England v Pakistan, 2006

At Birmingham, September 10. England won by three wickets. Toss: England.

An all-round display of immense character from Sajid Mahmood saw England to a serieslevelling victory. After Strauss won his first toss in five games, Mahmood squared up Mohammad Yousuf with a fine delivery that he edged to slip. It was an ideal response to abusive chants from some Pakistan supporters at a player of Pakistani descent. Confronted at last with a pitch assisting England's seamers, the touring batsmen were desperately disappointing; only Younis Khan countered suggestions that their gifted top order was replete with flat-track bullies. But there was still sufficient life in the surface to make England struggle chasing a modest 155. Mahmood came to the crease at 118 for seven, after four wickets fell in 20 balls. But he made sure of victory with three successive fours off Naved-ul-Hasan when he was reintroduced into the attack. That reduced the target to six, and the composed Yardy struck the winning run with 19 overs to go.

Man of the Match: S. I. Mahmood.

Man of the Series: Younis Khan.