Pakistan take two-nil series lead
Younis Khan's century set up the tourists' win
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Tuesday, 05, Sep 2006 11:08
Pakistan won the third one-day international with England by two wickets to take a two-nil lead in the one-day series.
Younis Khan's century paved the way for Bob Woolmer's side as they successfully chased a target of 272 under the Rose Bowl floodlights after England's top order again faltered.
The decision of Inzamam ul-Haq to send the hosts into bat after he won the toss did not seem to necessarily give his side much of an advantage.
But even without the unenviable task of adjusting to the artificial light England's batsmen struggled against the pace of Naved ul-Hasan and Abdul Razzaq.
Naved finished the day with figures of 4-57 after ten overs of pace and bounce that shredded the nerves of the opposition.
While Andrew Strauss made a quick half-century, it was Paul Collingwood and Jamie Dalrymple who made up the body of the England total with scores of 61 and 62.
Pakistan looked to be cruising to the total, at one point 196-2, as Khan, ably supported by Mohammad Yousef, set about some loose bowling with Sajid Mahmood particularly guilty.
But when both fell within the space of three overs it appeared as if England may be able to put the tourists under pressure.
Razzaq and ul-Haq briefly steadied the ship, but another flurry of three wickets in the 47th and 48th overs, kept the spectators in their seats as the game's outcome was thrown back into doubt.
Ultimately though ul-Haq steered his team home finishing with a typically-aggressive unbeaten 44 of 33 balls and putting his side firmly in control of the series.