Stuart Broad confident England can end on high despite bowling of Umar Gul giving Pakistan T20 series lead

The traffic clogged half-built roads around the stadium were the first sign Pakistan fans had finally emerged to support their side and they were rewarded with a narrow victory over an England team whose runs chase finished in a dead end.

With 32 needed from 26 balls and seven wickets standing England were strong favourites to win and silence a noisy crowd.

But an over from Umar Gul brought two wickets for three runs including the crucial dismissal of Ravi Bopara, the batsmen who looked set to see England home, and sucked all momentum out of the innings as they failed to find the boundary in the final five overs.

“It is the sort of position you should win from,” admitted Stuart Broad, the England captain. “The thing about Twenty20 is that it fluctuates so much.

"We needed 8.8 an over at one point but then Ravi got it down to seven but in Twenty20 you never think it is in the bag as one over can change a match. Umar Gul did that bowling with reverse swing and brilliant yorkers. We need to show as an England team we can improve and make sure we come back on Saturday right in the zone again.”

Matches at this stadium have barely attracted a crowd to fill one third of the ground, and even though there were still swathes of empty seats the attendance this was by far the biggest of the tour and underlined which format of the game Pakistan fans enjoy the most.

Their team responded with a gutsy performance twice saving themselves from perilous positions. With the bat, Shoaib Malik and Misbah ul Haq steadied nerves at 73 for five to add 71 crucial runs to post a competitive total. With the ball, Gul and Saeed Ajmal proved a combination too powerful for England’s inexperienced lower order conceding only 13 in the crucial overs 15 to 19.

England had started their innings confidently. With Alastair Cook left out of the side, Kevin Pietersen took on the role of leader with the bat and he played on a different plane to everyone else. He stroked four fours and a straight six off Shahid Afridi but fell trying to clear the ropes again when he was caught at deep midwicket. Eoin Morgan again scratched around leaving Bopara to manage the run chase but even he struggled for fluidity despite taking 14 off a Junaid Khan over which appeared to set the team on the road to victory.

After Bopara’s dismissal Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler faced the arduous task of batting against Gul and Ajmal with the pressure on. Buttler fell trying to flick Gul over fine leg and Samit Patel was out next ball lbw to a fast and full delivery. Ajmal’s doosras and Gul’s inswinging yorkers were too much for Bairstow who failed to hit a four from the 21 balls he faced, but England will hope he learned from the exposure gained playing international cricket in such a tight corner.

The Pakistan innings had been squeezed by Graeme Swann’s three for 13 and they had as much difficulty reading Jade Dernbach’s slower balls as England have endured trying to pick Ajmal.

The heavy traffic signalling the start of the Dubai weekend meant many supporters were not in the ground as Awais Zia, the debutant Pakistan opening batsman, gave the match a rollicking start by taking on Steven Finn, the best bowler in the one-day series. He tried and failed to smash his first ball in international cricket for six , hit his third for four over mid off and pulled Finn in his second over for six. Finn was furious as his first two overs cost 23. But he was also clever, dismissing Zia with a slower ball.

Mohammad Hafeez and Asad Shafiq appeared comfortable until the ninth over when England regained control as Pakistan slumped 68 for one to 73 for five. Shafiq was given out run out by Swann, a close call which changed the complexion of the innings. Swann picked up a throw at the bowlers’ end and in trying to flick it back to the stumps, his elbow knocked off the bails. The laws state the arm of the hand holding the ball up to the shoulder is considered “live” and Shafiq was out, although he looked stunned when the news came up on the big screen.

Two balls later Hafeez swept to the man at deep midwicket and in his next over Swann picked up a double wicket maiden.

