Pakistan facing innings defeat

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP):

Pakistan limped to 19-1 against England at stumps on day two of the second Test yesterday, needing another 161 to avoid an innings defeat at Edgbaston.

Imran Farhat was unbeaten on 10, while Azhar Ali was 5 not out, after James Anderson (1-1) had Pakistan captain Salman Butt caught for 0 by his England counterpart Andrew Strauss.

Earlier, Pakistan bowled England out for 251, restricting the host to a first-innings lead of 179 after Pakistan were all out for 72 on Friday.

Saeed Ajmal took 5-82, including a spell of 4-2 as England's last seven wickets fell for 46 runs, but Umar Gul tore a hamstring and will not bowl again in the match.

The record books will show Kevin Pietersen made England's top score with 80 from 147 balls and 12 fours, but this was arguably the luckiest innings of his career.

Having twice been put down on Friday and seen another shot fly through the slips, Pietersen was dropped for a third time in the morning session and caught off a dead ball, before he was finally caught and bowled by Ajmal.

Jonathan Trott was England's next highest scorer with 55, from 125 balls with seven fours.

England began the day on 112-2, after the start was delayed by 40 minutes due to rain.

Spilled again

Pietersen was spilled again in the third over of the day, when an inside edge off the bowling of Mohammad Aamer was dropped by Amin, who seemed preoccupied with appealing for an lbw decision.

In the next over, the 38th, Pietersen survived a review after Pakistan disputed a decision not to give him out lbw to Mohammad Asif, before the next delivery produced an even more bizarre incident.

As Asif was about to release the ball, Pietersen moved away from the crease, apparently because he was distracted by movement behind the bowler's arm.

Yet, instead of shouldering arms, Pietersen hit the ball, lofting a catch to Pakistan captain Salman Butt at mid-off, and he was reprieved only because umpire Marais Erasmus called a dead ball, to Pakistan's visible annoyance.

After just 38 balls in the morning session the rain returned and an early lunch was called.

Pietersen edged the first ball after the break through the vacant fourth slip area for four and he finally produced a stylish clip through square leg to bring up his 50, from 97 balls, in the 43rd over.

Trott reached his 50, from 105 balls with a drive through long on for four, six overs later.