Cricket-Harmison and Panesar put England in control

MANCHESTER, England, July 27 (Reuters) Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar gave England an excellent start as Pakistan stumbled to 93 for four at lunch on the first morning of the second test at Old Trafford today.

The touring side appeared to have battled back to parity after losing two early wickets only for Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan to throw away their wickets just before the break.

Yousuf, who made a double century in the opening test, had hit six fours during an 81-run stand for the third wicket with Younis when he looked to glide Panesar's fourth ball towards third man.

Instead he feathered a catch behind to Geraint Jones. after scoring 38.

Three balls later, in the final over of the session, Younis slashed wildly at a short ball from Harmison and was caught in the gully by Paul Collingwood after making 44.

Harmison had figures of 7-3-14-3 at lunch, with Panesar one for one from his single over. The first test of the four-match series was drawn.

Harmison also dominated the opening half hour. He and Hoggard posed contrasting threats but it was the giant Durham bowler who quickly uprooted both openers as Pakistan limped to nine for two after six overs.

While Hoggard repeatedly beat the bat with his luckless, metronomic outswingers, Harmison hurried up the batsmen with a mixed bag of deliveries before taking two wickets in eight balls without conceding a run.

Both Pakistan batsmen failed to get forward and edged to the cordon, Imran Farhat slicing a drive to gully without scoring while Kamran Akmal, promoted up the order, managed a single boundary through the slips before he edged to slip.

Wicketkeeper Jones did his best to put Marcus Trescothick off by diving across him but Trescothick kept his focus to take the catch.

Harmison was rested after taking two for six off five overs and Younis and Yousuf began to look more comfortable as the shine came off the ball.

There were a few dangerous moments. Younis inside-edged over his stumps before getting to double figures while Yousuf, driving at a wide delivery from Sajit Mahmood, was dropped by the diving Alastair Cook in the gully.

But both batsmen looked well set before suddenly losing both their heads and their wickets.

REUTERS DH RS1758