NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND // England birthday boy James Anderson and the rookie pace bowler Steven Finn ripped through Pakistan's batting, reducing them to 147 for nine at stumps on the second day of the first Test at Trent Bridge. Anderson, 28 today, utilised the cloud cover to take five for 49 while Finn claimed three for 20 as Pakistan faced a daunting task of reaching England's first innings total of 354. Umar Gul (30 not out) and Mohammad Asif (nought not out) have the task of scoring the eight runs tomorrow after bad light stopped play at 5:12pm local time (8:12pm UAE). England had earlier lost their last six wickets for 23 runs but still were able to post a competitive first-innings total of 354 as Asif claimed five for 77 after some accurate out-swing bowling. Eoin Morgan made 130 and Paul Collingwood 82. Pakistan, seeking to avenge their 3-0 series loss in England in 2006, started badly by losing their captain and most dependable batsman Salman Butt before lunch, caught behind for one. Then, in a bizarre period, they lost five wickets for 15 runs, collapsing to 47 for six. Left-hander Imran Farhat (19) was bowled by a near-perfect Anderson delivery that swung into him only to straighten off the pitch. Farhat smashed his bat into the ground in anger but better players would have struggled to combat such a ball. Umar Amin (2), in his third Test, continued to struggle in the top arena and edged Finn to Graeme Swann at second slip. Azhar Ali (14), also in his third Test, was given out caught behind off Anderson but replays showed that the ball missed his bat and flicked the pocket of his trousers. Shoiab Malik (38) and teenage fast bowler Mohammad Aamer (25) briefly stopped the rot and helped the tourists recover to 90 for six at tea, but Anderson returned to complete his five-wicket haul shortly after the interval by claiming both wickets. Gul and Danish Kaneria (7) continued to move Pakistan towards 154, the score needed to prevent themselves batting again, before Broad clean bowled the leg-spinner.
* Reuters
