Pakistan spin their way to victory

Crucially, though, Pakistan captain Moin Khan decided to bowl first this time, thereby removing any possibility of his attack being hampered by evening dew, as happened on Tuesday.

Mushtaq and Saqlain could not have been more grateful.

They joined forces after Marcus Trescothick and Alec Stewart had plundered 66 runs from 12 overs of pace and them stifled England's batsmen so effectively that the next 12 overs yielded only another 46, even though only one wicket fell.

That came courtesy of Mushtaq's first delivery, a ripping leg-break which ended with Stewart being neatly stumped after he had overstretched himself aiming an ambitious sweep.

TV umpire Afzaal Ahmed took an age to confirm that decision and needed even longer before again reaching the right verdict during Saqlain's first over.

This time Saeed Anwar claimed a catch at mid-wicket when Trescothick clipped uppishly but it was clear the ball reached him on the half-volley.

The screw was steadily tightened, though, to the mounting discomfort of Trescothick and Hussain, and something had to give.

Sadly, it was Trescothick's concentration as he flicked the seemingly less menacing Afridi, later to be named man of the match, to mid-wicket.

That represented a poor end to a fine innings of 65 from the Somerset left-hander. But Graeme Hick's departure, for only a single, went straight into the "what a waste" category.

Hick hesitated after being called for a single by Hussain, then inexplicably failed to stretch out for safety with his bat. He would have made it had he done so but, instead, was run out despite a fractionally off target throw.

Hussain and Graham Thorpe then added 49 but they never seriously threatened to take control and Afridi's purple patch effectively put the contest out of England's reach.

Thorpe was bowled trying to dab to third man, Hussain - having been dropped twice in the deep by Akram - went down the pitch and kept walking after failing to make contact, while Craig White lifted his back foot when fooled by another leg-break.

England needed quick wickets to have any hope. By the time their senior spinner, Ashley Giles, removed openers Anwar (41) and Afridi (61), however, the game was up and Saleem Elahi's unbeaten 58 saw Pakistan home.