England face humiliating defeat in tour opener by AFP

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Event:

England in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 1st November 2005

 

England's Ashes heroes face an ignominious defeat in their Pakistan tour opener after collapsing for the second time against the Pakistan Cricket Board Patron's XI on Tuesday.

 

England were reeling at 39-6 at stumps on the second day of the three-day match, an overall lead of 84 runs, and need a Herculean effort to fight back in their first outing since their series win against Australia in September.

 

The Patron's XI pacemen yet again exposed the England batting, as Mohammad Irshad skittled Matt Prior (16), Alex Loudon (1) and captain Michael Vaughan (0) in a devastating spell of fast bowling which brought him 3-22.

 

Left arm paceman Najaf Shah started the slide by dismissing opener Andrew Strauss for six in the fifth over, while Yasir Arafat completed the destruction with the scalps of Kevin Pietersen (10) and Geraint Jones (0).

 

Paul Collingwood (1) and Ian Bell (0) were left at the crease, with first innings century-maker Marcus Trescothick England's last hope of saving the game at Pindi Stadium.

 

Earlier, England pacemen James Anderson and Liam Plunkett shared six wickets between them to wrap up the Patron's XI first innings for 211.

 

"It would be nice to force a win because if England lose it would help gain an advantage for Pakistan in the Test series," said Patron's XI captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

 

England had declared their first innings at their overnight score of 256-9 -- which included a fighting undefeated 124 from opener Marcus Trescothick, who rescued England after a disastrous start on Monday.

 

Both Anderson (3-50) and Plunkett (3-41) are vying for the Test place of reverse swing specialist Simon Jones, who failed to make the Pakistan trip due to a knee injury.

 

Anderson, who was dispatched for three boundaries in his opening over, hit back by claiming top order batsmen Asher Zaidi (11), Bazid Khan (2) and Test discard Yasir Hameed (28) in a spell of seven overs for 32 runs.

 

The 21-year-old Plunkett, making rapid strides to win a Test place, then removed Patron's XI captain Misbah-ul-Haq (9) and Faisal Iqbal (9) to leave the hosts reeling at 79-5.

 

Asim Kamal, part of Pakistan's 16-man squad for the first two Tests, didn't last long as he fell leg-before to part time pacer Paul Collingwood after making a flashy 14.

 

Veteran off-spinner Shaun Udal then chipped in with the wickets of Khalid Latif (2) and Yasir Arafat (16) to make his presence felt in case Pakistan prepare spin-friendly pitches.

 

Shahzad Malik, who hit a record 403 not out in a Hertfordshire League match with 38 sixes off just 137 balls in July this year, shaped up well during his 37 but fell to Udal, who finished with 3-36.

 

At 150-9, England were destined for a big lead but Zulqarnain (34 not out) and Tahir Khan (32) frustrated the tourists during a last wicket stand of 61.

 

Plunkett returned for his final spell to have Khan caught behind by Jones who took five catches behind the stumps.

 

England's frontline spinner Ashley Giles did not bowl because of a stomach upset.

 

England, who play another warm-up game in Lahore from Sunday, take on Pakistan in the first of three Tests starting at Multan from November 12.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)