Pakistan v England 2nd ODI commentary

England win by 20 runs Steve Finn laughs in the face of Cook and Bopara's pathetic attempts to replicate Monday's efforts by exactly matching his Monday performance: 10-1-34-4. Your move, Alastair. It's another excellent victory for England, who reap the benefits of correctly judging this pitch when they batted. Quite early on it appeared they were going to settle for a score around 250 rather than risk falling short of that in pursuit of something more. That proved a shrewd assessment as Pakistan failed to accelerate at the back end of their run-chase which ultimately fell decisively short. A word also for England's groundfielding, which was superb tonight. Saving runs in the ring and on the rope. Big factor in that victory.

Over 49: Finn W-1-2-4-1-W 230 WICKET! A toe-crunching yorker from Finn does for Gul, who reviews out of desperation but knows that ball is going nowhere other than middle-and-leg. And Finn does get indeed get his weird hat-trick after 'bowling' Rehman twice in a row at the end of the last over. Cheema gets a single first ball before Ajmal gives Pakistan a bit of renewed hope with a slog over mid-on for two and a ridiculous one-handed paddle-flick-shovel over short fine-leg for four. A thrash to cover brings him a single. WICKET! And Finn takes the chance with his last ball to polish things off by making a sorry mess of Cheema's wickets. Finn ends with another four-fer to match Cook's tons and Bopara's half-centuries.

Over 48: Broad W-0-0-4-1-0 222-8 WICKET! Brilliant catch from Kieswetter to dismiss Misbah and end Pakistan's hopes. Misbah looks to go legside and sends the ball swirling high into the night sky. Kieswetter scurries back and suddenly realises at the last moment that he's misjudged it. Suddenly the ball is coming down behind him and to his right, and Kieswetter contorts his body to dive away and claim a brilliant catch. Great effort in the end. Umar Gul hasn't given up hope, pinging the ball over midwicket and missing out on a maximum by about six inches. Really does strike a sweet ball. Baffling that Rehman came in ahead of him here. Gul adds a single to third-man, and will be on strike at the start of Finn's final over as Ajmal keeps out Broad but can do no more than that. Pakistan need 29 from 12. Will need to be something truly spectacular from Gul.

Over 47: Finn 0-1-1-1-0nb-0-W 217-7 - Misbah again takes a single from the second ball of the over, but this time Rehman manages to get bat on ball and scurry a single. Finn went for the yorker there, which might've been an error. The length ball has proved impossible for Rehman to deal with here. Misbah smashes the next ball to deep square-leg but gets only a single, before Finn gives Pakistan a boost with a back-foot no-ball. Free hit now with Rehman on strike. The free-hit delivery cannons into the middle stump, which is actually the worst place you can bowl the free hit. Ball can ricochet anywhere off the timbers and cost runs. Luckily for Finn and England, it goes nowhere. WICKET! This one hits the stumps again, and Rehman's horrible innings comes to an end. Finn on some sort of weird hat-trick here. The last three overs have brought just 10 runs and two wickets. Pakistan still need 34, and that looks a long way off now with just three overs remaining.

Over 46: Broad 4-1-0-0-0-0wd-0 213-6 - The onus on Misbah now, and he makes a superb start with a classical cut shot that beats Morgan's left hand at backward point and Anderson's right at third-man. Superb timing and placement. Misbah takes a single to third-man from the second ball of the over before Rehman is beaten by a long way as he fences at the next one. Another swing and a miss follows, and Rehman is really putting the pressure on his skipper here. Rehman beaten again before Broad gives away a needless wide against a batsman who can't lay bat on ball. The last ball of the over also beats the bat. He's eaten up eight balls now, laid bat on two of them and scored no runs. Not good enough; someone batting at number eight in international cricket should at least be able to get bat on ball and scamper a single. That's all his skipper needs from him. Pakistan need 38 from 24.

Over 45: Anderson 0-W-0-0-0-0 207-6 WICKET! This is not great cricket from Afridi. He'd got Pakistan in a good position in the last over, and now tosses that good work away with a horrible slog across the line at a straight ball from Anderson. Back goes the middle stump, and England will be feeling confident now. Rehman is beaten twice in succession, which is not ideal for Pakistan, and can't get anything from the last two balls of the over either. A wicket-maiden for Anderson. Brilliant stuff. Must say I'm surprised to see Rehman batting above Gul and maybe even Ajmal. Could eat up some more precious deliveries here. Target now 44 off 30.

Over 44: Patel 1-6-4-1-0-0 207-5 - Patel's last over. You know Afridi's going to take this on, and he doesn't disappoint. A hammer down the ground carries the rope despite not coming out of the middle of the bat, and the next ball disappears through cover for four more. That one definitely did come out of the middle. The game tilts back Pakistan's way in the space of two balls, and Afridi has the sense to knock a single from the next ball as Patel bowls it faster and flater. Patel ends his spell with a couple of dot balls, but was that the over Pakistan needed? Cook was slightly hindered by the injury to Bopara, had no choice really but to bowl out Patel. Pakistan need 44 off 36.

Over 43: Anderson 1-0-1-1-0-1 195-5 - Afridi guides Anderson to third-man for a single before Misbah is beaten by a fine delivery that seams away past the outside edge. Misbah's early on a drive next ball and chips the ball over the bowler's head for a single before Afridi adds another with a bit of tip and run on the offside. Seems even Boom Boom may have realised that this is not a particularly easy track on which to smack the ball over the ropes without playing yourself in a bit first. Excellent over from Anderson: any over with only singles from it is ideal for England at this stage, and the equation's now 56 from 42.

Over 42: Patel 1-1-2-0-1-2 191-5 - Drop! Valiant effort from Broad here running in from long-off as Afridi miscues an attempted big drive. He manages to get there and for a tantalising moment has the ball in his hands before it pops out. You'd have to think that would've been the game right there had Broad managed to hold on. Afridi gets a single for that, and Misbah turns the strike back over to the big-hitter who gets two for a chip over midwicket. Afridi then almost yorks himself running at Patel before once again aiming legside and getting a single. Misbah places the last ball of the over cannily through the legside for two more. Seven from the over, 60 from 48 required.

Over 41: Finn 1-1-0-2-0-0 184-5 - Afridi finally off the mark from the seventh ball he faces before Misbah steers behind point and runs back for a second. Not bad for a 37-year-old, who unleashes a classy drive next ball but hits it straight at Bopara. Good finish to the over from Finn, and Pakistan now need 67 from 54.

