Pakistan pip England in a thriller
Pakistan pip England in a thriller
The tourists, powered by Younis Khan's second ODI ton, reached the target of 271 set by England in 49.5 overs.

Southampton (England): Younis Khan hit 101 to guide Pakistan to a two-wicket win over England on Tuesday and an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the five-match One-Day series.

Pakistan successfully chased England's 271 in the day-night match at the Rose Bowl, largely through Khan's 167-run third-wicket stand with Mohammad Yousuf. The tourists reached 274 with six balls to spare.

"There is a responsibility on me, we try to play 50 overs and thank God we won today," Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said.

"Fielding is our weak area. We will work hard in the next couple of days on that because unless you're a good fielding side it is difficult."

Khan and Yousuf steadied Pakistan after it fell to 29-2, bringing the innings to 196-3 before Khan was caught by Stuart Broad off Marcus Trescothick.

Opener Shoaib Malik was out for one after just six balls when he was caught by Paul Collingwood at cover. Mohammad Hafeez reached 20 before he was run out by a diving throw from captain Andrew Strauss.

Younis Khan hit 13 boundaries in his 109-ball innings for his second ODI century.

"It was a big hundred because against England it's a dream come true," Younis Khan said. "But all the time I bat for my team, not for myself, and that's why a lot of the time I'm out for 70 or 80. This time it's nice to get that hundred."

Yousuf was out for 60 when he was bowled by Jamie Dalrymple with Pakistan on 215. Inzamam then guided Pakistan to the win, reaching 44 not out as four batting partners were dismissed.

Broad had the best bowling figures of 3-57, with Jon Lewis taking 2-32.

England hasn't won a limited-overs match against a Test-playing nation in its last nine attempts.

Pakistan won the second One-Dayer by seven wickets on Saturday and the opening game was declared a no result because of rain.

"I think we showed a lot more positivity with the bat which was important," Strauss said. "More than anything we showed a lot of fight in the whole game, and if we keep doing that we'll turn things around sooner rather than later."

Pakistan won the toss and sent England into bat. Collingwood (61) and Dalrymple (62) combined for a 101-run, fifth-wicket partnership, helping to steady the England innings from 125-4 to 226. Both were dismissed by Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who finished with figures of 4-58.

Trescothick was out on the first ball of the day to a Shoaib Akhtar inswinging yorker. England reached 79-2 before Strauss (50) edged to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.

Kevin Pietersen fell at 113-3, edging the ball with his inside edge to Hafeez for 20.

England put on 12 more runs before Ahktar dismissed Ian Bell for 42. Two balls after Dalrymple's dismissal, Rikki Clarke was out for a duck, to leave England on 229-6, and was followed by Sajid Mahmood (0) -- named as the replacement for injured fast bowler Darren Gough -- and Lewis (7).

There was a hint of controversy halfway through the England innings when Akhtar was shown in television replays appearing to flick his thumb at the ball as he walked back to his mark.

The rules allow a bowler to remove mud or dirt from the ball.

Former England captain Michael Atherton, who was commentating for Sky Sports television said viewers should "make your own minds up" after watching the footage.

On the fourth day of the final Test at The Oval last month, umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove ruled Pakistan illegally interfered with the ball and imposed a five-run penalty.

The visitors protested by not coming out after the tea break and the Test was forfeited to England, which won the series 3-0. Inzamam and Hair face disciplinary hearings over the incident.

The fourth One-Dayer is at Nottingham on Friday.

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