19th July 2006
Hello Friends !

After losing miserably to Sri Lanka in the one dayers, England's Asia jinx didn't seem to be over as they managed to draw the first test with Pakistan even after getting in the driver's seat in the first two days. England could only claim four Pakistan wickets on the final afternoon, the tourists reaching 214-4 chasing 380.

Inzamam Ul Haq Inzamam and Razzaq shared an unbroken stand of 73 on Monday to guide Pakistan to a draw in the first Test against England at Lord's. Set 380 to win after England had declared on 296-8, Pakistan finished on 214-4 from 73 overs. Earlier England won the toss and amassed a huge score of 528/9 batting first, before declaring, with their 3 batsmen Collingwood, Bell and Cook reaching 3 figures. Collingwood recorded his highest test score of 186 which consisted of 23 fours. His partnership of 223 runs with Cook is highest 4th wicket partnership for England against Pakistan. Pakistan started shabbily, until Inzi and Yousuf came for the rescue. Yousuf went on to score a double hundred (202 ), while Inzi was out on 69. Harmison took 4/94. With a lead of 84 England scored 296 more runs in the second innings as Strauss scored a brilliant 128. Kaneria took 3 wickets for Pakistan. England started off well in their hunch for victory as Hoggard sent off both the Pakistani openers within 33 runs. Panesar also took 2 quick wickets. But Inzi (56*) and Razzaq (25*) survived till the end to save the match for Pakistan. Read more...
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:: Yousuf's double eludes Strauss' boys an early lead
Mohammad Yousuf Mohammad Yousuf, one of the most delicate batsmen of Pakistan , completed his fourth test double century and his second against England on Sunday before falling to Steve Harmison for 202 on the fourth day of the first test at Lord's All his runs were brilliantly executed and it took him 330 balls to score his 202 with 26 elegant fours and a well struck sixer. He is every bit as much of a handful as he was before he converted to Islam and changed his name from Yousuf Youhana. Together with Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (69), Yousuf shared a fifth-wicket stand of 173 in 42 overs which featured some of the best cricketing extravaganza with the bat so far in this opening match of a four-Test series. He scored a useful knock of 48 runs in the 2nd innings also.The brilliant Pakistan batsman, whose 1st innings 202 was the best individual effort by a Pakistani at Lord's surpassing Mohsin Khan's 200 on the 1982 tour moved up two spots to fifth position in the top five of the world's leading batsmen, according to the latest ICC rankings. He was named the man of the match.
So friends, lets see what happens at Old Trafford where the 2nd test starts off and how many more records are made and broken.Meanwhile don't stop posting me your comments and suggestions at nik@corp.123india.com. Keep well till we meet again. This is your friend Nick signing off.
With Warm Regards,
Nik - Editor, 123India.com Cricket
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:: ScoreZone
Pakistan in England
PAK v ENG (1st Test) Lord's , 13th- 17th July
:: BattleNext
Pakistan in England
PAK v ENG (2nd Test) St. Old Trafford, 27th- 31st July

South Africa in Sri Lanka
SA v SRL (1st Test) Colombo, 27th- 31st July
:: Did you know ?
Pakistan has not lost a series in England since 1982, a record unmatched by any other test-playing nation.
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