Over 40: Broad 1-0-0-0-0-0 180-5 - This is Enforcer Broad in action. Not the worst option against Afridi, who is given no chance to prop forward on the front dog and tee off. Broad sends a couple fizzing past the batsman's grille, and the last five balls of the powerplay bring on runs despite Boom Boom being on strike. Great over from Broad. Pakistan need 71 off the last 10 overs. Not easy.

Over 39: Finn 4lb-0-1-4-W-0 179-5 - Close! Oh, a let-off here for Pakistan I think. Not only does Misbah survive, but his team get four crucial runs to boot as a full delivery runs away off his back pad for four leg-byes. The ball was going on to hit leg stump, but Aleem Dar said not out and England's review fails with the ball not hitting enough of the leg stump to overturn the decision. The DRS is loaded in favour of the umpires on lbws: if they give it out, the target is basically five stumps wide. If they give it not out, it's two stumps wide. A poor delivery from Finn gives Akmal room to free his arms, and that's a free hit over the offside for the batsman. WICKET! Brilliant catch from Patel. Width again from Finn, but this time Akmal can't get the ball up and over the infield. He still hit it well enough, but the ball just carries to Patel on the circle at cover and he just about gets his paws underneath the ball. Takes the third umpire a few looks to decide it's been safely taken, but it certainly looks the right decision. The ball appeared to go straight into the hands. Eventful over to say the least. Could've seen both Misbah and Akmal depart. Or neither of them. In the end it was one of them and this game remains delicately poised.

Over 38: Broad 1-0-2-1-0-1 170-4 - Misbah takes a single to hand responsibility to Akmal, who clearly has licence here. Another attempted slog goes nowhere before a nice chip back over the bowler's head brings two. Akmal then looks to paddle the ball over short fine-leg but doesn't get enough on it and is lucky not to give a catching chance to Patel, with the ball bouncing just short. Broad sends a good bouncer whistling past Misbah's ears before the Pakistan captain nails a pull shot but picks out deep square-leg and gets just a single. Only five from the over, though, so it's a good one for England.

Over 37: Finn 0-4-0-0wd-1-1-0 165-4 - Finn back into the attack with some astonishing figures to defend: 5-1-6-0 in his first spell. Akmal gets a lucky boundary with another ugly hack through the legside. Aimed at midwicket it comes off a thick inside edge through square-leg. A wide down the legside follows before Akmal works to leg off his hip for a single, and Misbah follows suit to ensure this over alone costs more than Finn's first five.

Over 36: Broad 0-4-0-1-1-1 158-4 - England profited from sensible, correct strokeplay during the powerplay. Don't think that's going to be Akmal's approach here as he hacks the ball past mid-on for four. Fair enough if unattractive shot, but he shows there's a brain in his skull by taking the easy single available on the legside after easing the pressure with the early boundary in the over. Misbah controls a pull shot nicely to pick up a single to deep square-leg. Akmal picks up a single to midwicket to end the over. OFF-THE-FIELDWATCH: Swann the latest in a long line of England players to leave the field. Bairstow back on. Been on for most of this innings for one player or another.

Powerplay Mandatory Batting Powerplay. The bowling and batting ones might as well be as written into the rules as the first one is. England got 38-0 in their batting powerplay. Pakistan need something similar; don't need to go crazy, but need to reduce that required rate without suffering damage in the wickets column. They can probably lose one wicket. Two could be too many.

Over 35: Patel 1-0-0-0-1-0 151-4 - Even the stumps are fielding well for England now as Akmal smashes the ball back past Patel but into the stumps at the non-striker's end. Struck them flush and goes absolutely nowhere. Excellent over from Patel, who ends it with one that spins enough to beat Misbah's outside edge.

Over 34: Bopara 0-1-1-1lb-2-1 149-4 - Bopara back into the attack now, so hopefully that back-knack isn't giving him too much grief. Three singles from the first four balls of the over before Misbah gets a nice-looking cover-drive away for two and keeps the strike with a clip to midwicket. A run a ball seems relatively gettable on this pitch; it's when you try to put the hammer down and really accelerate that things appear to get trickier.

Over 33: Patel 4-1-0-2-W-1 143-4 - Misbah plays an uncomfortable-looking reverse-sweep but gets enough bat on ball to send it away for four. Ali then plays his favourite dab sweep for a couple. WICKET! But will get no more as he looks to play a straight ball away square on the offside and has his off stump knocked back. Patel proving a real golden arm in this England side; that's already his fifth wicket of the series. Umar Akmal gets off the mark first ball with a push to cover.

Over 32: Swann 0-1-0-1-1-0 135-3 - Excellent bowling from Swann backed up by the deep fielders means Pakistan get just three singles from the over. Required rate almost six-and-a-half now. This does not seem to be a pitch where it's particularly easy to up the rate in the latter overs. England decent favourites for me right now.

Over 31: Anderson 0-0-0wd-2-0-2-1 132-3 - Misbah having all sorts of trouble here getting the ball off the square. Just can't seem to time the ball at all. Finally manages to clip one away on the legside for a couple, and then cuts nicely for two more. Keeps the strike with a clip to deep square-leg.

Over 30: Swann 4-1-1-1-1-0 126-3 - Lovely shot from Ali, absolutely nailing a reverse-sweep and getting it away to the third-man boundary for four. That puts the pressure on the bowler for the rest of the over, and that reverse-sweep has had a notable effect on Swann's pace. Much flatter for the rest of the over, and the batsmen collect singles without much fuss.

Over 29: Anderson 1-1-0-0-0-0 118-3 - Slight surprise to see Patel out of the attack. Was doing a grand job. Anyway, here's Anderson. Misbah again almost diverts the ball into his stumps via bat and body as he gets a bottom edge that bounces up and hits him on the backside before rolling past the leg stump. Morgan makes another brilliant diving stop at point to save a possible boundary before Misbah bottom-edges a pull shot into his ribs. Pakistan's skipper struggling to get a read on the pace of this pitch. Another over ticks by, and that required rate is starting to move at a troubling pace for Pakistan now. A couple of overs after reaching a run a ball, it's now up over 6.25

Over 28: Swann 0-1-0-0-1-1 116-3 - Misbah makes a mess of an attempted sweep and watches helplessly as the ball bobbles back towards his wicket and just past the leg stump. Kieswetter whips the bails off, but Misbah's back foot was safely grounded. Another over ticks by.

