Injury to steward mars win

An amazing seven-wicket haul from Pakistan captain Waqar Younis that saw England crash to 156 all out in the one-day international at Headingley yesterday was all but forgotten as a pitch invasion marred the finish.

As at the first game at Edgbaston, Pakistan supporters, already over the boundary boards, surged past inadequate ranks of stewarding, with their team in sight of victory.

After the ensuing melee a steward was left lying motionless in the middle before being carried off on a stretcher and taken to Leeds General Infirmary.

Steward Stephen Speight was later reported to be suffering from broken ribs and damage to his spleen. Soon after coming back out again to check on the steward's condition, England captain Alec Stewart conceded the match to prevent further chaos, an unprecedented end for a one-day international.

Pakistan finished on 153 for four, four runs short with 10.1 overs remaining, Younis Khan on 10 not out and Azhar Mahmood six not out.

Both Waqar and Stewart spoke of their sadness at the way the match had ended. "I was sad at the end the way it finished. We have got to do something about the security - something should be done," said Waqar. "I can't think much about it at the moment but something should be done."

Stewart said the authorities had failed to learn lessons from the tournament opener. "We were disappointed with the scenes at Edgbaston and it's happened again. There was some brilliant bowling from Waqar - but at the end we've seen some disgraceful scenes.

"I've read some points were going to be reviewed after Edgbaston. We've always spoken about players' safety - but nothing has happened. We were going to lose anyway - but it (the pitch invasion) makes it a very sad day for English cricket.

The ECB did introduce several measures after the scenes in Birmingham, including an increased security presence, an Urdu-speaking public address announcer and the prospect of criminal proceedings for anyone who damaged the playing area or stole the stumps and bails.

Earlier, Waqar took a personal limited overs best of seven wickets for 36 in an astonishing 10-over stint, all of his victims the first seven batsmen to depart.

Then Abdur Razzaq, who played some extravagant shots, top-scored with 75 from 103 balls including one six and seven fours as Pakistan, already in Saturday's final against Australia at Lord's, eased towards their target.

After losing the toss England managed to recover from 58 for seven in the 19th over to 156 all out, Ben Hollioake (53) and Darren Gough (40 not out) putting on 67 for the eighth wicket.

Gough, who started the day level with Ian Botham on an England record 145 one-day wickets, then moved past his hero by dismissing Saeed Anwar (24) and Shahid Afridi (two) in his first five overs.

But no bowler could touch Waqar's performance. "It was a good toss to win - the ball was seaming around. We bowled at the right spot and the ball did the trick," the Pakistan captain explained.

"We're not used to these sort of conditions but I found the right length and carried on with it. The guys kept nicking it and it was my day."