KARACHI. De.

I I. England clinched a historic series victory here Monday, snatching a stun

ning win with just minutes to s|>«ue in the third and final Test at (he National Stadium, reports AFP.

Their slx-udcket triumph makes (hem the first English side to win a Test series • In Pakistan since 1962 and ends the hosts' unbeaten record in 34 encounters in this southern port city.

In the fading light the match looked more like a one-dayer as the tourists chased the target of I 76 runs in 44 overs.

Graham Thorpe lilt two fours and a two olf off-splnner Saqlain Mushtaq to take England home with 2.3 overs to spare, as Pakistani players appealed desperately against the light.

A suiall band o( England supporters ran onto the field as Thorpe and winning captain

Nasser Hussain iumped around with glee.

Thorpe finished with 64 off 97 balls while Hussain remained not out on six.

Hussain said before the match that England was inspired. not daunted, by histoiy. and predicted "something Incredibly special" from his men.

"It's a stunning win for us and something we aspired for before the Test." Hussain said.

His bowlers created the chance bv wrapping up Pakistan’s second innings at 158. allowing just enough time for England's batsmen to seal the win tn the afternoon.

At tea England reached 27-0. needing another 149 in a maximum of 36 overs with Michael Atherton on 21 and Marcus Trescothick on six.

But the innings began to look shaky as both Atherton and Trescothick holed out olf Saqlain as they tried to boost the run rate.

Atherton, declared man-of-the-mitch for his high-class

124 in the first timings, miscued a sweep and was caught by Saeed Anwar for 26. while Trescothick was cauglil at deep inid-wicket by Inzamamul Haq for 24. including three boundaries and a six.

Alec Stewart went cheaply for five, becoming Saqlam's 18th wicket in die series, and at 65-3 England were in a fix whether to play lor the draw or

Thorpe and Graeme Hick then took the total to 1 10-3 when ihe last 15 mandatory overs count began, despite Pakistani captain Moin Khans best efforts to slow the match

Hick hit badly needed fours off Shahid Afridi and Waqar Younis to bring up England's 150 before be was Iwwled hy the latter for 40

But when England needed Just 10 oil the last three overs, the Pakistanis started hoping the heavens would open on tins dnmghi-hti city lor the first

England's

From page 13 time in years.

SCOREBOARD

Full scoreboard of the third and final cricket Test between Pakistan and England al National Stadium on Monday

PAKISTAN: First innings (Inzamamul Haq 142. Yousuf Youhana 117: Ashley Giles 4-94. Darren Gough 3-82)

ENGLAND: First innings 388 (Michael Atherton 125. Nasser Hussain 51. Waqar Younis 4-88)

PAKISTAN: Second innings lovernight 71/3)

Anwar c Thorpe b Caddick 21 Nazir c Stewart b Gough 4 Elahi c Thoqie b Giles 37

Inzamani b Giles 27

Saqlain lbw b Gough 4

Youhana c Stewart b White 24 Razzak c Atherton b Giles I Mom c Hussain b White 14

Afridi not out 15

Younis run out 0

Kaneria lbw b Gough 0

Extras: (b-3, lb-5. nb-3) I 1 Total; (All out in 70 overs) 158

Fall of wickets: 1-24. 2-26. 3-71. 4-78. 5-128. 6-128. 7-139. 8-143. 9-149

Bowler O M R W

Gough 13 4 30 3

Caddick 15 2 40 I

Giles 27 12 38 3

Salisbury 3 0 12 0

White 12 4 30 2

ENGLAND: Second innings

Atherton e Anwar b Saqlain 26 Trescothick c Inzainam

b Saqlain 24

Stewart c Moln b Saqlain 5

Thorpe not out 64

Hick b Waqar 40

Hussain not out 6

Extras: (b-8. lb-2. w-1) II

Total: (For 4 wkts In 4 1.3

overs I 176

Fall of wic keis 1-38. 2-51.

3 65. 4-156

Bowler O M R W

You ms 6 0 27 I

Razzak 4 0 17 0

Saqlain 17.3 I 64 3

Kaneria 3 0 18 0

Afridi 11 I 40 i

Result: England won by six *lckets and won the series 1 -0.

Man-of-the-match: Michael Atherton.

Man-of-the-aeries: Yousuf

Youhana.