket partnership with Mohammad Asif ended in run-out.

 

In the English innings Aamer made the initial breakthrough as he forced Strauss to edge a regulation chance towards Umar Akmal at second slip. Umar could not hold on at the first attempt, snatching at the ball a second time to parry it over first slip, only for none other than Kamran to slide in and take a superb reaction catch. Cook departed as he was caught down the leg side of Asif. Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott put together a steady 47 for the third wicket before Pietersen departed before Kamran Akmal pulled off a stunner.

 

Gul then castled Trott and trapped Collingwood leg before to give the visitors the upper hand. After Morgan was run out for 17, Swann kept the runs flowing with some exciting strokeplay. Broad swung around for his 24 before Malik had him caught at slip. James Anderson top-edged a sweep off the fourth ball he faced to give Malik his second wicket. Prior took England's lead past 400 and also marched without any issues towards his third Test ton before Strauss had enough.

 

Salman Butt began with two boundaries before slashing to third slip. Azhar Ali lasted all of two balls before he was trapped in front of the stumps by Broad, and Umar Amin soon followed him back.