England wins despite Pakistan's delaying tactics

By Ted Corbett

KARACHI, DEC. 11. Brave England, led by Graham Thorpe and Graeme Hick, won the final Test by six wickets and the series against Pakistan at the National Stadium on Monday in darkness that demanded floodlights. The astonishing finish was spoiled by Pakistan's tactics but a sort of justice prevailed. By the time the ceremony was over at the end night had blotted out the view. Moin Khan, the Pakistan captain, was summoned to the Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle's office during the tea interval and reminded of his duty to the game at large. As his side had bowled just seven overs in 40 minutes in an attempt to thwart England's bid for 176 in 44 overs this warning was clearly needed. So is the new law - not in operation in this series - which might have brought a run penalty for this deliberate go-slow. After tea the tactics deteriorated.

Pakistan's time-wasting was blatant. England needed four runs an over which was always going to be difficult but Moin Khan met each bowler in mid-pitch - twice after Saqlain's first ball - as the rate dropped to 10.4 overs an hour. In boxing terms Pakistan refused to come out to fight but in an era when matches are bought and sold like bars of soap we have more important evils to worry us.

By the time Pakistan was all out for 158, England appeared to have lined up the first victory by an overseas team in the National Stadium since Tests were played here in 1955. It's total, which took 64 overs to compile, was Pakistan's lowest at home against England and its second lowest at the Stadium.

England began promisingly when Darren Gough had Saqlain Mushtaq lbw after three overs but during the next 90 minutes a stand of 50 for the fifth wicket absorbed all the time Pakistan needed to force a draw. Both Youssuf Youhana, who has made two centuries in this series and Salim Elahi, are seasoned batsmen and they survived comfortably until that ace stand breaker Craig White dug a ball in short to Youhana who hooked. The ball flew off the underedge to Alec Stewart and although Youhana will be furious with that dismissal it brought joy to England which took the last six wickets for 30.

Elahi was bowled by Giles in the next over playing no shot and at lunch Moin Khan and Abdur Razzaq still had not got off the mark. Moin Khan's slow walk to the wicket betrayed Pakistan nervousness but it managed to use up another 14 overs as the last four wickets fell. Even when Moin Khan was out to a poor shot, it would have used up more overs had it not been for the rash behaviour of that incredible young man Shahid Afridi. His wild manner at the crease, his dash for a single that ran out Waqar Younis and his failure to protect Danish Kaneria all contributed to the collapse of the Pakistan tail.

Michael Atherton and Marcus Trescothick scored 27 off the seven overs before tea, but, although Trescothick hit Saqlain for six, both lost their wickets in successive overs afterwards. More delays: while the sightscreen was changed, while the brain's trust met in mid-wicket, while the field was set and re-set. The runs dried up, Alec Stewart was caught behind in the 17th over at 65, and, as the summit conferences continued, the first 20 overs took 100 minutes.

Umpire Steve Bucknor issued another warning in the 27th over. With 15 overs left 66 were needed. The shadows covered the ground with 13 overs to go; 52 off 11 with Pakistan still in conference; six off the next over, all singles. Finally Moin Khan brought back Waqar Younis at speed round the wicket but Hick pulled the last ball for four and 24 were needed off seven. Hick was bowled by Waqar but Moin Khan dropped Nasser Hussain off the next ball and England cruised home with 15 balls to spare.

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