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Another dramatic day in a series that is amazingly short of runs saw Pakistan bowled out for an obnoxiously low score of 99 on a decent batting track in Dubai. England barely did any better in their first essay, managing to battle their way through the day to 104/6 to take a 5 run lead at the close of play on Day 1 of the Third Test. While the England pacers did most of the damage in the morning session, the Pakistani spinners were threatening to come into their own by the end of the day, leaving this match both tantalizingly poised, and for all practical purposes certain of yet another 3-day finish.

Pakistan won the toss and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq had no hesitation in opting to bat first. The hosts made one change to their series winning side for this game, bringing back pace bowler Aizaz Cheema for Junaid Khan. England slightly surprisingly opted to retain the same side for this game, giving left-handed Irishman Eoin Morgan another opportunity to impess.

The toss was practically the only thing that went Pakistan's way in the first session as they slumped to an embarrasing 53/7 in the 26 overs possible before lunch. Stuart Broad was the pick of the bowlers picking up 4 wickets while his opening bowling partner James Anderson chipped in with 2.

Anderson was the first to strike gold, removing Taufeeq Umar leg before for naught in the very first over of the match. England should have had two wickets in as many overs but Andrew Strauss dropped a hot chance from Mohammad Hafeez off Stuart Broad. Broad though soon got amongst the wickets having Azhar Ali (1) and Younus Khan (4) caught behind in successive overs. England kept the pressure on the Pakistanis, who slumped to 21/5 as Hafeez (13) and Misbah (1) fell within the space of 6 deliveries.

Asad Shafiq was the only Pakistani batsman to look remotely comfortable out in the middle and made his way to 24 by lunch. At the other end though, Pakistan lost wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal (6) and Abdur Rehman (1), the latter to a ridiculous shot attempted off Graeme Swann in the spinner's first over.

Pakistan got their first glimmer of a partnership after the lunch break as Shafiq and Saeed Ajmal added 34 runs for the 8th wicket before Monty Panesar got himself into the act, removing both batsmen leg before. Ajmal made a handy 12 while Shafiq top scored with 45. Umar Gul was joined by Cheema with Pakistan still 15 shy of getting to three figures. Gul chipped in with a stroke filled 13 before falling to the returning Anderson as Pakistan were bowled out for just 99 in their first innings.

England's start mirrored Pakistan's, with Umar Gul picking up wickets in consecutive overs to reduce the visitors to 7/2. Cook was out caught behind for 1, chasing a ball he could have well left alone, while Trott was given out leg before to a ball that replays suggested would have missed leg stump. If only England had referred it! Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen saw their side through to Tea without further casualties with the Poms in a spot of bother at 19/2.

England started the final session a bit conservatively as expected, but KP finally got some rhythm going when he smashed a few boundaries from the middle of the bat, including consecutive ones off Gul. 

Half an hour into the session, there was spin at both the ends with Ajmal joining Abdur Rehman in his ongoing spell. The tentative foot work and half hearted use of the bat was back, and not at its thrilling best. It seemed that England had plotted some plans to counter the wily spin of the Pakistani’s with grit and resilience without caring much about looking good.

Pietersen’s (32) misery against left arm spin continued when he got trapped lbw lunging forward to an Abdur Rehman delivery. That led to the arrival of Ian Bell to the crease, who had a point to prove considering his dreadful failures in the series. He defended with a little bit of surety for around 25 balls before he faced his first delivery against Ajmal. Bell (5) miscued one from Ajmal for two runs before succumbing to an Ajmal doosra, getting stumped by the ball popping onto the stumps after hitting the wicket keeper Adnan Akmal.

Abdur Rehman at the other end was on a roll as he got Eoin Morgan (10) lbw after a review and Matt Prior (6) clean bowled as England began showing glimpses again of the Abu Dhabi disaster.

James Anderson, the night watchman came in, to give his skipper Andrew Strauss company to see England through till the end of the first day. England ended the day at 104/6, leading Pakistan’s total by 5 runs with Andrew Strauss (41*) and James Anderson (3*) at the crease.

Teams:

England: A Cook, A Strauss, J Trott, K Pietersen, I Bell, E Morgan, M Prior, S Broad, G Swann, M Panesar, J Anderson

Pakistan: T Umar, M Hafeez, A Ali, Y Khan, Misbah Ul Haq, A Shafiq, A Akmal, A Rehman, U Gul, A Cheema, S Ajmal

Mini Scorecard:

Pakistan 1st Innings 99 all out (44.1 overs, 2.24rpo)
M Hafeez 13 (30) S Broad 4/36
A Shafiq 45 (78) J Anderson 3/35

England 1st Innings 104/6 (43 overs, 2.41rpo)
A Strauss 41* (120) A Rehman 3/23
K Pietersen 32 (44) U Gul 2/28

File Photograph Copyright: Barry Zee