LONDON, Aug 21 (AP): Pakistan overcame a late batting collapse to beat England by four wickets in the third Test today and trail 2-1 in the four-match series.Set 148 to win after Mohammad Amir claimed career-best figures of 5-52 to help dismiss England for 222, Pakistan reached 148-6 at The Oval.
Amir finished on four not out in 25 balls and Umar Akmal was 16 in 36 after nervously surviving a late England assault.
The winning runs came when Akmal glanced off-spinner Graeme Swann to fine leg. It followed the loss of four wickets for 29 runs. Captain Salman Butt earlier led from the front with 48 from 64 balls. Swann claimed 3-50. Victory for Pakistan ended England’s six-test winning streak and keeps the series alive ahead of the Lord’s test from Thursday. The hosts won at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston, both of which ended within four days.
England looked to be down and out at lunch with Pakistan on 115-3 but England went on the attack after the interval. James Anderson’s spell after the break was 1-8 in nine overs, with five maidens. Pakistan went 28 balls without a run at one stage.
SCORECARD
England 1st innings: 233
Pakistan 1st innings: 308
England 2nd innings: 222
Pakistan 2nd innings: Imran Farhat lbw b Swann 33, Yasir Hameed c Swann b Anderson 0, Salman Butt c Collingwood b Swann 48, Mohammad Yousuf b Anderson 33, Azhar Ali run out 5, Umar Akmal not out 16, Kamran Akmal lbw b Swann 0, Mohammad Amir not out 4. Extras: (b4, lb2, w2, nb1) 9. Total: (6 wkts; 41.4 overs) 148. Fall of wkts: 1-5, 2-57, 3-103, 4-124, 5-131, 6-132. Bowling: Anderson 14-5-39-2, Broad 6-0-35-0, Swann 18.4-4-50-3, Finn 3-0-18-0.
