England likely to begin tour with defeat in opener
By M Bilal

RAWALPINDI—England’s Ashes heroes face ignominious defeat in their Pakistan tour opener after collapsing for the second time against the Pakistan Cricket Board Patron’s XI.
England were reeling at 39-6 at stumps on the second day of the three-day match, an overall lead of 84 runs, and need a Herculean effort to fight back in their first outing since their series win against Australia in September.
The Patron’s XI pacemen yet again exposed the England batting, as Mohammad Irshad skittled Matt Prior (16), Alex Loudon (1) and captain Michael Vaughan (0) in a devastating spell of fast bowling which brought him 3-22.
Left arm paceman Najaf Shah started the slide by dismissing opener Andrew Strauss for six in the fifth over, while Yasir Arafat completed the destruction with the scalps of Kevin Pietersen (10) and Geraint Jones (0).
Paul Collingwood (1) and Ian Bell (0) were left at the crease, with first innings century-maker Marcus Trescothick England’s last hope of saving the game at Pindi Stadium.
Earlier, England pacemen James Andreson and Liam Plunkett shared six wickets between them to wrap up the Patron’s XI first innings for 211.
England had declared their first innings at their overnight score of 256-9 — which included a fighting undefeated 124 from opener Marcus Trescothick who rescued England after a disastrous start on Monday.
Both Anderson (3-50) and Plunkett (3-41) are vying for the Test place of reverse swing specialist Simon Jones, who failed to make the Pakistan trip due to a knee injury.
Anderson, who was dispatched for three boundaries in his opening over, hit back by claiming top order batsmen Asher Zaidi (11), Bazid Khan (2) and Test discard Yasir Hameed (28) in a spell of seven overs for 32 runs.
The 21-year-old Plunkett, making rapid strides to win a Test place, then removed Patron’s XI captain Misbahul Haq (9) and Faisal Iqbal (9) to leave the hosts reeling at 79-5.
Asim Kamal, part of Pakistan’s 16-man squad for the first two Tests, didn’t last long as he fell leg-before to part time pacer Paul Collingwood after making a flashy 14.
Veteran off-spinner Shaun Udal then chipped in with the wickets of Khalid Latif (2) and Yasir Arafat (16) to make his presence felt in case Pakistan prepare spin-friendly picthes.
Shahzad Malik, who hit a record 403 not out in a Hertfordshire League match with 38 sixes off just 137 balls in July this year, shaped up well during his 37 but fell to Udal who finished with 3-36. At 150-9, England were destined for a big lead but Zulqarnain (34 not out) and Tahir Khan (32) frustrated the tourists during a last wicket stand of 61.
Plunkett returned for his final spell to have Khan caught behind by Jones who took five catches behind the stumps. England’s frontline spinner Ashley Giles did not bowl because of a stomach upset.
England, who play another warm-up game in Lahore from Sunday, take on Pakistan in the first of three Tests starting at Multan from November 12.

England can turn things around: Assistant Coach

RAWALPINDI—England Assistant Coach Mathew Maynard thinks his team can still turn things around on Wednesday’s final day of the three-day tour-opening match against PCB Patron’s XI.
“Yes, that is possible. We bowled well in their first innings and have the potential to hit back if they chase a target for victory”, he told reporters after the second day’s play at Pindi Cricket Stadium, during which England slipped to second innings 39-6 despite taking a first innings lead of 45 runs.
“The Patron’s XI pace trio bowled really well. They got the ball to reverse-swing and seam and made perfect use of conditions which were more like English conditions”, he said.
He said his batsmen were a bit rusty after winning the Ashes series against Australia 5-6 weeks ago. “I am confident the batsmen would readjust to themselves to the demands of a new tour”.
He hoped the wickets for the upcoming Test series would be different from the seaming and swinging wicket for the three-day warmup match.
Patron’s XI pace trio of Muhammad Irshad (3-22), Yasir Arafat (2-1) and Najaf Shah (1-11) proved England’s nemesis in their second innings at Pindi Cricket Stadium.
England are now just 84 runs ahead with four second innings wickets standing as they go into Wednesday’s last day of the three- day match against PCB Patron’s XI.—APP