Pakistan get off to flying start

Saeed Anwar set the tone in the opening over, pulling Gough imperiously through mid-wicket for a boundary. Gough, frustrated, pitched short and saw Afridi's top edge fly over the `keeper's head for another four.

Mullally started well, however, and beat the bat several times. It could also have been a run-out in the first over as Afridi just beat a direct hit on the stumps. In Mullally's next over Afridi, clearly in no mood to be dictated to, thrashed him through the covers off the back foot and followed it with a drive on the up, both for four.

But Mullally answered with a maiden and it was no surprise when the impatience brought his downfall. An enormous heave off a full-length Mullally delivery skied the ball high in the air but no further than Mark Ealham at mid on who took a comfortable catch and ended the all-rounder's 24-ball stay.

Abdur Razzaq was the new man and he never really settled. Mullaly beat him with a beauty, jagging away off the seam, in the 10th over but he responded with a pull for four off Gough who was removed from the attack after six overs for 25 runs. Ealham, whose slower pace has proved difficult to get away, replaced him

Anwar, content to find the gaps with ones and twos and running well between the wickets, was cast in the role of anchorman. It was his pushed drive through mid off that brought up the 50 in the 14th over, a landmark he celebrated with a flicked four off is legs. It took a fine piece of fielding to bring about the second wicket. A delicate cut from Anwar, just backward of point, was cut off by a swooping Ben Hollioake who threw down the stumps to leave Razzaq inches short; 55-2 and the arrival of Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Dominic Cork replaced Mullally (7-1-26-1) at the Pavilion End and began with a huge appeal for lbw against Inzamam. Cork has been content to trade blows with the batsmen, passing the outside edge of both Inzamam and Saeed in between being driven through the covers and pulled to square leg, and has conceded successive legside wides in stark contrast to the miserly Ealham.

A flicked six into the Eric Hollies Stand from Saeed followed by a controlled edge for four through fine third man signalled a change of gear, however, and Ealham was removed from the attack after six overs for 23 runs.

In the 24th over, Cork, following through and attempting to kick the ball on to the stumps, gave Inzamam a little push out of the way. This infuriated Inzamam and Stewart had to stand between the two and apply admirable levels of diplomacy. It clearly worked as batsman and bowler shook hands after the next delivery.

The off spin of Vaughan came into the attack in the 25th over. He was immediately smashed for successive fours by Inzamam, the first to bring up the 100, the second a fearful long hop. The score at 25 overs is 108-2.