Over 27: Patel 0-3-0-1-0-0 113-3 - England might want to think about a man on the 45 given Ali's fondness for the lap sweep. He just holds the bat there and lets the ball deflect off it. With no-one there, though, he's able to get the ball away fine and pick up three. Patel almost gets Misbah with a quicker ball that the Pakistan captain misreads, playing back when he should've been forward and just getting his bat down in time, before a misfield by the bowler allows a single. Still a good over for England, though. Exactly a run a ball needed now.

Over 26: Swann 0-0-0-0-0-1 109-3 - Good stuff from Swann, backing up the wicket in Patel's over with tidy fare to Ali. Can't get him away until a single from the last ball of the over. Required rate starts jumping with these dot balls. Almost up to a run a ball now, and that won't be easy on this pitch.

Over 25: Patel W-1-0-1-1-1 108-3 WICKET! Big wicket for England, and Patel once again shows his importance to this side. Pitches on the stumps and straightens enough before hitting Younis on the pad as he looks to work the ball into the legside. Nod of the head and a raise of the finger from Aleem Dar, and that looked a fair decision. No review from Younis. Misbah is the new batsman, and England also have Bopara and Broad back on the field. Which is good. Four singles from the rest of the over.

Over 24: Swann 1-0-0-0-1-1 104-2 - Tidy over from Swann, just three singles coming from it. Ali just struggling to find the gaps and keep things ticking against the spinners. Patel will be frustrated by that easy four ball he gave him in the last over.

Over 23: Patel 0-0-1-0-0-4 101-2 - Big appeal for leg-before against Younis on the sweep, but he just got a bit of glove on that before it hit the pad. Some thought of using the review, but the first rule of DRS is that you do not review the Dar. Patel then appears to suffer a hamstring-knack while fielding off his own bowling. Would be a serious problem for England with Bopara already off the field. Might need some Trott-KP overs to make up the shortfall if Patel is struggling. He looks sure to complete another really good over before dragging his last ball down short, allowing Ali to rock back and hammer it nicely through the covers for four. Hundred up for Pakistan, who are still reasonably well on course here despite gifting a couple of wickets to England.

Over 22: Broad 1-0-1-0wd-0-1lb-1 96-2 WICKET! Horrible piece of cricket here from Farhat. England appeal for lbw as a low full-toss hits the pad, but Farhat got an inside edge on it. But Farhat then, for reasons best known to himself, dawdles about in the middle of the pitch. Broad abandons the leg-before appeal and swoops on the ball and flicks it into the stumps before Farhat can regain his ground. Good, quick thinking from the bowler, but not something the batsman is going to want to see again. Pakistan have battled hard with the bat here but given England a couple of cheap dismissals. Could be crucial in what looks a tight game. Younis is the new batsman, and he's immediately looking busy in pursuit of singles.

Over 21: Patel 1-1-1-0-1-0 91-1 - Kieswetter's a bit of a curious selection here to be honest. If he's not opening the batting, I don't know why he's in the side. There are many better keepers than Kieswetter available to England.

Over 20: Broad 0wd-0-0-0-4-0wd-1-0 87-1 - Broad back into the attack and starts with a horrible wide down the legside. Responds with three dot balls, though, the second of which is a quality bouncer that is smartly handled by a swaying Farhat. Drop! Not so well handled this time by Farhat. Literally handled in fact as he gloves the ball through to Kieswetter, who gloves it down to the boundary. Kieswetter got in a horrible mess there. He could have taken that two-handed without a dive, but seems to think he's further from the ball than he actually is and throws himself up and to his left and sticks the left glove at the ball. Almost dived right past it. Not brilliant, and Broad - who rarely takes these things well - is livid. Hilariously Broad then bowls another shocking wide way down the legside but manages to snap his head round in apparent disbelief at the umpire's call. It was the most clear-cut wide you could wish to see in one-day cricket. After 20 overs, England were 88-1. Good game on here.

Over 19: Patel 0-1-2-0-1-0 80-1 - Ali pokes to cover for a single before Farhat nicely places a controlled drive past cover for an easy two before repeating the shot only to be denied by Morgan's diving save. A hard sweep shot brings a single, but it's another tidy-enough over from Patel.

Over 18: Anderson 0-1lb-1b-4-0-0 76-1 - Farhat looking to attack the powerplay here, slogging Anderson over mid-on for four. Again, he didn't get all of it but comfortably cleared the man on the edge of the circle. Anderson does well to get out of the over without additional damage.

Over 17: Patel 0-0-0-1-0-0 70-1 - Good stuff from Patel, giving up just a single from his first over. Bopara's off the field again with his back, so it's important that Patel does a job here for Engalnd. So far, so good.

Over 16: Anderson 0-W-1-3-4-0 69-1 WICKET! It's lucky you can't see my face. It is currently repulsively smug. Field comes in due to the powerplay, Hafeez chips tamely to Trott at midwicket. As I am wrong about almost everything, I'm just going to savour this moment for a bit... ... ... ... .... OK, I'm back now. Azhar Ali's the new batsman, and he's off the mark with a single to third-man. Farhat drives in the air but wide of cover for three as sub fielder Jonny Bairstow gives chase. Anderson then releases the pressure on the new batsman with a horrible ball down the legside that Ali is able to flick away easily to the fine-leg boundary. Anderson won't be happy with that against a chap playing only his second ODI. England will want to keep him under the pump.

Powerplay We'll have a better field now. Powerplay taken.

Over 15: Swann 1-3lb-1-1-0-0 61-0 - Hafeez gets outside the line so is in no lbw danger as he misses an attempted sweep. Gets three leg-byes as the ball runs away fine past Kieswetter. Given the way the ball seems to be stopping on the batsmen, fielders inside the circle are catchers as well as run-savers. Farhat almost chips the ball to cover here.

Over 14: Bopara 0-1-1-1-1-1 55-0 - England making the exact mistake Pakistan made earlier. Real bug-bear of mine the way teams so blindly follow the fielding restrictions rather than keep an extra man or two up and look to build pressure.

Over 13: Swann 1-0-4-0-1-0 50-0 - Long-on and long-off in place now, so Hafeez helps himself to an easy run. Farhat looks to drive down the ground and gets an outside edge that races past short third-man and away to the fence. Edges have really scooted across this outfield today. Farhat turns to leg for a single to bring up Pakistan's 50. Good start this. Intelligent, thoughtful batting on a pitch that asks a few questions of the batsmen.

