Cricket: Double act run riot against Pakistanis

LONDON - England routed Pakistan by an innings and nine runs in the first cricket test yesterday with an inspired display of pace bowling from Darren Gough and Andrew Caddick.

Sixteen Pakistan wickets fell on a dramatic fourth day of the rain-affected match as the touring team, forced to follow on 188 behind after being bowled out for 203, were skittled for 179 in their second innings, sparking a joyful pitch invasion by the Lord's crowd.

Man-of-the-match Caddick, finding swing and seam movement throughout, ended with match figures of eight for 106 while Gough had eight for 101. England effectively wrapped up the game in three days, after the first day was rained off.

In the process, Gough became only the eighth Englishman to pass 200 test wickets. He stole the limelight in the morning by enforcing the follow-on with three wickets in four balls as Waqar Younis' side, resuming on 115 for four in reply to England's first innings of 391, fell 39 runs short of their target.

The honour of the final wicket of the match fell to seamer Dominic Cork, who punched the air as Waqar was caught behind.

England, seeking their fifth series success in a row, sealed their victory without captain Nasser Hussain, who was ruled out on Saturday after breaking his right thumb while batting. The second and final test starts at Old Trafford on Thursday next week.

Yorkshireman Gough claimed his 200th test victim when wicketkeeper Rashid Latif was caught behind down the leg side with his final delivery before lunch. Waqar survived Gough's next delivery, but then carved a sharp catch to Graham Thorpe at third slip. No 11 Shoaib Akhtar was bowled first ball.

Gough finished with his first five-wicket haul at Lord's by taking five for 61.

His first ball of the second innings - a hat-trick delivery - rapped Saeed Anwar on the pads on the way down the leg side before Caddick, who took four for 52 in the first innings, dealt a double blow.

Salim Elahi completed a pair as Thorpe went full-length at third slip to take a fine one-handed catch.

The Caddick-Thorpe combination then took care of Anwar for eight before Cork removed Inzamam ul-Haq and Younis Khan.

Abdur Razzaq provided the only resistance, with a three-hour 53, before he was caught off Caddick.

England's close catching was exemplary, with wicketkeeper Alec Stewart holding seven catches and the slips taking a further eight.

Former Pakistan hero Imran Khan blasted the Pakistan Cricket Board yesterday, accusing them of bungling preparations for the country's tour of England.

"They have come into this test match under-prepared and unacclimatised," he said.

"It is the worst thing to happen to the team after having had just five days of cricket. It's no preparation for a side who will have found the conditions completely alien.

"If I was the captain I would have refused to play in this test series."

- AGENCIES