Sajid Mahmood starred with both bat and ball as England fell over the line to beat Pakistan by three wickets in the fifth and final one-day international at Edgbaston here Sunday and so end the series all square at 2-2.

Set a meagre 155 to win, England finished on 155 for seven with 19 overs to spare.

Michael Yardy was 12 not out and Mahmood, who came in at 118 for seven, was 22 not out after taking two for 24 in his maximum 10 overs.

England's attack had put them in a position to gain a morale-boosting victory ahead of next month's ICC Champions Trophy one-day tournament in India by restricting Pakistan to 154 for nine in 50 overs.

Fast bowler Mahmood, the son of Pakistani immigrants, responded to the jeers of the massed ranks of Pakistan supporters with two wickets.

Medium-pacer Collingwood provided good support with two for 23 in eight overs, including the prize wicket of Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Younis Khan's top-score of 47 was the only individual total above 18 in Pakistan's innings with extras second-top on 24.

England were well on course at 102 for three but then lost three wickets for four runs in eight balls to slump to 106 for six.

Kevin Pietersen, going for an ugly heave across the line against leg-spinner Shahid Afridi, was bowled for 34 off 33 balls with six fours.

Then, three balls later, Jamie Dalrymple was plumb lbw to Afridi.

Paul Collingwood, in his 100th one-day international, made 22 before he was lbw, aiming across the line, to medium-pacer Abdul Razzaq.

And when Chris Read's top-edged hook off Razzaq was caught by Rana Naved at fine leg, England were 118 for seven.

What made Pakistan's performance all the more impressive was that they were without lead fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar because of a knee injury.

But a beauty from Mohammad Asif then clipped the top of Ed Joyce's off-stump as England captain Andrew Strauss's Middlesex team-mate shouldered arms.

Strauss then struck some impressive boundaries before England lost two wickets in two balls to be 49 for three.

Ian Bell, who made 86 not out in England's eight-wicket win in the fourth one-day international at Trent Bridge on Friday, managed just two on his Warwickshire home ground before edging Asif to third slip Imran Farhat, in for the dropped Shoaib Malik, off the last ball of the 10th over.

Next ball left-hander Strauss went for an expansive drive against Anjum and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, diving in front of first slip Inzamam, held a superb two-handed catch.

It was a careless but understandable shot given that Strauss had been in fine form, his 41-ball 35 featuring eight fours.

Collingwood, on two, was then given a reprieve when Anjum failed to hold a caught and bowled chance with England 59 for three in the 14th over.

Mahmood later settled England's nerves with the bat with three successive fours off Rana Naved.

Earlier, Strauss won his first toss of the series and chose to field on a pitch with some early life.

But it took the arrival of first-change Mahmood to spark a collapse that saw three wickets lost for eight runs in 15 balls, Pakistan 51 for three when the Lancashire quick had Mohammad Yousuf (11) edging to second slip Strauss.

Collingwood then snared Inzamam lbw for two as he walked across his stumps.

Razzaq, whose whirlwind 75 not out at Trent Bridge took Pakistan from the depths of 115 for five to 235 for eight, came in with his side in an even worse position at 72 for five.

But on five, Razzaq gave Collingwood his 50th one-day international wicket when he was bowled off-stump.

Younis's 80-ball innings, including four fours, ended when a top-edged reverse sweep against Dalrymple went straight to Joyce at short third man.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)