Inzy is a patient bird

By Ted Corbett

MANCHESTER, MAY 31. An imperious Inzamam-ul-Haq waited patiently for the bad ball at Old Trafford on Thursday and found one often enough to hit 24 runs in boundaries before he set off on his most dangerous journey, a trip down the wicket for a single. By the time he was fifty the greatest of the modern Pakistani batsmen had passed 5,000 runs in Tests, positioned himself third to Javed Miandad and Salim Malik in their run-scoring list and hit nine boundaries in only 95 minutes and 69 balls.

When Pakistan was 185 for four, it had not only justified Waqar Younis's decision to bat first but also the most bizarre choice in this series: to go to Blackpool beach instead of practising on Wednesday. We sing ``I do like to be beside the seaside'' when we relax in that most popular of seaside holiday towns and its day off had clearly given Pakistan-and particularly Inzamam, the Big Dipper-a new zest for cricket against the team which humiliated it this winter.

England, winner of the first Test and needing only a draw to win its fifth successive series in a year, still managed to knock over four batsmen by the time Pakistan reached 100 but it should have made more of the stiff southern breeze and a pitch with enough moisture to create an encouraging surface; but it should have been in total command.

Darren Gough, starting on 205 wickets and promising Ashes mayhem during his benefit year, Andrew Caddick, with three of the first four wickets and a delivery with the wind at almost 90 miles an hour, Matthew Hoggart, given his chance again at last, and Dominic Cork, increasingly dramatic, all bowled too short. Inzamam simply waited and when the bad ball arrived hit it in a wide arc from extra cover to square leg.

The strong breeze was a blessing to those who braved the threatening storms; and there were not many. As Lancashire feared a combination of no publicity for the game and too much talk of race riots and danger kept the crowd at half capacity and the morning showers kept the uncommitted at home by the television sets. The start was delayed for 30 minutes and when Alec Stewart lost the toss-the seventh in a row for England-Waqar Younis felt it was right to bat.

Abdur Razzaq was dropped by Michael Atherton at first slip off Gough in the first over but in the second Caddick, already getting lift, made him play the ball down and on to his stumps. Faisal Iqbal strode confidently from the pavilion but a rising ball from Gough cut him short to an overhead catch by Michael Vaughan at short leg. Saeed Anwar had already set the score racing along, although his miscues were as frequent as his regular shots.

Inzamam hardly played a false shot. His first six fours, played from the crease and mostly off the back foot, including a gorgeous on-drive and five punched shots to appalling balls that deserved nothing else. He was 31 by lunch taken when Anwar chased a Caddick outswinger to Atherton at 86 for three-in only 20 overs-and soon after Yousuf Youhana guided the ball to second slip.

By this point Inzamam was fully into his stride, reached his 50 without raising a sweat and when Marcus Trescothick brought his part-time medium pace to the party the big man pulled his first ball for six towards the pavilion. Only 35 overs had been bowled when he struck a similar shot for four to bring up 151.

Younis Khan was content to row in the wake of this ocean-going liner as they added 93 in 21 overs.

* * *

Pakistan 265 for six

MANCHESTER, MAY 31. Pakistan had progressed to 265 for six in 64 overs with Azhar Mahmood (14) and Rashid Latif (4) batting. Inzamam (114) and Younis Khan (65) perished to debutant Matthew Hoggard.

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