LONDON, (Reuters) – Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad hit centuries at Lord’s yesterday to rescue England with a record eighth-wicket stand after Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir had blown away the top order in the fourth and final test.
Trott batted all day to reach 149 not out, adding 244 with Broad (125 not out) to lead England to 346 for seven in their first innings at the close of the second day.
Broad, in an innings of genuine quality, notched his maiden test century and the highest score by an England number nine.
“I’ve always had confidence I could score a test hundred and when people have asked me, I’ve always said yes,” Broad told reporters.
“But you have to go out and do it and it feels good to have proved I can. Trotty just said play as straight as you can and have some positive intent which I did.” Gubby Allen made 122 against New Zealand in 1931 in an England record eighth-wicket partnership of 246 against all countries with Les Ames (137).
Yesterday’s stand by Trott and Broad is a record against Pakistan.
The hosts, 2-1 up in the series, were reduced to 47 for five in the morning session after resuming on 39 for one. Only 12.3 overs were bowled on Thursday
Eighteen-year-old Amir picked up six for 73 in 23 outstanding overs. He took four wickets in eight balls without conceding a run from the Pavilion end, dismissing Alastair Cook (10) and Kevin Pietersen (0) caught behind from consecutive deliveries.
Paul Collingwood was then trapped lbw for a duck and Eoin Morgan was smartly caught at second slip by Yasir Hameed, also without scoring.
It was the first time the England number four, five and six had failed to score in a test innings.
Amir became the youngest player to capture 50 test wickets when Matt Prior was caught behind for 22 from the fourth delivery after lunch.
Graeme Swann was then caught in the gully by Azhar Ali off Amir for yet another duck.
MEMORABLE PARTNERSHIP
England, on 102 for seven, were in danger of succumbing for fewer runs than their previous lowest total (130) against Pakistan.
Instead Trott and Broad combined in a memorable partnership which flourished as the Pakistan bowlers tired and the sun finally broke through to sap any remaining moisture from the pitch.
Trott moved confidently on to the front foot to drive through the covers and the mid-wicket area while Broad played like a top-order batsman.
Broad flicked Amir for a six over square-leg and played the shot of the day with a blazing off-drive from the same bowler.
Trott, who scored 226 in the Lord’s test against Bangladesh this year, reached his century, with overthrows which raced to the boundary, in five minutes short of five hours with 13 fours.
Broad surpassed his previous highest test score of 76 and moved serenely to his hundred from 159 balls with nine boundaries and a six. His father Chris scored six test centuries as an opening batsman but none of them were in England.
SCOREBOARD
England first innings (overnight 39-1)
A. Strauss b Mohammad Asif 13
A. Cook c Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Amir 10
J. Trott not out 149
K. Pietersen c Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Amir 0
P. Collingwood lbw b Mohammad Amir 0
E. Morgan c Yasir Hameed b Mohammad Amir 0
M. Prior c Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Amir 22
G. Swann c Azhar Ali b Mohammad Amir 0
S. Broad not out 125
Extras: (lb-9 w-7 nb-11) 27
Total: (for seven wickets, 111 overs) 346
Fall of wickets: 1-31 2-39 3-39 4-39 5-47 6-102 7-102.
To bat: J.Anderson, S.Finn.
Bowling: Mohammad Amir 23-5-73-6 (3nb 2w), Mohammad Asif 26-6-83-1 (2nb), Wahab Riaz 22-4-74-0 (6nb 2w), Saeed Ajmal 30-3-86-0, Yasir Hameed 1-1-0-0, Imran Farhat 9-1-21-0.