Eng Pak T3 Day 1 Stumps: Debutant Wahab Rocks Top Order before Prior, Broad Rescue England

--> -->

Sreelata YellamrazuAug 18 2010

England were rattled on day one of the third Test at the Kensington Oval as Pakistan leashed a new fast bowler who swung the game their way as Pakistan finished healthy at stumps.

wahab riaz five for

Wahab Riaz could not have had a better debut as he ran through the England line up with the finesse of hot knife through butter as England's memories of a 2-0 lead melted away with their vulnerability exposed.

Wahab Riaz came in for the injured Umar Gul as Kamran Akmal worked his way back in after the debutant wicketkeeper from the last match, Zulqarnain Haider, wa sruled out with a hairline fracture. Mohammad Yousuf made an expected return while Yasir Hameed was back from the wilderness.

Andrew Strauss, the England captain, won the toss, but he certainly did not expect this extent of hostile reception. The Pakistan bowlers, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, surprisingly took a backseat as Wahab took centrestage, plucking one England batsman after another as they fell tamely. Off the lot of wickets that fell - five for sixty-seven when Kevin Pietersen fell all before lunch, perhaps Paul Collingwood was most unlucky to have the ball hit one bail on its way down. Alastair Cook was the first to go and at that point one woudl have thought he was diminishing his chances for an Ashes berth. But with the parade to follow, he could no longer be singled out.

England's story seemed to spiral further when they were reduced to seven for ninety-four. But thereafter came the rearguard fightback through a 119 run partnership between England wicketkeeper, Matt Prior, and Stuart Broad. Before lunch and tea, England moved from a possibly totally disatrous situation into a steady one, that began to restore and instill hope.

Once Broad disappeared for forty-eight, becoming Wahab Riaz's fifth wicket of the day, England folded without blinking an eye, leaving Prior stranded on eighty-four as England finished to breathe easier at 233 all out.

In reply, the Pakistan openers tried to hold up their end of the bargain, Yasir Hameed playing out his innings of thirty-six to survive even as his partner, Imran Farhat, fell to James Anderson. Pakistan will pray their famous collapses are not around the corner as they finished the day once more with a degree of hope at forty-eight for one.

Eng Pak T3 Preview: England Name Unchanged Squad; Zulqarnain Out on Injury for Pakistan

ICC Plans for an ICC World XI to tour Pakistan

Shahid Afridi Says Pakistan Devoid of Cricketers with Test Cricket Temperament

Shahid Afridi Hope to Raise Funds for Flood Affected through Charity Match, Dinners

Sohail, Akram Question Inzamam's Batting Stint as Pakistan Falter

Eng Pak T2 Day 4: Pakistan Lose Two on the Trott as Eng Go 2-0 Up

Umar Gul Out of England Pakistan Test Series with Thigh Injury

Religion in Sport: Mohammad Yousuf Now Ready to Play During Ramazan Despite Previous Vow

Eng Pak T2 Days 2 & 3: KP's Dangerous Life and Zulqarnain Fashioning Pakistan's Resistance

Stuart Broad's Inappropriate Throw against Haider Lands Him with a 50% Match Fee Fine

Eng Pak T2 Day 1 Stumps: Pakistan Crumble for 72 all out Again; England in Command

Mohammad Yousuf Not Named in Second Tets Due to Jet Lag; Kamran Akmal "Rested"