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Swann puts England on verge of innings win

Pakistan, bowled out for just 72 on Friday before England replied with 251, trailed England’s first innings by 85 runs at the interval. Umar Amin was 12 not out and Zulqarnain Haider had 1.

Off-spinner Swann had figures of three for 12 in eight overs after he extracted huge amounts of spin in sunny conditions. Pakistan crashed from a promising 53 for one to 82 for five.

The tourists, who lost the first test by 354 runs, may struggle to avoid another huge loss after Swann’s effort.

England started badly, uncharacteristically in this series, as the normally dependable catcher Paul Collingwood dropped opener Imran Farhat at third slip off James Anderson.

Farhat hit back by striking Stuart Broad for consecutive boundaries through mid-off and backward point.

Farhat was then struck on the grille of his helmet by a Broad bouncer when on 27. He appeared shook up but was ultimately unharmed despite a five-minute delay as the team physio checked his condition.

Pakistan almost survived the first hour unscathed but Swann dramatically made his entrance by taking a wicket with his third ball of the match.

Left-hander Farhat (29) was bowled by Swann, who came from around the wicket, pitched the ball outside his leg stump only for it to grip and spin sharply enough to take his off stump. It was almost unplayable.

Then right-hander Ali, after battling hard for 82 deliveries against the pace and swing, perished to another wicked off-break from Swann for 19. This time Swann came over the wicket and landed the ball outside Ali’s off stump and got the ball to spin enough to clip his leg stump.

The amount of turn Swann was getting created panic. Umar Akmal (20) advanced down the pitch and tried to hit Swann over long-on first ball but missed it and escaped a tough stumping chance for Matt Prior.

Steven Finn dismissed Shoaib Malik (three) with a short delivery the batsman attempted to avoid only for the ball to move into him and brush his glove and carry to Prior.

Akmal, usually an aggressive player, looked uncomfortable trying to defend against the turning ball and made a peculiar decision to leave a Swann delivery that spun into him and struck him on the pads for lbw. Akmal lost his appeal to the third umpire.

Zulqarnain was given out lbw to Swann first ball by umpire Steve Davis but the decision was overturned following another referral.