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Akhtar's wickets secure Pakistan's victory over England

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's four wickets steered Pakistan to a seven-wicket win against England in the second one-day international at Lord's on Saturday.

Akhtar struck at the start and end of England's innings to claim 4-28 off eight overs. He took 2-13 in his opening spell of six overs and then 2-15 off two as England was dismissed for 166.

Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf put on a third-wicket stand of 78 as Pakistan reached 169-3 with 20 balls remaining to lead the five-match series 1-0.

"Shoaib's bowling with the new ball was lovely -- his pace, his swing, everything is there," Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said.

England hasn't won a limited-overs match against a test-playing nation in its last nine attempts.

Wednesday's rain-abandoned first match at Sophia Gardens in Wales was preceded by a Twenty20 defeat to Pakistan. England was also beaten 5-0 by Sri Lanka earlier in the season in the 50-over format, and lost the final game of a 5-1 series defeat to India in April.

In fact, England hasn't won a limited-over series since beating Zimbabwe in December 2004. It has won just eight one-day matches against test-playing nations since then, losing 20 and tying three, with three no-results.

Inzaman won the toss and England had to bat first under heavy cloud cover and on a seaming pitch to face the visitors' full-strength bowling attack.

Captain Andrew Strauss was out for a golden duck, caught by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal off the sixth ball of the day from Akhtar to leave England 1-1.

A 90-minute rain delay meant the match was reduced from 50 to 46 overs per side. A second shower further cut it to 40 overs and forced England to accelerate the run-rate. But Akhtar's steep bounce, exaggerated leg cutters, and subtle changes of pace made life difficult in perfect bowling conditions.

Mohammad Asif was even more difficult for batsmen at the other end. Marcus Trescothick, on 6 off some 26 balls, was caught by Younis Khan at second slip off Asif to leave England 18-2.

Three balls later without a run added, Ian Bell on 9 flashed at a wide delivery by Akhtar, and Inzamam at first slip accepted the easy catch.

Kevin Pietersen attempted to hit Asif over midwicket but instead skied a leading edge to be caught on 17 by Rana Naved-ul-Hasan at third man.

Asif took 2 wickets and conceded only 10 runs off his maximum eight overs.

Paul Collingwood and offspinning allrounder Jamie Dalrymple put on 34 before the latter was out leg-before-wicket by Abdul Razzaq for 13 in the 23rd over, and England was 78-5.

Collingwood's resistance was finally broken when Shahid Afridi trapped him leg-before-wicket.
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