Over 12: Broad 1-0-1-1-1-1 44-0 - Close! Farhat in no control as he drives away from his body and sends the ball off a thick outside edge in the air but just wide of a diving Morgan at point. Looked like an off-cutter from Broad, which did just deck away from the left-hander. Singles coming pretty easily now as England repeat Pakistan's mistake of instantly relaxing the field post-powerplay. Frustrating really, because Cook kept the field tight for Swann and forced Farhat into taking a risk. It paid off for the batsman, but it's definitely preferable to allowing the batsman to just knock the spinners down the ground for singles at will.

Over 11: Swann 0-1-0-0-1-4 39-0 - Swann into the attack after the powerplay and instantly ripping the ball past Farhat's outside edge. Kieswetter whips off the bails, but replays confirm Farhat got his foot back safely and the third umpire gives him not out. Sharp work, though, from both bowler and keeper. An inside edge saves Farhat from being palpably lbw and also gets him to the non-striker's end. Which is definitely the right place for a left-hander to be against Swann. Not that it's easy for the right-hander either as Hafeez shapes to cut a ball that spins back sharply at him. He just manages to get bat on ball. A push down the ground brings Hafeez a single before Farhat bravely drives over mid-off for four. Didn't get all of it, but plenty enough to clear Pietersen and it was always going to run away to the boundary once it had got over the infield. Steady start this from Pakistan, seeing off the threat of the new balls. But that shot from Farhat shows that preserving wickets in hand has come at a price for Pakistan, who do need to find a way to step up the pace. England found it hard.

Over 10: Broad 4-0-1-0-1-0 33-0 - Pakistan's policy of mere survival against Finn may prove a shrewd one if Broad continues serving up leg-stump pies to Hafeez. The right-hander helps himself to four through midwicket despite a game chase and dive from Samit Patel. Broad bowls too straight again, and Hafeez knocks him away for an easy single. Farhat cuts to third-man for a single.

Over 9: Finn 0-0-0-0-0-0wd-0 27-0 - Pakistan seemingly content to just avoid catastrophe against Finn and get their runs off the other bowlers. And, having just typed that, Farhat has a big swish outside the off stump and is lucky not to get an edge through to the keeper. Only a wide down the legside from that over, and Finn is now through five overs for a cost of just six runs.

Over 8: Broad 4-0-0-0-4-0 26-0 - Broad into the attack, and starts with a floaty loosener that Hafeez thrashes past cover for four. Hafeez picks up a second boundary in the over as Broad drifts into the pads and gets picked up over midwicket. Not the best start from Broad. Seemed to lack a bit of oomph in that opening over. Just seemed to be putting the ball there instead of really bowling it.

Over 7: Finn 0-0-0-0-0-1 18-0 - This is superb bowling again from Finn. Might not have the wickets (yet) tonight, but his line and length is impeccable and he's close on more than one occasion to sneaking the ball through Hafeez's defences. A thick outside edge to third-man breaks the run of dot balls off Finn.

Over 6: Anderson 0-2-4-0-0-2 17-0 - Farhat takes advantage of a couple of loose deliveries from Anderson. First he's offered width and gets the ball through point without perfect timing. Probably should've got three runs, but settles for two. Perhaps he sensed what was coming next: a leg-stump half-volley that is flicked away expertly through midwicket. This time the timing is impeccable and the ball rockets away to the fence. Farhat completes a good over for Pakistan with a clip off the hip that brings an easy two. Not Anderson's finest work.

Over 5: Finn 0-0-0-0-0-0 9-0 - Hafeez gets an inside edge into his pads playing the exact same across the line shot that saw him depart lbw to Finn two days ago. Needed that inside edge to avoid the same fate. Finn completes an excellent maiden, though. No freebies. Bopara is off the field, by the way. Stiff back apparently.

Over 4: Anderson 1-0-0-0-0-0 9-0 - Good over from Anderson. First he squares up Hafeez, who gets a streaky edge down to third-man for a single, before going to work on Farhat who is struggling to deal with the moving ball here.

Over 3: Finn 0-0-2-1-0-0 8-0 - Certainly more signs of aggression from this opening pair today. Not least in the running between wickets. Again what looks an easy single is turned into a scampered two as Hafeez punches the ball past the diving Morgan at point. A guide to third-man brings a single.

Over 2: Anderson 0wd-0-0-0-0-2-0 5-0 - James Anderson starts with a wide down the legside but gets his line right and beats Farhat with a beautiful outswinger to the left-hander. Anderson's ability to swing the ball both ways with minimal change in action is a wonderful thing. Farhat picks up a couple of runs with a clip off the hip, sprinting hard to get back for a well-judged second run.

Over 1: Finn 0-1lb-0-0-0-1 2-0 - Swing straight away for Ganglatron Finn, but the second ball goes straight on to thud Hafeez in the thigh-pad and allow a leg-bye. A crunching Farhat cut shot is well saved at cover before he throws his hands at a bit of width and sends and edge flying quickly down to Stuart Broad at third-man for a single.

Ready to go Imran Farhat. Wears a hard hat (helmet). Mohammad Hafeez. Wears one too. Yes, that 'poem' means it's time for the start of Pakistan's innings. Back on more important matters, Jamie Muir writes: "Keeping with the Transformers theme, how about 'Unibrowcron'?" Brilliant.

Akmals in disguise Still thinking about the name for a multi-Akmal superbeing. Clangatron seems apt, if a little harsh on Adnan. Imagine the tussles Clangatron could have with England's Ganglatrons Broad and Finn. And Tremlett too if they can stop him malfunctioning.

England 250-4 Pietersen struggles, Cook makes lovely hundred, Bopara chips in with very useful 50, England end up with a total around 250. Groundhog ODI, only with less Sonny and Cher. And absolutely no Bill Murray. The difference is that this pitch is not as flat as Monday's in my opinion, and England's 250 here is a rather better total than their 260 on Monday. Slightly odd ODI total is 250-4, but I think it points to the slight unpredictability of the pitch. My feeling is that it's a fine score. Whether or not that's the case, England will be hoping for more repetition when they get the ball in their hands.

