Five memorable Pakistan-England Tests by AFP

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Event:

England in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 11th November 2005

 

Pakistan and England have played some memorable Test matches. Here are their five biggest clashes:

 

1954: Fourth Test, The Oval: Pakistan won by 24 runs

 

Written off after their humiliating innings and 129 runs defeat in the second Test, Pakistan upset all calculations with a hard-fought 24-run win. Having earned Test status just two years earlier, Pakistan became the first country to win a Test in their debut series in England.

 

Fazal Mahmood, with figures of 6-53 and 6-46, was the architect of the victory. Pakistan managed a lead of just three runs in the first innings and after getting 164 in their second, they faced almost certain defeat with England needing only 168 to win. But Fazal spoiled England's plans.

 

Fazal, remembered in Pakistan as the "Oval hero", died in May this year.

 

1982: Third Test, Headingley: England won by three wickets

 

Headingley witnessed several exciting matches between England and Pakistan. But the 1982 Test was the most thrilling of all, as it decided the series in England's favour and featured a contest between two of cricket's greatest allrounders -- Ian Botham of England and Imran Khan of Pakistan. Pakistan had won the second Test at Lord's -- their first win in England since 1954 -- to square the series at 1-1. The Leeds Test provided the finale to a nail-biting series. Botham (57 and 4 with nine wickets) and Imran (67 not out and 47 with eight wickets) fought a classic cricketing duel. England chased 219 to win the match and take the series 2-1.

 

1992: Second Test, Lord's: Pakistan won by two wickets

 

Pakistan edged out England after a nerve-wracking contest. Pakistan's "two Ws" -- fast bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis -- stood out, sharing 13 wickets between them in the match. Then they had to contribute with the bat, as Pakistan nearly lost their way chasing a modest target of 138. From a precarious 95-8, Wasim (45 not out) and Waqar (20 not out) saw their team through with an unbroken stand of 46. Pakistan went on to win the series 2-1.

 

2000: Third Test, Karachi: England won by six wickets

 

England struck in near darkness to seize the match and the series -- both of which had looked like heading towards draws. From 71-2, Pakistan slumped to 158 all out on the fifth day, giving England a chaseable target of 176 to win in a possible 43 overs. Despite home captain Moin Khan's frantic complaints and delaying tactics, England romped home with 1.3 overs to spare.

 

2001: Second Test, Old Trafford: Pakistan won by 108 runs

 

All three results were possible on the morning of the fifth day, with England at 85-0 and chasing 370 to win. Marcus Trescothick (117) and Michael Atherton (51) took the home team to 146, before Pakistan hit back to claim ten wickets for 115 runs. Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq grabbed 4-74, but two of his victims were off no-balls which England's umpire David Shepherd failed to spot -- much to the chagrin of the British media.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)