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Cook, Bell score hundreds to give England a massive lead

Related Links : Pakistan in England 2006 : Scorecard

Pakistan has a huge mountain to climb in the Old Trafford Test as England took a massive lead of 342 before declaring its innings. But England will be a side worried with Steve Harmison getting a side strain while bowling his first over in the Pakistan 2nd innings. Harmison, the man who destroyed Pak’s 1st innings with six wickets had to leave the ground after the completion of his over. Pakistan had to face 4 overs before the close of play which they did through Kamran Akmal and Imran Farhat without losing any wickets.

The first hour of the morning session was crucial as England were looking to consolidate to go on and make a big first innings total and Pakistan trying to sneak back by picking up the wickets. In just the second ball of the day, Kevin Pietersen was dismissed as he slashed hard at Umar Gul’s outswinger straight to Imran Farhat who took that tracer bullet. Imran Farhat then left the field with a dislocated finger and then left to the hospital for scans; Pak had already lost Faisal Iqbal in yesterday’s play after being smashed on his wrist while fielding at short leg. After Pietersen’s dismissal, Paul Collingwood, the man in form joined Cook and the pair were up against some tough reverse swing bowling from Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami. Cook and Collingwood survived the threat posed and Inzamam had to resort back to spin at both ends and that allowed the partnership to grow. Alastair Cook reached his 3rd Test Match hundred and with that it looked that England were in a safe position with Cook and Collingwood carrying the team to Lunch at 272 for 3. Collingwood was at this stage on 40 and he had hit two sixes over long on by stepping down the track to Danish Kaneria.

The second new ball was taken a while after the post lunch session had resumed and it helped Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami to get the extra sting in the wicket. Soon the results started to come for the pacers with Collingwood (48) falling to a pull shot to square leg off Umar Gul and then Alastair Cook being adjudged lbw out to one that nipped back from Umar Gul. Cook’s innings had come to an end at a personal score of 127 which had 18 fours. Geraint Jones was sent back to the pavilion quickly as he tried to pull a delivery that wasn’t short enough and skidded off the track by Sami. England lost one more wicket before the Tea Break in the form of Sajid Mahmood whose miscued pull shot lobbed back to the bowler Razzaq. England went into Tea at 357 for 7 with only Ian Bell being the recognized batsman left and he was batting very well on 40.

The final session saw Hoggard putting up a strong defence and allowing Ian Bell to play his shots at the other end and it took quite some time before Pakistan could remove the tail ender. Hoggard decided to pad up an Afridi quicker delivery and that brought curtains to his innings. Next man, Steve Harmison was expected to be dismissed in a hurry, but he stuck around with Ian Bell to put up a great partnership. Ian Bell wasted no opportunity in manufacturing some classy shots and in doing so, he quickly got to his 4th Test Match hundred which came in just 127 deliveries with the help of 13 fours and a six. Harmison later fell getting a top edge in his attempted reverse sweep off Kaneria, who finally got to pick his first wicket at this ground in both Test and First Class Cricket after bowling more than 100 overs! Steve Harmison made a valuable 26 after lasting for 50 balls. Monty Panesar walked into bat and Strauss decided to declare the innings after the end of the 133rd over with England at 461 for 9 leaving Pakistan to face four overs before stumps. Ian Bell was unbeaten on 106 and for Pakistan, Umar Gul was the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 96. All the five bowlers used by Pakistan managed to pick up a wicket atleast, but all of them had to toil hard.

It wouldn’t be easy for Pakistan to survive for the next three days, but there is a small ray of hope seeing Harmison getting injured. The fast bowler did not look that worried about his injury and he might be fit enough for tomorrow’s play and he is indeed the danger man in this Test Match as the batsmen have found his rising deliveries too difficult to negotiate.