Over 50: Cheema 4-1-1-2-0-W 250-4 - Bopara makes good contact with a clump down the ground, but should really have been caught by Rehman at long-off. He misjudges it, though, and comes in too far off the rope and has to watch the ball go over his head and bounce inside the rope for four. Never good for the boundary fielder when the ball goes over their head for four. Bopara hits the next ball down the ground and is almost stitched up by a ricochet off Morgan but gets home safely enough. Morgan slashes the next ball to deep point for a single before Bopara adds two more with a skied pull to deep midwicket that brings up the 250. Bopara misses with a big moo at the penultimate ball of the innings and would've been run out had Akmal managed to hit the stumps with his underarm bowl at the stumps. WICKET! Bopara goes this time, though, skying an attempted pull shot to be caught - just about, in the fingertips - by Akmal, who was inconvenienced slightly by the stumps. That ball might even have landed on the bails, which would've been one heck of a play-on.

Over 49: Ajmal 1lb-1-0-1-6-0 242-3 - England really struggling to get the ball away here, but I wouldn't be too critical of them. This pitch is not easy, and if I were a betting man I'd say England have got a winning score here. Oh, hang on, this one's been timed well enough as Morgan hammers a slog-sweep way back over the ropes at midwicket. First six of the series, and it's a biggie. Ajmal ends his 10 overs with 1-54. Well played, England.

Over 48: Cheema 1-1-1lb-1-0-1 233-3 - Good over this from Cheema at the death, with the highlight a yorker that Bopara just about manages to keep away from the base of his off stump. Bopara does, though, go through to successive fifties to go with Cook's successive hundreds. England will hope this symmetry extends to Pakistan's innings.

Over 47: Ajmal 1-1-1-1-1-2 228-3 - Bopara and Morgan build a fence before the latter plays his first truly convincing shot so far by driving inside-out over extra-cover for two.

Over 46: Cheema 0-1-1-2-2-0 221-3 - Some decent scampering from Bopara allows Morgan to complete a couple of twos down the ground. Cheema struggling with cramp it seems during that over, but it's not a bad one by any means at this stage of the innings.

Over 45: Afridi 1b-0-1-2-1-1 215-3 - Akmal gets his gloves nowhere near a ball that keeps a little low from Afridi, and England collect a bye as the ball ricochets off the pads. Morgan bottom-edges a cut shot to pick up a single, and Bopara adds another two with a push down the ground before chipping one bounce to long off for an easy single. Morgan cuts a straight ball to deep cover for one run. COINCISTAT: 151: Cook, Pietersen and Trott have scored the same number of runs between them today as on Monday. Thanks to Dave Huskinson for that gem.

Over 44: Ajmal 0-1-1-0-1-0wd-0wd-1 209-3 - Ajmal fires a wide down the legside. England might feel a touch unlucky to only pick up a couple of runs from those, as Akmal does well to take them both.

Over 43: Afridi 1-0-0-1-1-1 203-3 - Bopara hacks a long-hop to deep square-leg for a single to bring up England's 200. This is almost painful to watch now as Morgan and Akmal's struggles continue. Morgan fails to get bat on ball, Akmal fails to gather. Neither of them looks like they're having much fun. Morgan finally manages to get a decent chunk of bat on ball and picks up a single on the offside. Bopara nurdles for another run before Morgan chips into the legside to keep the strike.

Over 42: Ajmal 0-0-4-1-0-0 199-3 - Handy boundary here as as Bopara edges the ball almost out of Akmal's gloves and gets it plenty fine enough to give third-man no chance of cutting it off. A single on the legside follows before Morgan defends the last two balls of the over.

Over 41: Afridi 1-0-1-W-0-0 194-3 WICKET! Tame end to Cook's wonderful innings as he looks to work the ball into the legside but chips a simple return catch to Afridi. That ball just seemed to stop on Cook, highlighting that even a man with a century to his name couldn't be entirely sure of the pace of this wicket. Cook kicks the turf in frustration as he drags himself from the middle. Never got enough runs. Eoin Morgan, or Short Of Runs Eoin Morgan to give him his full name, is the new batsman for England. They did make a bit of a mess of things at the back end of the innings on Monday. Don't want a repeat now in this game that does appear to be mirroring the first game rather. Drop! Gets a life first ball as a wide ball from Afridi keeps low and is bottom-edged by Morgan. That was a difficult chance even for a wicketkeeper. Akmal had no chance really. It's easy (and fun too) to make fun of his wicketkeeping, because it's dreadful. But he's keeping wicket in this side because there's no-one else to do it. Not really his fault he's not up to the task.

Over 40: Ajmal 0-1-1-0-1-1 192-2 - A quick single takes Cook to his fourth ODI century for England, his third since taking the captaincy. Chance! Pakistan could've got rid of Cook here, Misbah at midwicket missing a chance to run the England captain out at the non-striker's end after he'd backed up too far. It costs an overthrow, but replays confirm Misbah was right to go for it. Cook definitely short of his ground. Everyone stop what you're doing for this urgent announcement: England have lost no wickets in the batting powerplay. I repeat, England have lost no wickets in the batting powerplay.

Over 39: Umar Gul 1-1-1-4-2-4 188-2 - England even getting things right in the powerplay here, picking up easy singles before Cook biffs a length ball over midwicket with minimal fuss for a one-bounce four. The next ball is pulled hard to deep midwicket for two, and he's just five runs away from back-to-back centuries. Make that one run away as he drives the last ball of another disappointing Gul over past a diving Ali at point.

Over 38: Ajmal 1-4-1-1-0-0 175-2 - No luck here for Ajmal who finds Cook's outside edge with a beautiful, loopy off-break that lured the England captain forward but has to watch the ball run away to the third-man boundary. That's the difference between Tests and ODIs: that was almost identical to Cook's dismissal c Younis b Ajmal in the third Test.

Over 37: Umar Gul 3-1-4-1-0-0 168-2 - Umar Gul back into the attack, and Bopara immediately clips him away nicely through midwicket and gets three as Azhar Ali knocks the ball back inside the rope. Cook takes an easy single down the ground before Bopara takes full toll on a wide long-hop from Gul and cracks it through point for four. Another 50 partnership between these two. Had Jos Buttler been fit, Bopara may well have been the man to miss out. He's taking his chance, though. Ravi helps himself to a single before a good stop from Ali at backward point saves four runs after Cook hammers a square-drive. Bit of a wild over from Gul there, but he ends it well with a yorker zeroing in on the base of off stump before Cook jabs down on it.

