Kaneria bowls Pakistan to upset victory against England

MULTAN, Pakistan, Wednesday, Wily leg-spinner Danish Kaneria grabbed four crucial wickets to secure Pakistan an improbable 22-run victory over England in the first Test here on Wednesday.

England, fresh from their Ashes triumph over Australia, looked set to extend their impressive run before collapsing against Pakistan's spin-pace combination on the fifth and final day.

England, needing 198 to win, were comfortably placed at 64-1 after resuming at 24-1. But Kaneria turned the match upside-down when he dismissed Ian Bell (31), Andrew Strauss (23) and Andrew Flintoff (11) in five probing overs.

The tourists were eventually bowled out for 175 in the afternoon session to concede a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

Kaneria, who finished with 4-62, was brilliantly supported by fast bowlers Mohammad Sami (2-31) and Shoaib Akhtar (3-49).

Wicket-keeper Geraint Jones (33) and debutant Shaun Udal (18) offered resistance with a 49-run stand for the eighth wicket but their efforts came too late to stop Pakistan.

Akhtar claimed three of the last four wickets, sparking celebrations when he had last-man Steve Harmison caught by Younis Khan in the slips.

Sami kept pressure on England in his inspired opening spell, accounting for middle-order batsmen Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen to push his team closer to a come-from-behind victory.

England looked the better side for the first four days before squandering the advantage on the last morning, losing six wickets in the space of 53 runs in the extended two-and-a-half-hour session.

Pakistan were a different team after Kaneria removed overnight batsmen Bell and Strauss in his third over.

The 24-year-old spinner continued tormenting the England batsmen with shrewd variations on a wearing fifth-day pitch which offered turn and bounce.

Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq pressed Kaneria into the attack early in the morning session and the spinner struck soon.

Kaneria jolted England when he broke a 57-run stand for the second wicket, having Bell caught behind. Three balls later, he had Strauss caught by Hasan Raza in the slips.

It soon became a pressure game as Kaneria and Sami made England struggle for each run during their disciplined opening spells.

One-day specialist Collingwood continued to struggle in Test cricket. He had no clue to a fuller-length delivery from Sami and was given out leg-before for three following his first-innings 10. England's hopes depended on Ashes heroes Flintoff and Pietersen but the hard-hitting batsmen failed to pull them out of trouble this time.

The roof fell on England when Flintoff and Pietersen departed in the space of eight runs to leave their team wobbling at 101-6.

Flintoff paid the price of playing one shot too many early in his innings, sweeping Kaneria straight to Younis at deep mid-wicket.

Pietersen fell to a poor stroke, caught behind while attempting to drive an awaygoing delivery from Sami.

It soon became 117-7 when Akhtar bowled Ashley Giles (14) with a yorker, leaving just one stump standing.

Jones and Udal defied the Pakistani attack for more than an hour before the hosts struck in the second session.

Akhtar broke the partnership when he bowled Jones and then Kaneria claimed his fourth victim when he dismissed Udal with a googly. Akhtar finished the match with the wicket of Harmison.