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| November 23, 2005 | Wednesday | Shawwal 20, 1426 |
Lucky Pietersen, Bell thrive as Pakistan toil
FAISALABAD, Nov 22: England made a brave bid to overhaul Pakistan’s big first innings total through century-makers Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell but still remained in arrears on the third day of the Second Test at the Iqbal Stadium on Tuesday.
The two batsmen defied the home bowlers for a good part of play, their efforts helping the tourists close the day at 391-7, still 71 runs behind. Ashley Giles (23) and Shaun Udal (6) were together.
Pietersen (100) and Bell (115) saw off the first session giving England just the kind of start they had wanted. Both reached their centuries, the second of their careers after lunch when luck finally smiled on the attack.
Shoaib Akhtar rocketed in to snap up two, halting a threatening fourth-wicket partnership between Pietersen and Bell that produced 154 runs.
It was just reward for bowlers who had toiled all morning without success. In the first over of his third spell, Shoaib was blasted for a masterly six by Pietersen who completed his century in so doing.
But that harsh treatment was avenged next ball when Mohammad Yousuf took a fine catch at deep mid-wicket.
“I think it is not a big total or a big chase. If the players stay firmly at the wicket they could level the score,” Pietersen said. “We have no come out of a bad patch and it was our set strategy that Bell and I play the whole day to get the team back on track.”
Bell admitted his Test hundred here was the best of his career.
“It is a sort of come-of-age innings, but I wish I was still batting on 150 at the end of the day’s play and helped my team get closer to Pakistan’s total,” he said.
Shortly afterwards Shoaib accounted for Andrew Flintoff (1) whose middle stump was uprooted, a ball that came in sharply. To further compound England’s problems, Afridi brought about the fall of Bell who provided a thick edge through to Kamran in the 98th over of the innings.
Afridi dealt another blow trapping wicket-keeper Geraint Jones in front for 55 after tea and when the close came, yet again prematurely because of bad light England were left pondering what was in store. Things aren’t going too well for them.
Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq remained modest though. “It is still an even match but our fielding was sloppy today although the bowlers did well.”
The fielders were generous indeed with Bell and Pietersen the beneficiaries. A stumping chance and two dropped catches proved costly for Pakistan.
Bell, who was 36 in his team’s overnight total of 113-3, survived after Kamran knocked the bails off without being able to collect a Kaneria delivery. The Warwickshire batsman was way out of his crease.
That life on 38 combined with Pietersen’s let-off later helped the batsmen add 110 runs in a stand that was intact at lunch.
Kaneria, at mid-off was the culprit putting down a regulation catch much to Shahid Afridi’s annoyance when Pietersen was cruising along on 64. The Nottinghamshire batsman’s damage-control innings that came off 137 balls had six boundaries and three sixes.
Bell showed more patience at the crease facing 272 balls striking seven fours. He also benefited by Salman Butt’s generosity when on 90, who dropped him off seamer Rana Navedul Hasan.
Warned twice for running on to the pitch, Kaneria shouldered the major burden in the attack as Pakistan continued to be at the receiving end of match officials.
The home team are still smarting from the controversial dismissals of two of their key batsmen in the first innings and a three-match ban on Afridi.
The home side going in with a firm hold on the match used all their main bowling resources yet none could provide a breakthrough on a flat pitch before lunch when England were 217-3 and in the end they were left to thank Shoaib and Afridi for picking up the vital wickets.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN (1st Innings) 462 (Inzamamul Haq 109, Shahid Afridi 92, Mohammad Yousuf 78).
ENGLAND (1st Innings, overnight 113-3):
M.E. Trescothick c Kamran b Sami 48
A.J. Strauss b Rana Naved 12
M.P. Vaughan b Rana Naved 2
I.R. Bell c Kamran b Afridi 115
K.P. Pietersen c Yousuf b Shoaib Akhtar 100
A. Flintoff b Shoaib Akhtar 1
G.O. Jones lbw b Afridi 55
A.F. Giles not out 23
S.D. Udal not out 6
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-7, W-1, NB-20) 29
TOTAL (for seven wkts, 121 overs) 391
FALL OF WKTS: 1-33, 2-39, 3-107, 4-261, 5-272, 6-327, 7-378.
TO BAT: M.J. Hoggard, S.J. Harmison.
BOWLING (to-date): Shoaib Akhtar 23-2-76-2 (3nb, 1w); Rana Navedul Hasan 20-2-63-2 (8nb); Mohammad Sami 19-4-51-1; Shahid Afridi 25-3-74-2 (6nb); Danish Kaneria 30-3-90-0 (3nb); Shoaib Malik 4-0-29-0.
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