England rule despite Ajmal’s five

BIRMINGHAM: Kevin Pietersen’s wait for another Test century continued at Edgbaston but his 80 helped England remain on top as Pakistan tried to avoid an innings defeat.

Pakistan were 19 for one in their second innings, still needing 160 more runs to make England bat again, at stumps on the second day of the second Test. Pietersen’s innings was the cornerstone of England’s 251 that ensured a first innings lead of 179 after Pakistan had been dismissed for just 72 — their lowest total against England.

That had followed Pakistan’s previous worst of 80 made in a huge 354-run defeat in the first of this four-Test series at Trent Bridge on Sunday.

Pietersen, together with fellow South Africa-born batsman Jonathan Trott, shared a third-wicket stand of 133.

Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took five wickets for 82 runs in 26.1 overs — his first five-wicket haul in what was only the 32-year-old’s sixth Test.

And there was still time before bad light forced an early close for Pakistan captain Salman Butt to exit for nought after edging a superb outswinger from James Anderson to opposing skipper Andrew Strauss at first slip.

It meant Salman had scored just 16 runs in four innings this series. Imran Farhat was 10 not out and Azhar Ali five not out at stumps.

Ajmal, recalled in place of leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, polished off England’s tail with a burst of four for two in 26 balls.

But Pakistan harmed themselves with yet another poor fielding display that saw six catches dropped in the innings.

Pietersen arrived at Edgbaston having gone 22 innings without a Test century since making 102 against the West Indies at Port-of-Spain in March 2009.

The 30-year-old, who has scored 16 hundreds in 64 Tests, was far from his fluent best and was dropped three times. Pietersen also had a slice of luck when, on 41, he backed away believing the ball was dead and casually spooned a ‘catch’ following a half-hearted shot off Mohammad Asif to Salman at mid-off.

South African umpire Marais Erasmus signalled dead ball, to the obvious displeasure of the Pakistan captain, who believed it was ‘live’.

Pietersen, dropped twice on the first day as well, was still on his overnight score of 36 when he was given yet another reprieve. He got an inside edge onto his pad off left-arm quick Mohammad Aamer and the ball looped gently to Umar Amin in the gully who, perhaps distracted by the ensuing lbw appeal, dropped the simple chance.

Trott followed him to the landmark with a boundary off Umar Gul but fell when medium-pacer Amin, fast becoming a ‘golden arm’, had him caught in the gully.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2010.