Pakistan Ease England's Progress

It shouldn't have been that easy. England played well and the pitch was becoming increasingly treacherous, but 155 all out serves to exaggerate both these factors. Pakistan played badly and contributed to their downfall.

Pakistan needed to negotiate the new ball, but throughout this series their openers have been little more than the hors d'oeuvre to the main course of the middle order. Today was no exception as injudicious stroke-play ensured that both openers were back in the pavilion with barely 50 on the board. With Inzamam's injury forcing him to bat no higher than 7, the partnership between Yousuf and Khan was always going to be crucial. This partnership had contributed 363 in the first innings and if it been unbroken at lunch the result could have been very different.

Collingwood's acrobatic dive to run out Yousuf was the turning point of the match, as it ensured that the soft underbelly of Pakistan's lower middle order was exposed to a hard ball, which was barely 20 overs old. However, this should not disguise the fact that it was a senseless run; Collingwood did well but he was only a few yards from the wicket, with, I would estimate, at least three-quarters of the stumps to aim at. In the closing stages of a one-day game it would have been a foolish run, on the final morning of a test match it was verging on the insane.

In this game trouble has come in twos for Pakistan, with two run outs in their first innings and two dropped catches by Akmal in England's second. The second run out in the second innings was even more of a gift than the first, as Pietersen had time to underarm the ball to Mahmood who broke the stumps with the hesitant Sami still a yard short of his ground.

The match was completed when Inzamam walked out of his crease and took a lazy inaccurate heave at a Panesar delivery. He did not even try and regain his ground as Read completed the stumping.

This new look England have completed their first series victory since the Ashes and have cemented their place as the second best team in the world. Bring on the Aussies!