Bad light gives England much-needed breather

Resuming on 96 for one, they shrugged off a late start due to a wet outfield to gallop to 190 for two by lunch in reply to England8217;s paltry 173.

While England8217;s bowlers laboured 8212; Steve Harmison had been so wayward on the opening day that his captain Andrew Strauss studiously ignored him until the brink of lunch 8212; Farhat entertained.

Dropped on 49 on the opening day, he had another scare on 61 when setting off for a non-existent single only for Matthew Hoggard to miss the stumps with his shy. That incident seemed to bring Farhat to life as 36 runs came off the next five overs. The left-hander smashed Mahmood through the covers for four lavish fours in two overs, then slogged left-arm spinner Monty Panesar8217;s first ball over mid-on for six.

His next boundary, however, taking him into the nineties, was less convincing. A flail at a short ball from Hoggard just cleared Andrew Strauss8217;s fingertips at second slip and two balls later he was gone, a similar stroke ending up into Marcus Trescothick8217;s hands.

Farhat scored his runs off 112 balls and in just over two-and-a-half hours, hitting 13 fours and a six.

That was to be England8217;s only success as their fast men dropped too short and wide on a good batting track. Hoggard perhaps deserved some commiseration, after having four catches dropped off his bowling, including Yousuf on five and nine, but Hafeez was in no mind to indulge him.

Brief scores

England 173 vs Pakistan 336/3 Yousuf 115 batting, Hafeez 95, Farhat 91, M Hoggard 2/79

8211;Tony Lawrence