Daijiworld Media Network
Dubai, Jan 27: The spinners have brought Pakistan back into the game. It looked like England all the way when Cook and Trott were batting without any hassles. Trott and then Cook's dismissal turned the fortunes around. The pitch suddenly resembled a minefield. KP and Morgan succumbed to the pressure that was built and England have frittered away the advantage. Ajmal looked unplayable in the last hour and ended with three wickets while Rehman gave him solid support and scalped Trott. That ends a fascinating Day 2 with England still trailing by 50 runs.
David Lloyd feels that the cracks are showing up and it will get wider as the day progresses. There will be uneven bounce and batting last will be very difficult. It is advantage Pakistan as of now.
Saeed Ajmal: The new ball was turning but it was slow turn. The two batsmen were settled but Rehman got rid of Trott and that helped me. We tried to get some spin by flighting the ball, but the turn was very slow. When the ball got softer, Misbah told me to push it through quicker and that helped me to get rewards. We are well prepared and we will hope to dismiss England as cheaply as possible.
England were coasting along at a major degree of comfort when Cook and Trott were out there in the middle. Ajmal magic though brought Pakistan back into the contest as he picked 3 wickets to leave the match in balance. England still trail by 50 runs and will have the final recognised pair in the middle. Hello, and welcome to Day 3 of the 2nd Test between Pakistan and England.
Highlights:
Over No. 13.2 27/1 Hafeez to Strauss, out Caught by Shafiq!! Strauss fails yet again and it is that man, Hafeez who does the trick. Poor technique from Strauss though, this was tossed up outside off, Strauss looks to get forward and defend, ends up stabbing at the delivery and gets a thick inside edge onto his pads. The ball lobs to Shafiq at short leg. Umpire Davies has an easy decision to make. First blow for Pakistan. Strauss c Shafiq b Hafeez 11(42) [4s-1]
64 166/2 Abdur Rehman to Jonathan Trott, out Bowled!! What a beauty from Abdur Rehman. Trott's resistance has ended with a lazy shot. This one pitched on the middle stump and curved away ever so slightly. Trott stayed back and looked to defend, the ball went past the outside edge and clipped the top of off-stump. Trott looks back in dismay, Rehman is pumped up. Pakistan needed this wicket badly. Jonathan Trott b Abdur Rehman 74(158) [4s-7]
75 198/3 Ajmal to Alastair Cook, out Lbw!! Ajmal has a wicket finally. This one was tossed up outside off and breaks back in after pitching. Alastair Cook was looking to defend and is struck just below the knee roll. He ended up playing down the wrong line. Alastair Cook looked up at his partner but is happy to go. England have lost yet another settled batsman. Alastair Cook lbw b Ajmal 94(220) [4s-10]
78.1 203/4 Ajmal to Pietersen, out Caught by Hafeez!! Ajmal strike again and Pakistan are fighting back, this was tossed up outside off. KP looked to get to the pitch of the ball on his attempted whip, the ball dipped on him sharply, catches the inside edge onto his pads and lobbed past the keeper. Hafeez was quick to react, goes to his left and completes the catch. No review from KP and England suddenly find themselves four down. Pietersen c Hafeez b Ajmal 14(39) [4s-2]
Over No : 84.5 207/5 Ajmal to Eoin Morgan, out Caught by Hafeez!! Eoin Morgan fails to play out the day. This was the ripping off-break, pitches just around off and spins away, Eoin Morgan was pushing forward, gets an outside edge that goes low to Hafeez at 1st slip. He takes a smart catch and Ajmal squeels in delight. Pakistan end the day on a high. Eoin Morgan c Hafeez b Ajmal 3(22)