NOTTINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – James Anderson’s inspired swing bowling helped England skittle Pakistan for a record low of just 80 and wrap up a huge 354-run victory in the first test at Trent Bridge yesterday.
Anderson, producing another almost unplayable spell in perfect cloudy conditions, finished with a match haul of 11 for 71 and consigned Pakistan to their lowest test total against England.
“When the ball is swinging there is not a better bowler in the world than Jimmy Anderson,” England captain Andrew Strauss told reporters after a Pakistan innings that lasted just 29 overs.
England needed just under two hours to take Pakistan’s last seven wickets after the tourists, set a world-record 435 to win, had resumed on 15 for three.
Number 10 Danish Kaneria top-scored with 16 not out and was one of only two batsmen to reach double figures as the Pakistanis struggled to play the moving ball. Pakistan’s previous low against England was 87 at Lord’s in 1954.
Anderson followed his five for 54 in the first innings with another excellent spell. His second-innings analysis was 15-8-17-6 after he bowled 11 consecutive overs yesterday.
“I’m very satisfied with what we have done over the last three or four days,” Strauss said.
“We had to work hard at stages in the game and the encouraging thing for me was that we got through those tight situations and came out the other side very well.
“Huge credit must also go to Eoin Morgan and Paul Collingwood for their runs in the first innings and Matt Prior in the second.”
The shell-shocked Pakistanis will need to rally quickly as the second test in the four-match series begins in Birmingham.
“It was disappointing, nobody expected this (to lose seven wickets so quickly),” Pakistan captain Salman Butt said. “We were certainly expecting better things of ourselves and we need to improve.
“(But) we must remember the second game that we won last week against Australia came only a few days after losing heavily to them at Lord’s,” he added.
“It is not much different between the two sides in terms of batting. If we had held our chances they could’ve been out below 200. I fully trust my team will be back.”
LOWEST TOTAL
Pakistan, who lost their 2006 series in England 3-0, avoided their lowest test total, of 53, when Kaneria clipped Anderson through midwicket for a boundary and he pulled Finn for six and four.
For the first half-hour England bowled without the discipline of the previous evening when their lines and lengths were perfect.
Anderson soon improved his accuracy and struck in the eighth over when Imran Farhat (15) edged him to Strauss at first slip. That was 31 for four, which was soon to become 37 for five.
Anderson surprised right-hander Umar Akmal (4) by swinging the ball into his pads and although Umar chose to review the dismissal, Asoka de Silva’s decision was upheld.
Pakistan slumped to 41 for seven when nightwatchman Mohammad Aamer’s stubborn innings of four from an hour at the crease ended when he drove Steven Finn to Kevin Pietersen low down in the gully.
It was Finn’s fourth ball of the morning and he struck again in his next over by snaring Kamran Akmal (0), though the wicketkeeper-batsman was unlucky to be given lbw.
Umar Gul, who slapped a career-best 65 not out in the first innings, was the eighth man to perish when he was brilliantly caught by Collingwood above his head at third slip.
Anderson’s maiden 10-wicket test haul came when Shoaib Malik edged him to Collingwood, at ankle height, and he added an 11th when Mohammad Asif (0) edged to Graeme Swann at second slip.
SCOREBOARD
England first innings 354 (P. Collingwood 82, E. Morgan 130; Asif 5-77)
Pakistan first innings 182 (Umar Gul 65 not out, J. Anderson 5-54)
England second innings 262-9 declared (M. Prior 102 not out)
Pakistan second innings (overnight 15-3)
Imran Farhat c Strauss b Anderson 15
Salman Butt c Collingwood b Broad 8
Azhar Ali lbw b Broad 0
Umar Amin lbw b Anderson 1
Mohammad Aamer c Pietersen b Finn 4
Umar Akmal lbw b Anderson 4
Shoaib Malik c Collingwood b Anderson 9
Kamran Akmal lbw b Finn 0
Umar Gul c Collingwood b Anderson 9
Danish Kaneria not out 16
Mohammad Asif c Swann b Anderson 0
Extras (b-4, lb-8, nb-1, w-1) 14
Total (all out; 29 overs) 80
Fall of wickets: 1-10 2-10 3-11 4-31 5-37 6-41 7-41 8-50 9-65
Bowling: Anderson 15-8-17-6 (1nb), Broad 8-2-23-2, Finn 6-3-28-2 (1w)
Result: England beat Pakistan by 354 runs
England lead four-match series 1-0
Player of the match: James Anderson (England)
Remaining fixtures:
Second test: Edgbaston, Birmingham, Aug 6-10
Third test: The Oval, London, Aug 18-22
Fourth test: Lord’s, Aug 26-30