Over 36: Ajmal 1-0-2-1-1-0 159-2 - Legside nurdlage is the order of the day here, Bopara picking up a single off his own bat and then running his spikes off to allow Cook to get back for a second after placing the ball wide of midwicket. Ajmal is halted in his delivery stride by his keeper, who has spotted there are four men outside the ring. Afridi the man not in the Wide Awake Club, and he sheepishly makes his way from long-off to mid-off. A couple more legside singles and another Akmal fumble from the over.

Powerplay Its' the ...*drumroll*... Mandatory Batting Powerplay!

Over 35: Hafeez 2-1-1-0-1-1 154-2 - England saunter past 150. An apparent lack of urgency in the batting is, I think, based on two things. One, Cook in particular has sensed that this pitch isn't as flat as Monday's, and two, England have absolute faith in their bowlers. The biggest fly in the England ointment could be the batting powerplay, which has to be taken now.

Over 34: Rehman 2-0-1-1-1-0 148-2 - Cook cuts Rehman hard behind point for two and picks up a single with Yet Another Legside Nurdle. Bopara tips and runs on the offside, and judges it nicely. Cook defends off the back foot and places the ball wide enough of the man at cover to collect another easy run. Rehman completes his 10 overs for just 36 runs. But no wickets. Suspect both sides will be reasonably content with that.

Over 33: Hafeez 0-0-1-0-0wd-0-1 143-2 - I wonder if Ajmal's got a problem here. He's been on and off the field, and has bowled only three overs today. Pakistan now turn to Hafeez, which they don't actually need to do. Ajmal's going to be left with overs unbowled if he's brought back on pretty soon. Anyway, tidy enough over from Hafeez despite a wide down the legside. Players taking DRINKS at the end of that over, and Cook getting some fibreglass tape applied to his bat. Presuming it's the one he used the other day, his reluctance to simply swap it for another one is understandable. Patch it up and crack on.

Over 32: Rehman 0-1-0-1-1-1 140-2 - Big lbw shout against Cook playing back and looking to work into the legside. Probably spinning too much and going across the face of the stumps to miss leg. The next ball is swept hard to deep square-leg, where Younis does well to deal with the spinning ball and keep the batsmen down to one run. Three singles to end the over, and I still think they're being given up too easily by Pakistan. Too defensive in the field today.

Over 31: Cheema 1-1-0-0-4-1 136-2 - Cook picks up four with a glorious drive on the up past cover. No mean feat to time that so well on this two-paced pitch. A clip off the hip brings a single that will keep Cook on strike.

Over 30: Rehman 1lb-0-0-0-0-0 129-2 - Excellent over from Rehman. Cook gets a leg-bye after missing a sweep, but Bopara can't find a gap as he looks for singles.

Over 29: Cheema 1-0-1-1-1-4 128-2 - Still too many singles being handed to the new batsman here. Close! There is at least still a slip in place, though, but a genuine edge from Bopara flies wide of Younis Khan and down to the boundary for four bonus runs for England. But with singles so easy to come by, England only need the occasional boundary to get where they want to be.

Over 28: Rehman 1-1-1-1-0-0 120-2 - Four singles from the over, the last of which is crazily risky from Bopara. He hit the ball straight to mid-on and set off. Would've been out by a couple of yards had Imran Farhat hit the target.

Over 27: Cheema 0-1-W-0-0-0 116-2 WICKET! Real bonus wicket for Pakistan here, in every sense. Bowled by their least effective bowler and caught by their 'wicketkeeper'. Short and wide from Cheema, but Trott's attempt to force the ball through the offside finds only a faint top edge through to Akmal. Trott paying the price for not committing to either a cut shot or a back-foot punch and playing something in between the two. Evidence of variable bounce here as, after getting the wicket with one that went through nicely, Cheema's first ball to Bopara almost rolls along the ground from a similar length. Don't think batting is going to be easy later on against England's superior quick bowlers.

Over 26: Rehman 2-3-1-0-0-1 115-1 - Lovely batting, lovely batting, lovely batting. As Umar Akmal might say. First a controlled and well-placed sweep shot brings him two runs before a deft late cut as Rehman drags his length back beats Umar Gul at short third-man and is only prevented from reaching the boundary by a diving Hafeez running round from deep point. Still gets three, though, and Trott eases the next ball back past the bowler for an easy single. Cook gets a thick inside edge to dampen the enthusiasm of a leg-before shout from Rehman before nurdling a single past midwicket. Cook loves a nurdle.

Over 25: Cheema 1-0-1-0-1-0 108-1 - Cheema back into the attack, and Cook immediately greets him with another well-struck cut shot. The man at point does well to make a parrying half-save, but can't prevent a single that takes Cook to another excellent half-century. This pitch is certainly slower than Monday's, making strokeplay and timing a tougher task than in that game. You wouldn't guess from the way Cook's playing, though: once again he seems to be playing on a different pitch to his colleagues.

Over 24: Afridi 2-0-0-0-0-0 105-1 - Trott chips into the legside for a couple of runs, but can't get anything more from the over. That's fine bowling from Afridi given the field that's been set. There's a big lbw shout, but it's comfortably spearing past leg.

Over 23: Afridi 1-1-1-4-0-0 103-1 - And here, in essence, is the problem with allowing so many easy singles. You only need one bad ball every few overs, as Afridi bowls here with a long-hop that Cook smacks over midwicket for four, to pile all the pressure on yourselves. It's such a common error in one-day cricket. In the Tests, the struggle to score so much as a single was a big part of England's problem. Just because it's an ODI and the rules say you can have five men on the boundary doesn't mean you should put five men on the boundary. You only have to look at the wicket-tumbling carnage caused by the batting powerplay to know this to be true.

Over 22: Rehman 1-1-1-0-1-0 96-1 - BROKENRECORDUPDATE: Too many singles here. Pakistan letting England do exactly what they want to do here. Anything clsoe to 250 is going to be a hugely difficult chase for Pakistan if Monday night is anything to go by. At the moment, Pakistan are allowing England to get there without doing anything difficult at all.

Over 21: Afridi 1-1-0-0-1-1 92-1 - Afridi spins a vicious leg-break past Trott's outside edge. Akmal fails to gather. Don't wish to bang on about it, but he really does have a dreadful technique. He can't do the most fundamental basic of wicketkeeping: closing the gloves around the ball. Sounds facetious, but that is his problem: he's not good enough at catching a cricket ball in a pair of gloves. The field has spread, by the way, and that allows singles to be taken with ease. Think that's an error. Maybe not for Cook, who is well set, but certainly for Trott. Don't let him play himself in knocking the ball around for easy ones and twos.

