England lost openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook to reach 49 for two at lunch on day three of the first Test yesterday as Pakistan fought back, first with the bat and then with the ball.
Initially, Umar Gul’s exhilarating Test-best score of 65 not out ensured Pakistan avoided the follow-on, before Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif claimed a wicket apiece in hazardous batting conditions where the ball was swinging prodigiously.
Jonathan Trott was 18 not out and Kevin Pietersen, without a Test century for 20 innings, was on 18 as they battled through a tough session in front of a sell-out crowd.
Strauss (0) was caught behind off Aamer and Cook (12) was caught by Kamran Akmal, off Asif.
Pakistan, resuming on 147 for nine and needing eight runs to avoid the follow-on at Trent Bridge, were dismissed for 182 as last man Asif was run out by Eoin Morgan without scoring to give England a first-innings lead of 172 runs that stretched to 221 at lunch.
Gul had by then set up a closer contest with some silky stroke-play under the six floodlight towers that were on throughout the session in the gloomy conditions.
Gul was left stranded after a 46-ball innings that comprised eight boundaries and four sixes. He took 18 runs off Steven Finn in the second over of the day, with three fours and a six pulled over square-leg. He repeated that stroke twice more.
No. 9 batsman Gul, not known for his batting skills, clipped a James Anderson half-volley on middle stump through midwicket for four with the first ball of the day.
England soon slumped to 18 for two after Strauss was caught in farcical circumstances when second slip Umar Akmal twice failed to hold on to his catch, before his brother and wicketkeeper Kamran dived forward and got the ball.
Cook flicked casually at an innocuous Asif delivery down the leg side and deflected an edge to keeper Akmal.
Trott and Pietersen slowly grew in confidence and adjusted to the challenging conditions. Trott’s off-driven four and a clipped boundary through square-leg off consecutive Asif overs boosted England.
Earlier on Friday, James Anderson celebrated his 28th birthday with another impressive display at Trent Bridge as Pakistan collapsed.
The England swing specialist took five wickets for 49 runs in 20 overs. It was the Lancashire quick’s ninth haul of five or more wickets in 49 Tests and the third in four Tests at Trent Bridge, where he took a Test-best seven for 43 against New Zealand in 2008.
Overcast conditions provided the ideal backdrop for both Anderson and even when the skies are clear, Trent Bridge has a reputation for aiding swing bowling and Anderson told reporters: “It’s been good to me the last couple of times I’ve been here. Certain grounds do tend to swing every time you come and this is one of them.”
Anderson had come under some pressure for his place, but an ankle injury to Ajmal Shahzad cleared the way for England to field an attack of Anderson, Steven Finn — who took three for 20 in 11 overs on Friday — and Stuart Broad.
Pakistan captain Salman Butt was in no doubt about England’s leading man.
“Anderson was a different bowler. He stood out for England,” said the left-handed opener, whose dismissal sparked Pakistan’s slump. “Not many bowlers in the world bowl both swings with that much control. He swings the ball both ways and at the same pace. It was an outstanding bowling performance.”
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