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Rohit Sharma helps India secure ttwweennttyy victory in South Africa despite heroic Morne de Wijk

Pushing: Rohit Sharma hit 53 runs off the coast of 34 balls as the India 168-6 in the ttwweennttyy unique game against southern Photo Africa: GETTY IMAGES

A brilliant sleeve from 67 of Morne van Wijk was insufficient help South Africa claim victory as the Proteas fell to a 21 - run in India defeat in their international ttwweennttyy at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

The first game broke five furnaces and five sixes in his 39-ball knock taken hosts a departure sound in their pursuit of 169, despite the loss of Hashim Amla (one) and Colin Ingram (two) at an advantageous price.

Van Wijk formed a partnership of 57 - run rapid with AB De Villiers but South Africa still have difficulty once the latter has been executed, finally evil to 147 to nine of their allocated 20 overs.

De Villiers Van Wijk was joined with the score of 31 for two, but the pair added 57 bale only 27 apparently put the Proteas in control, Van Wijk move past its 50 with six has beaten off casually Ashwin Ravi.

But the turn occurs when De Villiers was crushed 14 in the 10th.

Van Wijk struck Cosmo Singh to the right of Ashish Nehra coverage limit, but quickly transmitted paceman Suresh Raina ball coverage as drummer returned for two and its direct launch saw De Villiers taken far away from his way to make it 88 for three.

And things are quickly pires for side House as JP Duminy IPN pinned by Cosmo without marking to 89 for four.

Van Wijk was the next-leg as he hit a Praveen Kumar delivery directly to Nehra, leaving David Miller and the captain Johan Botha in an attempt to reconstruct the sleeves.

Botha put 25 22 bullets offshore there little help from the other end Miller went IPN to Yusuf Pathan (two for 22) for 10 and Robin Peterson went for two to 120 for seven.

Botha and Wayne Parnell had little choice but to hit with stick side after having fallen well behind the required rate and Parnell went to 14, like another attempt success went directly to Pathan to deep leg square off the coast of the bowling of Ashwin.

Chosen Botha Rohit Sharma border Nehra (two for 22) offshore in the final with pair of last-wicket of Rusty Theron and Makhaya Ntini manage one piece as the Proteas came well short.

Former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni chose to bat with Sharma at the forefront with 53 of bullets only 34 in their 168 for six.

Opener Virat Kohli (28) had assisted tourists to get off a good start, while 41 Raina goes 23 deliveries has helped maintain trails flowing towards the end of the sleeve.

Parnell is the choice of Bowling for the South Africa with numbers one per 25 of its four overs.

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Yorkshire hang on for draw with Sussex despite Monty Panesar haul at Hove

Sussex's Monty Panesar claimed his first five-wicket haul of the season but Gary Ballance led a determined rearguard action to earn Yorkshire a draw in their LV= County Championship Division One clash at Hove.

Panesar claimed five for 89 - the second five-wicket haul of his Sussex career - but Zimbabwean Ballance batted for more than four hours for his unbeaten 73 to steer Yorkshire to safety on 314 for eight, a lead of 39 when the players shook hands.

Yorkshire began the day still 246 behind and their hopes of survival looked slim, but Andrew Gale and Anthony McGrath survived for 70 minutes although skipper Gale was badly dropped at third slip by Kirk Wernars off fellow South African Wayne Parnell.

McGrath looked to be settling in for a long vigil but having hit eight fours and helped add 53 in 15 overs with his captain, he played fatally back to Panesar's arm ball in the 29th over for 44. McGrath has yet to lodge a Championship half-century this season.

Panesar, exploiting some rough on a wearing pitch, struck again 15 balls before lunch when Gale, who never looked comfortable against the left-arm spin, was bowled around his legs.

Jonny Bairstow refused to be tied down, though, and either side of lunch he took the attack back to Panesar with some impressive drives on both sides of the wicket.

He struck Panesar for successive fours to move to his half-century and then Panesar conceded 18 runs in one over including two wides as his control briefly deserted him.

Yorkshire scored 58 in nine overs after lunch as left-hander Ballance joined Bairstow in a fifth-wicket stand of 78 in 18 overs.