Over 20: Ajmal 1-0-1-0-0-1 88-1 - Quiet end to the powerplay - in a cricketing sense anyway, Akmal was still jabbering nonsense throughout at ear-troubling volume - as Cook and Trott help themselves to three singles in a typically Cook and Trott kind of way. Misbah should keep the field up, to be honest. Certainly wouldn't do to suddenly put five men on the fence and allow this pair to bat in the exact manner they would most like to: nudging four or five singles an over and then whacking the bad ball as and when it comes along.

Over 19: Afridi 1-0-1-1-1-1 85-1 - Five singles from the over. Most of them safe enough, one just a bit dicey as Trott fails to pick the googly again, but gets enough of the inside half of the bat to the ball to send the ball safely into the legside.

Over 18: Ajmal 0-0-4-1-0-0 80-1 - Trott defends. "Lovely bowling, lovely bowling, lovely bowling, LOVELY BOWLING," observes Umar Akmal. Not certain, but I think that was lovely bowling. Trott blocks again, but this time the delivery earns only a solitary "lovely bowling". That must've dented Ajmal's confidence, because he drags the next ball and gets whacked through the covers for four by Trott. No lovely bowlings at all this time. Trott pushes down the ground for a single (one lovely bowling) and Cook defends the last two balls of the over (one lovely bowling, two lovely bowlings).

Over 17: Afridi 4-1-0-0-1-0 75-1 - Top shot from Cook, using the full depth of his crease and cutting Afridi hard past point for four. The man goes back to the fence, and Cook eases a drive out to him for a leisurely single. That brings Trott into Afridi's sights, but he copes acceptably enough this time, blocking a couple of deliveries before easing a drive down the ground for a single.

Over 16: Ajmal 1-1-W-0-2-0 69-1 WICKET! Saeed Ajmal into the attack with instant results. Almost has Pietersen first ball as the batsman miscues a drive that bounces short of long-off, but gets him at the very next opportunity. From round the wicket, Ajmal gets the ball to straighten perfectly before thudding into the pad. Plumb as you like, and Pietersen doesn't think about a review for long before departing. He looked at Cook. Cook looked away. KP walks off. Players have DRINKS. Jonathan Trott gurns his way to the middle and commences operation guard. Fell first ball in the first game, but avoids that ignominy this time. A legside nurdle followed by some good running brings Trott his first two runs of the series.

Powerplay Bowling powerplay taken at the earliest opportunity. As it always, always is.

Over 15: Afridi 0-2-0-1-0-1 65-0 - Drop! A shiny penny to the clever sausage who can guess the culprit? Well done, absolutely everyone in the world. It was indeed Akmal, who drops a fairly easy chance. Cook looking to cut, which is the easiest shot for the keeper to catch from standing up to the stumps as the ball is going the same way as the gloves (up and to the left in this case). But it clangs off the cymbals horribly here, with Akmal never even attempting to close his gloves before the ball is on the floor. Hard hands, sir. Hard hands. Cook works to leg for a couple and pushes a drive through the covers for a single. Pietersen keeps the strike.

Over 14: Rehman 1-1-1-0-0-0 61-0 - Three singles, three dots. Fascinating spell of cricket, this. Both spinners are all over Pietersen in particular, but he's battling through it so far.

Over 13: Afridi 0-0-0-0-0-0 58-0 - Huge leg-before shout against Pietersen as he lunges forward with bat and pad together. The umpire shakes his head, and Pakistan opt to use their one available review. It's hard to tell whether it was pad or bat first, but the third umpire is spared a tricky decision on that front by Hawk-eye, which says the ball is only clipping the leg stump so the original decision stands and Pakistan lose their review. Another big lbw appeal against Pietersen later in the over, but he'd jumped a couple of strides down the crease on this occasion. Even had there been a review, Pietersen would've been spared because he'd got 3m down the track. Missing leg anyway, says the Hawk. Great over, though.

Over 12: Rehman 0-1-0-4-2lb-1 58-0 - Top shot from Pietersen, skipping down the track and languidly flicking Rehman high over midwicket for a one-bounce four. Almost carried for the full count. The next ball is fired down the legside by Rehman as Pietersen again looks to advance. Not a bad option for the bowler - although it shows an endearing and surely misplaced faith in Akmal's keeping - but Pietersen manages to get his pad in the way and collects a couple of leg-byes. Pietersen cuts the last ball of the over with no timing but collects a single.

Over 11: Afridi 0-1-0-0-0-0 50-0 - Cook greets Afridi's introduction with a firm drive to deep point as the field spreads post-powerplay. That brings up a 50 partnership between Cook, Pietersen and wides. Excellent start from Afridi, though, with Pietersen on the defensive for the rest of the over. That bat still looks awful crooked on its way down against the spinners.

Over 10: Rehman 0-0-0-1-0-0 49-0 - Cook's managed to hit Hafeez out of the attack. That's a good effort; Pakistan like to use him extensively in the early overs and he has a knack of sneaking anything up to his full quota of 10 overs in without anyone noticing or, more importantly, getting any runs off him. Rehman into the attack. Cook works him into the legside for a single so it's PIETERSEN AGAINST LEFT-ARM SPIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing happens. England's powerplay in a word: solid.

Over 9: Umar Gul 0-4-4-0-1-3 48-0 - Back-to-back boundaries for Pietersen now, as he thumps an attempted slower ball from Gul that turns into a wide long-hop over cover for four before driving gloriously down the ground. A miscued hook shot brings him a single before Cook punches confidently through the offside off the back foot for a scampered three. Nice bit of acceleration here from England's openers.

Over 8: Hafeez 1-0-0-0-4-4 36-0 - Lovely stuff from Cook here, picking up successive boundaries with a crunching slog-sweep into the wide open spaces at midwicket and then a flowing cover-drive that pierces a far smaller gap in the field. The extent of Cook's improvement as a one-day player since taking the captaincy is truly staggering. Before taking the reins of leadership he averaged 30 in ODIs with a strike rate of just 68. Since taking charge, those numbers jump to 54 and 92.

