Thorpe and Vaughan in record stand

By Ted Corbett

MANCHESTER, JUNE 2. Crucially, England twice forgot that the Pakistanis can be slick fielders as well as giants with the bat and ball so that instead of cruising comfortably into a first innings lead in the second Test at Old Trafford on Saturday it had to struggle painfully throughout the afternoon and finished with 357 - 46 adrift - when it lost its last five wickets for nine in 34 balls.

Its lapses mean that the game is now wide open and that those who have bought tickets for tomorrow at half the normal price as the Lancashire club try a family day to market the game may see a finish or at least a riveting day's play. There may also be the sight of committee men in tears as they regret not doubling the entry fee.

Graham Thorpe and Michael Vaughan had already put on 189 for the second wicket when the third day began with Pakistan setting defensive fields and the batsmen content to wait for a new settling in period before launching their shots. The first hour was quiet although Thorpe soon scored the two runs he needed for his ninth Test hundred and then devoted his energies to getting Vaughan to three figures. It was also Thorpe's second century in three Tests, his second against Pakistan, his third in successive series or in eight Tests however you like it expressed.

Vaughan was born only four miles from this ground but grew tired of Lancashire shilly-shallying and joined Yorkshire where his family had set up a new home and was immediately marked down as a serious Test prospect. He was promoted to No.3 when Nasser Hussain's continued failures in that vital position became embarrassing and seemed to grow a foot immediately. ``Look at him stand at a crease,'' an old Test batsman remarked at Lord's. ``He's got presence and that is vital.''

He also has luck, another priceless asset, as his arrival at 100 showed. He steered the ball for two, causing Wasim Akram to shy at the wickets and send the ball hurtling for an extra four. Few batsmen reach Test hundreds with a six, however made up. Chris Lewis at Chennai in 1993 took the more orthodox route straight down the ground but Vaughan has already shown a distinctive side as well as giving England a top of the order solidarity that it has craved for years.

Thorpe and Vaughan put together a series of records. Their stand of 267 is now the highest at Old Trafford in 67 Tests, the highest against Pakistan and England's highest since Thorpe and Hussain put on 287 against Australia at Edgbaston in 1997.

But soon after the new ball was taken Thorpe on 138 was run out trying for his highest Test score with a single so short that the bowler Wasim ran him out and in the following over Vaughan was caught behind.

At 283 for four England was not in the dominant position it had hoped for and when Ian Ward was run out going for a tight second after a misfield by Azhar Mahmood who also threw down the stumps, there was a clatter of wickets. Ward looks at home in the Test atmosphere and he will be a candidate for a place even when Hussain returns.

Alec Stewart gave an exhibition of crisp strokeplay and Nick Knight weathered the storm brewed by Waqar Younis and Wasim and their multitude of noisy, flag-waving, chanting fans under the scoreboard who cleared expected victory at any minute. It became more likely when Knight was caught behind at 348 and Dominic Cork mishit to mid-off in nine balls from Abdur Razzaq.

Stewart escaped an lbw appeal that television's latest gimmick claimed was out, Andrew Caddick gloved Saqlain's leg cutter to give Rashid Latif his fourth victim of eight, Darren Gough was bowled by Razzaq's reverse swing and Matthew Hoggard bowled by Saqlain's orthodox off-break.

Stewart finished with 39, a disappointed captain facing the prospect of losing a key Test.

Saqlain has played little part so far but if England is looking for 300 on the final day his cunning - so casually cast aside at Lord's - may yet give Pakistan a share of this series.

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