But Bairstow played one aggressive shot too many and was caught off a top-edged sweep by Wernars, running in from the square-leg boundary, to give Panesar his third wicket. His 76 contained 14 fours and a six.

Ballance settled for long periods of watchful defence, both against the spin of Panesar and Chris Nash's off breaks, and then stood firm when Sussex took the second new ball.

Panesar returned to remove Adil Rashid with the first ball after tea after he helped Ballance add 68 in 20 overs for the sixth wicket, the otherwise inconsistent Amjad Khan trapped Ajmal Shahzad lbw and when Panesar bowled Ryan Sidebottom through the gate there were still 15 overs remaining for Sussex to take the remaining two wickets and force victory.

But number 10 Steve Patterson survived 41 balls with Ballance as Yorkshire stopped the rot after successive away defeats in the Championship. Ballance's 73 came from 207 balls, with eight fours and two sixes.

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Yorkshire hang on for the draw with Sussex despite Monty Panesar haul at Hove

Monty Panesar of Sussex claimed his first five-window of the season haul, but Gary Ballance led a fighting a rearguard battle determined to win a match in Yorkshire, zero in their LV = County Championship Division One at Hove clash.

Panesar claimed five for 89 - second haul of five-one-stop of his career for Sussex - but Zimbabwean Ballance sheds for more than four hours for his invincibility 73 guide Yorkshire security on 314 for eight, ahead by 39 when the players shook hands.

Yorkshire began the day still 246 behind and their hopes of survival looked slim, but Andrew Gale and Anthony McGrath survived for 70 minutes but skipper Gale is badly dropped at third slip by Kirk Wernars fellow South African Wayne Parnell.

McGrath sought to be settling in for a long vigil but having hit eight legs and helped add 53 in 15 overs with the captain, he played fatally back in the arms of Panesar ball in the 29th over 44. McGrath has yet to file a half-century of championship this season.

Panesar, operate some rough field port, struck again 15 balls before lunch when the Gale, who never looked comfortable against the spin of left arm, was overthrown around his legs.

Jonny Bairstow refused to be chained, however, and on each side of the lunch he resumed Panesar attack with some impressive drives on both sides of the wicket.

He hit Panesar for ovens successive move its half century and then Panesar conceded 18 runs in one on whose two wides that his control briefly abandoned.

Yorkshire scored 58 on nine overs after lunch left-hander Ballance joins Bairstow in a stand of fifth-window of 78 in 18 overs.

But Bairstow played one too many turned aggressive and has been a top by Wernars edged scanning, linking the border square-leg to give Panesar his third wicket. His 76 contained 14 fours and a six.

Ballance settled for long periods of defence vigilance, both against the spin of Panesar and Chris Nash breaks offshore and was then strong in the second new ball Sussex.

Panesar returns to remove Adil Rashid with the first ball after tea after he helped Ballance add overs 68 20 for the sixth wicket, the otherwise incompatible Amjad Khan trapped Ajmal Shahzad IPN and when inverted Panesar Ryan Sidebottom through the gate were still 15 overs remaining for Sussex to take two wickets remaining and to force the victory.

But number 10 Steve Patterson has survived 41 balls with Ballance Yorkshire stopped the rot after defeats successive away in the Championship. 73 Of Ballance came from 207 balls, with eight legs and two sixes.

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Warwickshire succumb to Northamptonshire despite fluent 88 from Ian Bell

 Follow the Bear: Warwickshire's Ian Bell reverse sweeps the ball for four runs against Northants Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Ian Bell’s decision to have an extra innings before the first Test against Sri Lanka was rewarded with a fluent 88, but it was not enough to prevent Northamptonshire preserving the last unbeaten record in county cricket this season.

Bell was supposed to play no one day cricket before the Cardiff Test but requested permission by the England management to play here because he had little chance to find form on a sub-standard championship pitch at Edgbaston last week.

