Pakistan teenager Mohammad Amir tore through the England upper order batting at Lord's on Friday with six for 47 to become the youngest man to reach 50 Test wickets. England, 39 for one overnight after only 12.3 overs' play was possible on Thursday, were 185 for seven at tea on the second day of the fourth Test. The home team needs just a draw to win the series.
Their plight would have been much worse had it not been for a composed and technically assured innings of 77 not out from Jonathan Trott. He got excellent support from Stuart Broad (46 not out), who hooked Amir for an effortless six. The two shared an unbroken eighth wicket partnership of 83.
Amir, the man-of-the-match in Pakistan's four wicket win in the third Test at the Oval last Saturday, passed the 50-wicket mark at the age of 18 years and 136 days. The previous youngest was New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.
Denied the wicket of Alastair Cook on Thursday when Umar Akmal dropped Pakistan's 18th chance of the series, Amir dismissed the England opener for 10 from the third ball of the morning, caught behind by Kamran Akmal.
Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood too became Amir’s victim. Eoin Morgan also lasted only three balls, edging Amir to second slip. For the first time in Test history England's number four, five and six had all failed to score.
{{/usCountry}}Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood too became Amir’s victim. Eoin Morgan also lasted only three balls, edging Amir to second slip. For the first time in Test history England's number four, five and six had all failed to score.
{{/usCountry}}Brief Scores:
At the time of going to press: England 301/7 (92.2 ovrs): (I Trott not out 128, M Prior 22, S Broad not out 103 , Mohammad Amir 6/73)