Atherton disrupts Pak’s victory hopes

Atherton’s effort virtually guaranteed England a draw, the third of the three-match series. With two days left, they were 277 for four, 128 behind on first innings.

Three wickets fell on the third day after England resumed at 79 for one.

First, captain Nasser Hussain completed a long overdue half-century in the second session but fell after scoring just one more run.

Hussain’s 50 came off 204 balls in 257 minutes and included four fours and a six off Saqlain Mushtaq.

But as he looked set to put months of poor batting form and several dubious umpiring decisions behind him he prodded at a delivery from leg-spinner Shahid Afridi and was caught by Inzamam-ul Haq at first slip.

It was Hussain’s first half-century in 19 Test innings. The previous one came against South Africa in Durban last year when he scored 146.

Hussain was desperate for a decent score after totalling a mere 318 in 26 first-class innings this year. His top score before this was 33 for Essex against Zimbabwe in May.

Graham Thorpe made 18 before falling leg-before to Waqar Younis, also between lunch and tea. He departed in the fifth over with the second new ball.

Thorpe reluctantly left the crease, but television replays confirmed that he was struck straight in line of the stumps after offering no stroke.

Thorpe’s wicket was Younis’s second scalp of the match after he was included in the team following the withdrawal of Wasim Akram because of back trouble.

After tea, Alec Stewart was caught bat and pad by Yousaf Youhana off Surrey team mate Mushtaq at silly point. He scored 29 off 74 balls with five boundaries.

The day definitely belonged to Atherton who took 414 minutes to compile his vital 100 off 317 balls. He hit seven fours.

He reached his first century against Pakistan when he drove Danish Kaneria for a single. The Lancashire player has now made 100s against all the Test-playing countries except Sri Lanka and newcomers Bangladesh.

Atherton has been in marvellous form throughout the series, having scored 73, 20, 32 and 65 not out in previous visits to the crease.

Scoreboard

Pakistan (1st Innings): 405

England (1st Innings): M Atherton batting 117, M Trescothick c Nazir b Waqar 13, N Hussain c Inzamam b Afridi 51, G Thorpe lbw Waqar 18, A Stewart c Youhana b Saqlain 29, G Hick batting 12, Extras: (b-6, lb-7, nb-24) 37

Total: (For 4 wkts) 277

Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-163, 3-195, 4-256

Bowling: Waqar 22-3-58-2, Razzaq 17-4-43-0, Afridi 14-2-33-1, Saqlain 36-11-76-1, Kaneria 34-14-54-0