This was a much better surface and Bell made the most of it, picking up where he left off last season when he a century in the final against Somerset, with a beautifully paced 101 ball innings.

Bell’s fourth wicket stand of 158 with Mohammad Yousuf should have laid the foundations for a Warwickshire win but the champions collapsed, losing their last seven wickets for 45, after Bell was run out scrambling a single to Stephen Peters at point.

Panic set in after Chaminda Vaas snared Yousuf and Darren Maddy perished in consecutive overs and Chris Woakes was kept off strike.

Northamptonshire’s competitive total owed much to Niall O’Brien’s 46-ball 61 and patient innings from David Sales and Rob White which sustained them against improved bowling.Ends

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Warwickshire succumb to Northamptonshire despite 88 commonly Ian Bell

Follow the bear: Ian Bell to the Warwickshire reverse sweeps the ball for four goes against Northants Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Decision of Ian Bell to have an extra innings before the first Test against Sri Lanka was rewarded with a fluent 88, but it was not enough to prevent the Northamptonshire preserving the last unbeaten record in this season county cricket.

Bell was supposed to play zero day prior to the Cardiff test cricket, but requested by the Directorate of England to play here because he had little chance of finding the form field a poor Championship at Edgbaston last week.

It is a much better surface and Bell has been the largest, picking up where he left off the coast of last season when he a century in the final against Somerset, with an innings of 101 ball beautifully stimulated.

Fourth desk stand of 158 with Mohammad Yousuf Bell should have laid the foundations for a victory, in Warwickshire but champions have collapsed, losing their last seven wickets for 45, after the Bell has been out of print single scrambling to Stephen Peters at the point.

Panic in after Chaminda Vaas captured Yousuf and Darren Maddy died in consecutive overs and Chris Woakes remained off the coast of the strike.

Total competitive Northamptonshire owes much to sleeves 61 and patients 46-ball to Niall O'Brien David sales and Rob White, who has suffered against improved bowling.Ends

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Ricky Ponting backed as Australia captain despite abject series in India

 Down but not out: Ricky Ponting remains 'the best man' for the job of Australia's cricket captain, says coach Tim Nielsen Photo: AFP

Former Australia bowler Geoff Lawson called for Ponting to be removed as captain, while Shane Warne questioned his fielding placements during the second Test at Bangalore.

Nielsen said: "While we haven't had some of the results we would have liked, there's no doubt in my mind, or anybody's mind inside the group, that Ricky is the right man to lead the team.

"There is nobody better in Australian cricket or world cricket to lead this side. As the captain of this team and the leader of our group, he does a great job in keeping a consistent outlook on things.

"It is certainly not a time to be panicking. I can't think of a better person to be leading a group through a few ups and downs."

Speaking about the last-gasp, one-wicket loss in the first Test, the coach said: "We were probably one ball away from having a great Test match result at Mohali and I wonder if all these things would have been talked about if that was the case."

On the remarks made by Lawson and Warne, Nielsen said he expected past players to pass comment, but that he believed they need to be more careful with what they say.

"People are entitled to their opinions," Nielsen added. "I don't think we can sit here and expect past players not to talk about us.

"That's one of the rights they have as one of the 416 who have represented this country.

"You respect that past players have an understanding of what the game entails and how difficult the Test match arena is. I just hope, at times, they take a breath before they talk and have a think about what they maybe felt like under pressure."

Australia, who have slipped to fifth place in the Test rankings, will now meet India for a three-match one-day international series starting on Sunday, with the first match to be played in Kochi.

The No 1-ranked ODI side will be without many leading names, including Ponting. Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Michael Hussey, Tim Paine, Steve Smith and Nathan Hauritz are the only members of the Test squad in the 50-over party.

The hosts have also rested Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Pragyan Ojha. Pace bowler Ishant Sharma will also miss the series due to a minor injury.

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