At Lord’s Embroiled in what threatens to be a career-ending controversy for several of their players, Pakistan went through the motions and crashed to their worst ever Test defeat here at Lord’s on Sunday. Or perhaps, it were England who marched to a huge victory — by an innings and 225 runs — in the fourth and final Test to complete a 3-1 series triumph over Pakistan, who had for all practical purposes, lost the series finale on Saturday when they crashed for just 74 in the first innings and then lost four quick wickets after England forced follow-on. Pakistan began the day at 41-4, facing the impossible task of keeping the English attack at bay during the last two days of the Test.They took the field just about 15 hours after Scotland Yard officials visited their Swiss Cottage hotel and carried out investigations into a spot-fixing scandal that has rocked Pakistan cricket. Pakistan arrived pretty late at Lord’s and didn’t take part in what is supposed to be a routine pre-match practice session in the nets. It ignited speculations that they might not take the field just like in the 2006 Test at The Oval when Inzamam-ul-Haq, the then captain, refused to resume play after being accused of ball-tampering by the onfield umpires. But Pakistan didn’t take that option and were greeted with muted applause from the members. From 41-4, Pakistan soon slumped to 73-8, before young batsman Umar Akmal saved them from becoming the first team to crumble for less than 100 in the same Test with an aggressive fifty. The first man to go was Azhar Ali (12), who was outdone by a sizzling delivery from Graeme Swann that held its line and clipped off stump.Kamran Akmal’s woeful run with the bat continued when he edged James Anderson and was gloved by Matt Prior in the next over for just one. Mohammad Amir, who finds himself at the centre of the spot-fixing controversy, survived for just five balls, falling to Swann. Pakistan were now reeling at 65-7. Swann then had Wahab Riaz caught by Kevin Pietersen before Saeed Ajmal got run-out by a direct throw from Stuart Broad, leaving Pakistan at 97-9. But Umar Akmal counterattacked and reached his fifty off just 40 balls, playing some aggressive shots including two massive sixers off Swann. He added 50 for the last wicket with Mohammad Asif but was stranded at the other end at 79 when Asif became Swann’s fifth victim. Umar’s unbeaten 79 came off 68 balls and included 11 fours and two sixes. It was the youngster’s first fifty of the four-Test series. Swann (5-62) took his ninth five-wicket haul. The two teams will now meet again in the first of the two Twenty20 Internationals in Cardiff on September 5. Pakistan won toss England 1st innings 446 (Trott 184, Broad 169; Mohammad Amir 6-84 Pakistan 1st innings 74 (Salman Butt 26; Swann 4-12, Finn 3-38) Pakistan 2nd innings Imran Farhat c Cook b Broad 5 Yasir Hameed lbw b Anderson 3 *Salman Butt lbw b Swann 21 Mohammad Yousuf c Trott b Finn 10 Azhar Ali b Swann 12 Umar Akmal not out 79 †Kamran Akmal c Prior b Anderson 1 Mohammad Amir b Swann 0 Wahab Riaz c Pietersen b Swann 0 Saeed Ajmal run out (Broad) 8 Mohammad Asif c Collingwood b Swann 1 Extras (b1, lb2, w3, nb1) 7 Total (all out, 36.5 overs) 147 Fall: 1-7, 2-9, 3-41, 4-41, 5-63, 6-64, 7-65, 8-73, 9-97 Bowling: Anderson 13-4-35-2 (1w); Broad 6-1-24-1 (2w); Finn 4-0-23-1 (1nb); Swann 13.5-1-62-5 Result: England won by an innings and 225 runs Series: England won the 4-Test series 3-1 Man of the match: S C J Broad (England) Men of the series: Mohammad Amir (Pakistan) and I J L Trott (England) Umpires: B F Bowden (New Zealand) and A L Hill (New Zealand). TV umpire: S J Davis (Australia). Match referee: R S Mahanama (Sri Lanka) caption LONDON: Pakistan captain Salman Butt (fourth right) watches from the window of the dressing room during their fourth Test against England at the Lord’s Cricket Ground here on Sunday