Over 7: Umar Gul 1-0-0-0-1-0 27-0 - "SpiderMal is the obvious starting point for our hero......he has all that extra webbing on his gloves doesnt he!!!??" suggests Marty. He'd only have six hands, though. That's my concern there. We might have to rope in one of the other non-cricketing Akmal brothers. Or just use two of the cricketing Akmals and count all limbs to get eight. Decisions, decisions. Anyway, back to the more mundane world of the actual game, and Cook hammers a cut shot that is smartly parried at point to save three runs. Pietersen is shuffling across his stumps every ball now. He's almost giving Gul three stumps to aim at behind his legs, so far is he moving across. Anyway, it gets him a single behind square-leg as Gul persists with an orthodox line. He must be tempted by the full ball on leg stump, but his fear there is that KP will make a mug of him by standing still that ball and whacking it through the legside.

Over 6: Hafeez 1-0-0-4-1-0 25-0 - Spin now as Mo Hafeez comes on for his now customary early bowl. He takes the Croftpause to its logical conclusion first up by pausing for so long in his delivery stride that he neglects to bowl the ball at all, and has to start again. Innovative. Pietersen knocks him down the ground for a single before Cook is beaten attempting an ambitious drive. Akmal clangs it behind the stumps. Superb retort from Cook, though, easing the next ball between midwicket and mid-on for a classy boundary. That sees mid-on drop back three parts of the way to the fence, and Cook helps himself to the easy single that offers.

Over 5: Umar Gul 1-2-0-0-0-0 19-0 - Here's a couple of Pietersen stats found on the Twitter machine that they have nowadays: 1. KP is now number 49 in the ICC ODI batting rankings, between Cameron White and Shaun Marsh. 2. His last ODI century was scored two weeks before Graeme Swann's Test debut. Gul bowls a fraction too straight to each batsman in turn here, Pietersen nudging away for a single and Cook getting a bit more timing through midwicket and collecting two. Gul over-corrects, and Cook hammers a drive into the covers where Azhar Ali makes a good tumbling save. Gul gets one to nip away a touch off the seam and go past Cook's outside edge. Early evidence suggests the ball not quite coming on to the bat - both batsmen are struggling to time the ball - and enough in the pitch to keep seam bowlers interested. We might have felt 260 was only par on Monday, but I reckon that might be 30 or 40 above par today.

Over 4: Cheema 4-0-0-0-0-0 16-0 - Cheema gets a second over. Cook immediately punches him through the covers off the back foot for four. Second slip comes out to short cover, and is immediately in business to cut off a well-struck Cook drive. Much better from Cheema in that over, with the boundary owing more to quality batting than any particular error from the bowler.

Over 3: Umar Gul 0-0-0-0-4-0 12-0 - "Why am I expecting England to be bowled out for less than 125?" asks Mark Lumsden. "We'll be so focused on the spinners and Umar Gul will take 7 wickets for 35 runs!" At the moment, that 35 looks a tad optimistic from an England point of view, with Gul bowling beautifully. A nip-backer finds the enormous gap between Pietersen's ambitiously driving bat and pad. Pietersen picks up a boundary in good if risky style as he saunters across his crease and flicks the ball from outside off stump and beats the man at fine-leg.

Over 2: Cheema 0-0wd-4wd-0wd-0-1-0-0-0 8-0 - We've reached the strange state of affairs now where the sight of two seamers with the new ball is an eyebrow-raiser. Cheema does nothing to justify his captain's faith here, bowling a wide first ball that he gets away with and follows it with three more that he doesn't. One is flung so far down the legside that it would've needed all three Akmals merging to form some kind of SuperAkmal like the Constructicons to get anywhere near it. Alas, that remains the preserve of toy-shifting science fiction and England get five. Just at the point that you think Misbah might get involved and tell Cheema to pick up an injury and go away, he manages to find some semblance of line and length. Pietersen scampers a Red Bull Run to get off the mark. A lengthy over finally comes to an end having cost less than it could've as Cook fails to get a couple of cut shots away on this slow surface. I think we need a decent name for the mythical SuperAkmal. Come on, people, we can do this. Ideas, and I'll admit to a slight sense of trepidation here, to Dave.Tickner@bskyb.com

Over 1: Umar Gul 0-0-0-0-0-0 0-0 - Umar Gul right on target first up, with Cook getting a thick inside edge into his pad as Pakistan strangle a leg-before shout. Then Gul sends the ball past Cook's outside edge and sees it die on its way through to Umar Akmal, who is a mediocre keeper at best and lets the ball burst through his gloves. First slip gets him off the hook. Excellent start from Gul, though, who kicks things off with a maiden.

Coin Alastair Cook's record as England captain: P20 W17 L3. Now that's tosses rather than matches, but it's still a remarkable stat. Important skill for a skipper. And it is a skill. (It isn't.)

Feedback Get involved, yeah? Dave.Tickner@bskyb.com

Soundalike Interview with Steve Finn on the tellybox now. The man shares not only the gangly physique of Peter Crouch, but also the voice. It's uncanny. All that's missing is that stroking of the cheek thing that Crouchatron does in post-match interviews.

Pitch Report it's a little bit more cracked, and a little bit more worn, says Paul Allott. Lower, slower, bit more turn. No prizes for guessing who that favours. But Misbah-ul-Haq was honest at the toss, admitting that batting first is a big advantage here and he was rather keen to have first use of it.

Pakistan Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal (wk), Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Abdur Rehman, Aizaz Cheema.

England AN Cook (capt), KP Pietersen, IJL Trott, RS Bopara, EJG Morgan, C Kieswetter (wk), SR Patel, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, ST Finn.

Teams England are unchanged, Pakistan make three: Azhar Ali, Aizaz Cheema and Abdur Rehman all come into the side with Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik and Wahab Riaz making way.

Toss England win the toss again, and delightedly choose to bat again. Could be crucial, that: the new ball(s) did plenty for England's bowlers under lights and Pakistan just couldn't cope with it. If conditions are similar today - and they look it - any total around 200 will be tough to chase against this England attack.

Welcome It's game two of this four-match series, with England leading 1-0. That's worth repeating: England leading 1-0. Another splendid effort from the bowlers was, for the first time in the series, set up sufficiently by the batsmen. Or more specifically batsman. Alastair Cook was sensational, with Steve Finn, Samit Patel and Graeme Swann wrapping up a thumping win. Another such victory would ensure England can't lose this series and needing just a solitary victory in Dubai to claim a notable scalp.

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