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Atherton keeps Pakistan at bay as England fight back

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December 9, 2000 

Karachi -- England fought back against Pakistan on day two of the deciding Test here Friday with Ashley Giles and Darren Gough doing damage with the ball and Michael Atherton again steadfast with the bat. At stumps at National Stadium England were 78-1 with opener Atherton on a watchful 43 and captain Nasser Hussain on 13.

The pair are probably relieved to be chasing only 405 after Pakistan capitulated once century makers Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana left the crease, having compiled a crushing 259-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The match is a high-stakes finale to England's first tour here in 13 years, as both sides try to clinch the series with a win following draws in the first two clashes.

Hussain's side in particular has a chance to scratch their names in history. No English side has won a Test in Pakistan since Ted Dexter's 1962 side took a 1-0 series victory, while Pakistan have never lost in this bustling southern port city in 34 Tests.

With both teams looking for a result, England need another 127 runs to avoid a follow on. In the morning, Giles got the crucial breakthrough when he dismissed Youhana, then followed up with captain Moin Khan and Shahid Afridi.

The three wickets came in just 31 balls, leaving the spinner with 4-94 and a tally of 14 wickets in the series. Gough then wrapped up Pakistan's innings with the scalps of tail-enders Saqlain Mushtaq and Waqar Younis, to finish with figures of 3-82 as Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 82 runs.

In reply, England lost opener Marcus Trescothick for 13 when he drove Younis, returning to the side to replace injured Wasim Akram, into the outstretched right hand of a leaping Imran Nazir in the covers. Restarting in the morning at 292-3, Youhana and Haq added 31 quick runs before both fell to irresponsible shots.

Youhana was first to go when he tried to drive a full toss from Giles only to see it stick in the bowler's right hand. His 117 came in 313 minutes with 14 fours and a six. Two runs later Haq drove a Craig White outswinger and was well caught by a diving Trescothick for 142. Rapidly cementing himself as the mainstay of Pakistan's batting lineup, Haq lasted 361 minutes and hit 22 boundaries.

Captain Khan, Shahid Afridi and Abdur Razzaq failed to maintain the momentum or counter Giles' off spin. Khan mistimed a shot and was caught by Graeme Hick for 10, Afridi tried to leave a ball pitched on middle stump and was bowled for the same score, while Razzaq edged one to slip for 21.

``We batted poorly today and lost the initiative of day one. I think we fell 80-100 runs short and it's up to our bowlers now to help us enforce a result,'' Khan said. Mushtaq (16) and Younis (17) added 28 invaluable runs for the ninth wicket before Gough struck twice to wrap up the innings 53 minutes after lunch.

Andrew Caddick bowled only five overs in the day before leaving the field with a stomach upset.

Source : Total-cricket