Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in tests but England were still in command of the second test as they held a first-innings lead of 179 runs after tea on day two at Edgbaston on Saturday. Ajmal took five for 82, including an inspired spell of four wickets for two runs in 26 balls, as England were bowled out for 251 having lost their remaining seven wickets for just 46.
Top scorer Kevin Pietersen missed the chance to score his first test hundred in 23 innings and was out for 80. England were still well positioned to claim a 2-0 lead in the four-match series despite their batting collapse. Pakistan were not helped by six dropped catches in the England innings - Pietersen was dropped three times.
Pakistan were dismissed for 72 after lunch on Friday, which was their lowest test total against England. Earlier, Kevin Pietersen was unbeaten on 78 after escaping two possible dismissals on day two of the second test as England reached 191 for three when rain forced an early tea on Saturday at Edgbaston.
England, replying to Pakistan's record low of 72, were 119 runs ahead and well placed to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series. Pietersen, nearing his first century in 23 test innings, was dropped three times and survived a possible dismissal off a dead ball, while Paul Collingwood had six. The only batsman to fall in the afternoon session was Jonathan Trott for 55.
Pietersen, dropped twice on Friday, got another life on his overnight score of 36 off Mohammad Amir. An inside edge on to his pad ballooned towards Umar Amin at gully but the fielder, distracted by an lbw appeal, spilt a simple chance. He received another controversial reprieve when on 41. As pace bowler Mohammad Asif approached his delivery stride, Pietersen started to pull away from his batting stance, but still played a half-hearted stroke and was caught by a diving Salman Butt at mid-off. Pakistan claimed the catch but South African umpire Marais Erasmus signalled dead ball after the catch was taken. Butt appeared confused and upset by the ruling, while Pietersen reaffirmed his belief he was not ready to receive the ball.
A senior official told Reuters Erasmus had verbally called it 'dead ball' before Asif had delivered the ball. The laws of cricket states an umpire "can call dead ball if for an adequate reason the striker is not ready for the delivery and if the ball is delivered, makes no attempt to play it."
However, Pakistan were left frustrated as Pietersen played the ball. Pietersen registered his half-century with a leg-side boundary off Amir, before going on to boss the Pakistan attack as sunshine broke out at a half-full Edgbaston that is undergoing major reconstruction work.
A boundary off the back foot through cover from off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was a more assured stroke. But his luck continued shortly after when he nicked Ajmal for four via the wicketkeeper's pad though it was not a chance. Trott appeared almost anonymous such was Pietersen's involvement in all the major incidents of the day, though his straight drive for four off Umar Gul that took him to his 50 demonstrated his growing confidence. But Trott did not remain for long thereafter. After Gul left the field with an injury part-time medium-pace bowler Amin removed Trott in his second over.
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scoreboard Pakistan 1st Innings 72
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England 1st Innings (overnight: 112-2)
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A. Strauss c Zulqarnain b Aamer 25
A. Cook c Akmal b Asif 17
J. Trott c sub (Hameed) b Amin 55
K. Pietersen c and b Ajmal 80
P. Collingwood c Farhat b Ajmal 28
E. Morgan c Zulqarnain b Asif 6
M. Prior lbw b Ajmal 15
G. Swann c and b Ajmal 4
S. Broad c sub (Hameed) b Ajmal 0
J. Anderson lbw b Aamer 0
S. Finn not out 0
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Extras: (b10, lb9, w1, nb1) 21
Total: (all out, 83.1 overs, 359 mins) 251
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