England hit back in first Test

Pakistan needed another 71 runs to avoid follow-on after England took three wickets before lunch on the fourth day of the first cricket Test Saturday.

Pakistan needed another 71 runs to avoid follow-on after England took three wickets before lunch on the fourth day of the first cricket Test Saturday.

Resuming at the overnight 119 for two, Pakistan lost the wickets of Inzamam-ul Haq (63), Salim Elahi (44) and 18-year-old debutante Qaiser Abbas (2) and was 210 for five at lunch.

Pakistan needed 281 runs to make England bat again after the visitors posted a huge 480 for eight before declaring its first innings.

Abbas was the fifth batsman to go when he was caught by Graeme Hick in the gully in the last over before lunch. He was seamer Craig White's second wicket of the morning.

Elahi, who was dropped by captain Nasser Hussain at silly point when on 38, was bowled by White's gentle medium pace when he dragged the ball back onto his stumps off an inside edge. He hit one boundary in his three-hour innings and put on 98 runs in 142 minutes for the third wicket with Haq.

Haq too survived a confident leg before appeal off Andrew Caddick at 36. He went on to score his 28th test half century off 84 deliveries, which included eight boundaries. Haq was deceived by left-arm spinner Ashley Giles and was bowled for 63. Haq hammered nine boundaries.

White and Giles both have picked up two wickets each for 13 and 65 runs respectively.

Pakistan 245-6 after 88.2 overs

Pakistan First Innings Cont Salim Elahi b White 44 Inzamam-ul-Haq b Giles 63 Yousuf Youhana not out 20 Qaisar Abbas c Hick b White 2 Moin Khan lbw b Caddick 17 Abdur Razzaq not out 1 Extras b1 lb4 nb1 6 Total 6 wkts (88.2 overs) 245

Fall: 1-63 2-101 3-199 4-203 5-210 6-236

To Bat: Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed.