England collapse, Pakistan lose skipper before Lunch on 2nd day at Trent Bridge
A dramatic collapse sees http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 roar back dramatically on the second day of the first test against England at Trent Bridge.
It was the Mohammad Asif’s show as the seamer ran through the English middle and lower order claiming five wickets to break the back of the hosts. At one point he was on a hat trick and ended up taking his 7th 5-wicket haul in Tests.
Despite an early reprieve from the ever generous Pakistani fielders the partnership between Eoin Morgan and Paul Collingwood was broken eventually.
Paul Collingwood was dismissed lbw by Mohammad Aamer for a stoic 82 run knock. The right-hander referred the decision to the third umpire and he ruled in favour of the tourists. Ending the 219-run partnership for the fifth wicket that was a source of great agony for the tourists.
Morgan on the other hand received another reprieve when Imran Farhat dropped an absolute dolly in the first slips off the luckless Aamer.
But Morgan, who was tentative from the start of day two, was sent packing by Mohammad Asif via a seaming delivery that hit him in front of the stumps.
The Irish-born batsman, who was the star for the hosts on day one but struggled to get the ball away as the hosts scored only 13 runs off the first 11 overs of the day.
His dismissal sparked a collapse as the English team lost one wicket after another as Mohammad Asif went through the tail with his vicious swinging deliveries that made life extremely difficult for the batsmen.
Before Asif ran through the tail, Matt Prior was dismissed as he was run out attempting a suicidal third run and an accurate throw from Mohammad Aamer saw his return to the pavilion.
Asif then cleaned up the tail dismissing Swann and James Anderson off consecutive deliveries via lbw decisions.
The last wicket was taken by Umar Gul, who was bowled by Stuart Broad as the hosts were sent packing. It was a disappointing display in relatively easy batting conditions.
Asif was the pick of the bowlers claiming his seventh five-for, while Mohammad Aamer took three scalps for the visitors.
Umar Gul claimed one wicket, while Kaneria toiled for 21 overs without success.
In reply Pakistan lost their captain Salman Butt who fell for 1 run, dismissed by English quick James Anderson. He edged an out swinger into the hands of wicket-keeper Matt Prior.
It remains to be seen if the Pakistani batsmen can overhaul the English score considering their side’s limited experience.
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