Pakistan makes a heavy weather of a smallish target

From being down and out two weeks ago Pakistan kept the series alive but not without a few frayed nerves as they had to overcome a late wobble before securing a four-wicket victory at The Oval. During a tension-filled afternoon session outstanding bowling from James Anderson and Graeme Swann threatened to turn the match of its head, in an example of Test cricket at its compelling best, before Umar Akmal and Mohammad Amir carried their side over the line.

Amir, having played a match-winning role with the ball as he claimed 5 for 52, showed calmness beyond his 18 years as he and Umar, a player not known for his restraint, struck a pressure-relieving boundary apiece after England had suffocated the scoring. Umar eventually tucked the winning single past short fine-leg to end the home side's six-Test winning sequence.

At lunch Pakistan needed 33 with seven wickets in hand and Mohammad Yousuf was entrenched at the crease. However, having shown a positive mindset during the opening session Pakistan went into their shells after the break and the scoring dried up. Azhar Ali's run out sparked the wobble as he chanced a single to midwicket and was well short as Swann helped the ball onto the stumps. Seven runs later Yousuf received one of the balls of the series as Anderson uprooted the off stump with a yorker which straightened past the outside edge.