LAHORE, Nov 7: England were dealt a severe blow on Monday when skipper Michael Vaughan twisted his knee which could end his tour prematurely ahead of the Test and one-day series against Pakistan.

Vaughan’s untimely injury overshadowed a fine bowling performance by Pakistan ‘A’ spinner Mansoor that left the tour match evenly poised going into Tuesday’s third and final day at the Bagh-i-Jinnah.

Opener Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood ran into some form with half-centuries while important contributions from Ashley Giles and Geraint Jones lifted England to a fighting second-innings total of 256 an hour after tea.

Pakistan ‘A’, chasing 245 for victory ended the day at 31 for one in four overs with Taufiq Umar falling to Matthew Hoggard off an unnecessary hook shot after making 15.

Imran Farhat (12) and night-watchman Shahid Nazir (0) were at the crease when stumps were drawn for the day.

After conceding Pakistan ‘A’ a first-innings lead of 12 runs, with Steve Harmison taking the last two wickets after the local side had resumed at 127 for eight, England lost Marcus Trescothick and Kevin Pietersen (for a first-ball duck) to paceman Mohammad Asif, the wrecker-in-chief in the first innings, with only 10 runs on the board.

England were actually three down at that point since Vaughan, who had yet to open his account, was carried off the field with the score on six after twisting his knee while turning back as the striker Strauss called him for a second run.

Strauss and Collingwood, who offered a chance each, then got their heads down in a fine partnership that produced 113 runs to lift the morale in the English camp before both went in quick successions.

Strauss was dropped by Rizwan Ahmed at gulley while Collingwood, who was in an aggressive mood, had a life on 15 when Asif caught the ball but went over the fine-leg boundary.

Seamer Shahid Nazir, however, finally broke through when he had Strauss caught behind by Aminur Rahman for a 98-ball 56, an innings that lasted 130 minutes and included seven hits to the ropes.

Mansoor, the upcoming leg-spinner who bowled an unchanged spell of 24 overs, snared Collingwood for 61 with Shahid Nazir holding a fine catch at deep mid-wicket. Collingwood’s 70-ball knock in 100 minutes was spiced with six fours and four sixes.

Mansoor then dismissed Andrew Flintoff for 28 before Jones and Giles added 58 runs for the sixth-wicket. Jones was caught behind off the same bowler for 30 before the spinner sent back Shaun Udal and Hoggard to finish with five for 97.

Flintoff, from whom a lot was expected, had a brief 19-ball stay that produced four fours and two sixes from his punishing blade. Jones lasted 63 balls and hit four boundaries.

Asif ended the innings by having Giles caught at mid-off for 49 to complete a 10-wicket haul in the match. His figures of three for or 44 gave him a deserved match haul of 10 for 106.

Giles, showing all-round prowess, struck nine boundaries in his 83-ball knock.

SCOREBOARD