Everyone got more than their money's worth at Lord's

Mudassar Nazar Photo © CricInfo

As taut and suspenseful as a new bestseller by Stephen King, the Pakistan v England 'second encounter' ended with a Trescothick-led resilient English side, pipped at the post by just two runs.

I give full marks to the left-handed opener, who made the most of a dropped catch when on 5 and very nearly won the match for England.

A brilliant running catch in the deep by Afridi meant Trescothick's wicket had at last fallen when England needed just 6 off the last 5 balls with only Mullally to come. There was a sickening collision between Afridi and Shoaib Malik and I fear that Malik may get added to Pakistan's injured list. Already Sami and Shoaib Akhtar are out and returning home with Wasim nursing a sore shoulder.

Marcus Trescothick celebrates his wonderful century Photo © CricInfo

Trescothick ended up with a super 137 off 142 balls and added a record 170 for the 4th wicket with young Owais Shah (62 off 94), playing only his second one-day international.

Getting into their act at a poor 26 for 3 in the 11th over, after Knight, Stewart and Vaughan had gone cheaply, they made maximum use of the Pakistani slow bowlers and fielders' relaxed attitude.

Trescothick was looking really ominous when he sent the relatively inexperienced Shoaib Malik out of the attack, having taken 37 off his 4 overs - the last hit for 16 including two sixes off consecutive balls. What hitting!

With runs coming off every ball, the Pakistan side looked ragged and they looked to be praying for a miracle.

Well, luck did come their way in the form of a run out. A direct throw from Younis Khan cut short Owais Shah's fine innings. He paid for backing up too far. With the next three wickets of Hollioake, Cork and Ealham, going in quick succession I saw the Pakistanis shoulders and chests pump up again. They thought they were back in the game, were they?

Unfortunately, the only hurdle in their way was Trescothick.

Abdur Razzaq is overjoyed at getting the wicket of Gough Photo © CricInfo

He had brought the target down to 25 off 32 balls and then Gough was adjudged lbw off Razzaq. With only 9 required off the last Saqlain over and Caddick - only the third to reach double figures - supporting him, the game could've gone either way.

But that brilliant catch by Afridi, who had held on despite the collision, followed by a last-ball stumping, saw Pakistan through in this cliffhanger.

A word on the Pakistan innings: Put into bat, Pakistan openers - Afridi and Saleem Elahi - were made to struggle in seaming conditions, after Saeed Anwar had opted out due to his daughter's ailment.

Pakistan's bulwark, Inzamam only made it worse, coming in at 59 he played another ridiculous shot, making it two in a row after that infamous slog against Warne that helped Pakistan slide to a loss at Cardiff. He fell for a clear 'set-up' that had Caddick grinning ear to ear.

Yousuf Youhana acknowledges the applause with teammate Rashid Latif after scoring his half-century Photo © AFP

He was greeted first ball with a short one on the off that he just managed to fend off awkwardly, expecting another, he clearly cringed when the next one came. Comically, it was a full-length ball on middle and leg and the Pakistani vice-captain, incomprehensibly shied to the off, exposing his stumps and it was all over for him. Could I be right in assuming Inzi was still thinking of the Lord's test when the ball seamed and popped about and he had been struck painfully?

Now, it was up to Yousuf Youhana (81 off 119) who steadied the innings with yet another sensible knock. He seems to be back in form now. Getting help from Younis Khan (41 from 56), Rashid Latif (23 off 26), and Azhar Mahmood (27 off 21), he moved Pakistan to a respectable 242 for 8.

After today's defeat, England's hopes of making it to the final must have suffered more, they've had the short stick and lost all of their three matches so far.

However, they must realize after being dumped by 108 runs at Edgbaston, they have made a great comeback by playing two very good close games that could have gone either way.

In today's game, Trescothick's effort was simply superb, so was Pakistan's fight back. I think the huge crowd at Lord's got more than their money's worth, don't you?

Ed: Mudassar Nazar is a veteran of 76 tests and 122 ODIs. He is currently the chief coach of Pakistan's National and Regional Cricket Academies. In view of the overwhelming interest of users in CricInfo's articles, we have invited him to write for us.