Zulqarnain Haider sets up Pakistan recovery

Debutant Zulqarnain Haider keept England at bay with a superb 88.


Express August 08, 2010

BIRMINGHAM: Debutant Zulqarnain Haider kept England at bay with a superb 88 as Pakistan at restored some pride in the second Test at Edgbaston on Sunday.

Pakistan at the third day's close, were 291 for nine, a lead of 112 and with an outside chance of pulling off what would be an astounding victory.

Pakistan would have been in an even better position, but England off-spinner Graeme Swann removed Zulqarnain shortly before stumps on his way to a Test best haul of six wickets for 60 runs in 36 overs.

Pakistan had been dismissed for just 72 in the first innings, a woeful performance which made Sunday's fight back even more astonishing.

Zulqarnain and Saeed Ajmal put on 115 for the eighth wicket, with the recalled off-spinner making exactly 50 to give him Test bests with both bat and ball this match after he took five for 82 in England's first innings 251.

Ajmal fell shortly before the close caught at slip by Paul Collingwood to end a gutsy 79 ball innings featuring seven fours

Umar Gul, batting with a runner after suffering a hamstring injury on Saturday, was nine not out.

COMMENTS (3)

bM | 13 years ago | Reply What an innings, What an INNINGS.. Exactly what needed to be done at the exact moment. Just loved the way he frustrated the English bowlers by not only his shot selection but also by the weird stares that he gave them. This guy definitely needs to stay on as the wicket keeper. We dont need Akmal now. Even if Akmal wants to play, he should play as a batsman, not wicket keeper.
mak | 13 years ago | Reply End of Kamran Akmal as a first choice keeper! ZH has bagged the test wicketkeeper role with a gutsy innings and tidy keeping!
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