Pakistan on the ropes

NOTTINGHAM, England (AP):

Pakistan was in deep trouble at stumps on the second day of the first Test yesterday, staggering to 147-9 in reply to England's 354, still needing eight runs to avoid the follow on when bad light stopped play.

England's James Anderson took 5-49 and Steven Finn 3-20, while Shoaib Malik was Pakistan's top scorer with 38 from 53 balls, with six fours.

Pakistan captain Salman Butt was left to rue the chances his side missed on Thursday.

"If we had grabbed these chances I think it would have been an even game the way it's going," he said. "We could have got England for under 200."

Earlier, a rampant Mohammad Asif had dragged Pakistan back into the contest by taking 5-77, including a spell of 4-8, during the morning session.

Commanding position

England began the day in a commanding position on 331-4, but its last six wickets fell for just 17 runs, from 51 balls.

Eoin Morgan was out for 130 from 216 balls, with one six and 19 fours, while Paul Collingwood departed for 82, from 180 balls with 11 fours, having added just a single to his overnight score.

Morgan, who began the day on 125, had added four runs to his score when he was dropped in the fifth over of the morning - the 95th of England's innings.

The luckless Mohammad Aamer, who had England captain Andrew Strauss dropped by Kamran Akmal on Thursday, drew an edge from Morgan, but Imran Farhat dropped an easy catch at first slip.

Morgan's and Collingwood's record stand of 219 for the fifth wicket against Pakistan finally ended an over later, when Asif had Collingwood lbw.

Umpire Tony Hill took several seconds to raise his finger, prompting Collingwood to use up England's final referral, but television replays vindicated Hill.

Morgan departed shortly after, again lbw to Asif, and Matt Prior added just 6 before being run out.

Graeme Swann miscued a drive through midwicket for 2, but after turning for a third Swann sent Prior back when he was halfway down the wicket, allowing Aamer to run him out at the non-striker's end.

3 wickets for 0

England lost their final three wickets without adding a run.

Swann (2) was lbw to Asif four balls later and Anderson was out without scoring to the same bowler with the next delivery.

The innings was wrapped up when Umar Gul bowled Stuart Broad for 2 with the first ball of the next over, the 105th.

The manner of England's lower order collapse suggested Pakistan would find batting difficult and their reply got off to a poor start, with Butt caught behind off Anderson in the fifth over, before the lunch interval.

England stifled Pakistan at the start of the afternoon session and the pressure quickly produced wickets.

Anderson opted to bowl round the wicket for the fourth ball of the 17th over, and he immediately ripped out Farhat's middle stump for 19.