At stumps on the fourth day of the final Test in Lahore, England were still 227 runs adrift and facing the serious prospect of an innings defeat after Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar claimed two vital scalps.

Ian Bell was unbeaten on 60 with all-rounder Paul Collingwood on 37 when bad light stopped play with 23 overs remaining and England, who could only muster 288 in their first innings, on 121-2.

England have won six consecutive Test series under Michael Vaughan's captaincy but trail 1-0 against Pakistan in the current three-match series after losing the opening Test by 22 runs at Multan.

The second Test ended in a draw at Faisalabad.

Pakistan's batsmen were supreme with Mohammad Yousuf leading the way with a career-best 223, his third double-century in 62 Tests.

Twenty-three-year-old wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal hit 154, his second Test century, and skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq was run out just before the declaration three short of his third consecutive tonne.

In contrast, England struggled as they lost Marcus Trescothick for nought and skipper Michael Vaughan for 13 thanks to an incisive opening spell from Akhtar.

Bell and Collingwood steadied the innings with an unbeaten 91-run partnership, but their team still faces an uphill task if they are to save the game on the final day on Saturday.

Bell, struck on the forearm by an Akhtar beamer, survived some anxious moments before reaching his fifth Test half-century which included nine fours.

England began their second innings shakily as they lost Trescothick, trapped leg-before for a second-ball duck. Akhtar then deceived Vaughan with a slower full-toss and took an easy return catch.

Pakistan earlier feasted on a listless England attack, plundering 190 in less than 29 overs after resuming at 446-5. Their total was highest against England at home, the previous best being 569-9 at Hyderabad in 1972-73.

Yousuf and Akmal were involved in a record 269-run stand for the sixth wicket, surpassing the previous Pakistani best of 217 between Hanif Mohammad and Majid Khan against New Zealand at the same venue in 1964-65.

Inzamam built on the stand, hammering a 101-ball 97.

The Pakistan captain, who scored a century in each innings of the drawn second Test at Faisalabad, smashed two sixes and nine fours on his way to becoming the second Pakistani after Javed Miandad to complete 8,000 Test runs.

Inzamam also completed 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year before being run out following a direct-hit at the striker's end by opposite number Vaughan.

Yousuf cracked two sixes and 26 fours in his marathon 10-hour innings before being caught by Kevin Pietersen off spinner Shaun Udal at long-on. His previous best was 204 against Bangladesh at Chittagong three years ago.

Inzamam, who had retired hurt after being hit on the right wrist by paceman Steve Harmison on Wednesday, returned to dominate the England attack as he completed 8,000 runs with a straight six off Udal in his 105th Test.

Yousuf, 183 overnight, reached his double-century when he hit paceman Andrew Flintoff for his 24th four.

Flintoff then ended Akmal's brilliant innings when he had the batsman caught at short mid-wicket by Vaughan. Akmal hit 14 fours in his 242-ball knock.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)