CRICKET/FIRST TEST:ENGLAND believe they can still win the first Test in Dubai after their late fightback on a tough second day against Pakistan yesterday.
Two wickets – including that of captain Misbah-ul-Haq – in the last five balls before stumps meant Pakistan closed on 288 for seven.
That nonetheless gave them a lead of 96 after England’s under-par performance with the bat on day one.
But Stuart Broad, twice successful with the ball yesterday morning, described an optimistic England as “delighted” with the twist in a tale which had previously seen him and his fellow bowlers toil mostly in vain.
He is hoping England can revisit the rearguards of last winter’s famous Ashes draw in Brisbane and their summer victory over India at Trent Bridge when they also came from way off the pace after a poor start.
Openers Mohammad Hafeez (88) and Taufeeq Umar (58) shared a Pakistan record fifth century opening stand and Misbah added another 52.
But England got their rewards in the end for a wholehearted, disciplined and skilled display with the ball.
“Pakistan are still in a strong position – we’re chasing the game a little bit – but you look back to Brisbane, to Trent Bridge last summer, it’s going to be up to a couple of batsmen to score big hundreds,” said Broad. “I think the batsmen are excited at putting the wrongs right from the first innings. Someone has an opportunity to score big runs on that wicket.
“If we can score 350 to 400 then batting last on that wicket could be quite tricky. That’s how you’ve got to plan.
“We’re quite clear in what we have to do. Someone’s going to have to bat big, bat long – and we have players who can do that.”
PAKISTAN v ENGLAND
in Dubai
England First innings: 192 (Prior 70 not out; Ajmal 7-55)
PAKISTAN
First innings (Overnight 42-0)
Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Swann 88
Taufeeq Umar b Broad 58
Azhar Ali c Prior b Broad 1
Younus Khan lbw b Trott 37
Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Swann 52
Asad Shafiq c Prior b Anderson 16
Adnan Akmal not out 24
Abdur Rehman b Anderson 4
Extras (b-2, lb-4, nb-2) 8
Total (For seven wickets) 288
Fall of wickets: 1-114 2-128 3-176 4-202 5-231 6-283 7-288. Still to bat: Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Aizaz Cheema. Bowling (to date): Anderson 23.3-7-57-2, Tremlett 20-6-48-0(1nb), Broad 26-6-72-2(1nb), Swann 27-3-89-2, Trott 8-2-16-1.
