England v Pakistan, 2006

At Southampton, September 5 (day/night). Pakistan won by two wickets. Toss: Pakistan.

The best contest of the series so far saw Pakistan take a deserved 2-0 lead, though it was almost overshadowed by events off the field. Sky broadcast inconclusive pictures of Shoaib Akhtar "working" on the ball, while commentator Mike Atherton remarked that viewers should "make up their own minds". After a lengthy hearing, referee Mike Procter took no action, and there was no rerun of the Darrell Hair furore. Meanwhile, it emerged that Trescothick - bowled first ball by Akhtar's fearsome inswinging yorker - would miss the Champions Trophy because of a stressrelated illness. On the field, Strauss struck a 46-ball fifty, and half-centuries from Collingwood and Dalrymple gave England something to bowl at. Then Younis gave a textbook display of how to pace an innings. Surprisingly, his serene century was only his second in one-day internationals - and the first was against Hong Kong. He and Mohammad Yousuf punished Mahmood especially in compiling 167, an all-wicket record for Pakistan against England. But once Broad broke through, wickets fell often enough to keep the outcome in doubt until Inzamam-ul-Haq completed victory with seven balls remaining.

Man of the Match: Younis Khan.