Gul stars, but Pakistan still face uphill battle

Umar Gul starred with both bat and ball but England still built a lead of nearly 300 runs against Pakistan at tea on the third day of the third Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Saturday.

Umar Gul starred with both bat and ball but England still built a lead of nearly 300 runs against Pakistan at tea on the third day of the third Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Saturday.

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Gul, who ensured Pakistan avoided the follow-on with a Test-best 65 not out, took three wickets for seven runs in 21 balls on his way to impressive tea figures of three for 20 in 10 overs.

However, England in their second innings were 120 for six, a lead of 292.

Matt Prior was 13 not out and Graeme Swann 14 not out.

Given how Pakistan had been dismissed for 182 in their first innings on Saturday, it appeared England already had enough runs on the board.

But a longer-term concern for England ahead of their Ashes defence in Australia later this year was Kevin Pietersen's dismissal for 22 - the 21st Test innings in a row where the star batsman had failed to score a century.

England, 49 for two at lunch, were 66 for four soon afterwards.

Pietersen, who looked ready to tough it out in difficult, overcast conditions, got an inside edge off seamer Gul and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who had a poor first innings behind the stumps, held a superb one-handed catch after diving to his left.

A result seems an almost certainty, with England on top.