LAHORE, Dec 12 - Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar took
five wickets to help bowl out England for a modest total of 230
in the second one-day international on Monday.
The England innings was salvaged by a record ninth-wicket
stand of 100 between Liam Plunkett (56) and super-sub Vikram
Solanki (38 not out) who replaced James Anderson after England
had slumped to 130 for eight in the 31st over.
Plunkett and Solanki pushed the score along after Shoaib
(5-54) had taken advantage of murky, overcast conditions and
encouragement in the pitch.
Shoaib broke the stand in the penultimate over when he
caught and bowled Plunkett who faced 80 balls and hit four fours
and a six in only his second one-day international.
Solanki was left stranded after his 48-ball knock when last
man Steve Harmison was run out in the same over.
Shoaib had rocked England by bowling Marcus Trescothick (16)
with a slower ball and having Andrew Strauss caught behind for a
duck in his fourth over.
He then removed Geraint Jones (seven) and Ian Blackwell (10)
in his second spell.
Rana Naved added to England's woes by claiming the key
wickets of Kevin Pietersen (28) and Andrew Flintoff (0) in his
seventh over.
It was sweet revenge for Rana who had been hit for four
consecutive boundaries by Pietersen who was out playing a poor
shot.
Flintoff, who starred in England's victory in the first
one-dayer, looked tired after staying up late to receive the BBC
sports personality of the year award on Sunday and played a weak
shot to be caught at mid-wicket.
Matt Prior made 32 from 33 balls including six fours before
being bowled off stump by Abdul Razzaq to make it 89 for five.
Shoaib had Jones caught by Younis Khan at slip fending off a
lifter and he bowled Blackwell.
Paul Collingwood scored 23 from 52 balls before being bowled
by leg spinner Danish Kaneria.