NOTTINGHAM: England England birthday boy James Anderson and rookie pace bowler Steven Finn ripped through Pakistan`s batting to reduce them to 90 for six at tea on the second day of the first test at Trent Bridge on Friday.
Anderson, who turned 28, utilised the cloud cover to take three for 21 while Finn claimed three for 12 in seven overs as former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik was 26 not out and number eight batsman Mohammad Aamer was on 22.
Pakistan trailed by 264 runs at the break and needed 65 to avoid the follow-on, in front of a sold-out crowd that had witnessed 12 wickets for 113 runs in a pulsating day where ball dominated bat.
England had earlier lost their last six wickets for 17 runs but still were able to post a competitive first-innings total of 354 as Mohammad Asif claimed five for 77 after some accurate out-swing bowling. Eoin Morgan made 130 and Paul Collingwood 82.
Pakistan, seeking to avenge their 3-0 series loss in England in 2006, started badly by losing their captain and most dependable batsman Salman Butt before lunch, caught behind for one. Then, in a bizarre period, they lost five wickets for 15 runs, collapsing to 47 for six.
Left-hander Imran Farhat (19) was bowled by a near-perfect Anderson delivery that swung into him only to straighten off the pitch. Farhat smashed his bat into the ground in anger but better players would have struggled to combat such a ball.
Umar Amin (2), in his third test, continued to struggle in the top arena and edged Finn to Graeme Swann at second slip.
Azhar Ali (14), also in his third test, was given out caught behind off Anderson but replays showed that the ball missed his bat and flicked the pocket of his trousers.
With two referrals in hand, it was surprising that Azhar did not choose to review his dismissal having had a mid-pitch discussion with partner Umar Akmal. Pakistan still had those reviews in place by the interval.
Umar Akmal was also caught by Swann from a delivery by Finn, while his brother Kamran lasted just two balls before he edged Finn to Collingwood at third slip for a duck.
Malik and Aamer scrapped for every run in their unbroken stand of 43 and ensured that Pakistan surpassed their lowest test total of 87 against England, which was made at Lord`s in 1954.
However, with only non-batsmen to come and with the pitch and overhead conditions encouraging the spinners and quicker bowlers, Pakistan had a tough task ahead.
BDST: 2208HRS, July 30, 2010
