Cook scores second successive century

MANCHESTER, England, July 28 (Reuters) Alastair Cook scored his second successive century against Pakistan as England increased their first innings lead to 238 with three wickets remaining at tea on the second day of the second test today.

The 21-year-old left-hander made 127 out of a total of 357 for seven at Old Trafford before he became Umar Gul's third victim of the day. He had batted for five hours and 40 minutes, facing 260 balls and hitting 18 fours.

Ian Bell was on 40 not out at tea, with Matthew Hoggard the next man in.

Gul's new ball blast in the afternoon allowed Pakistan to dominate their first session since being dismissed for a dismal 119 on the first day, But by then the home side were already well clear.

England had resumed the day on 168 for two and lost Kevin Pietersen off the second legitimate delivery of the day. Having put on 74 with Cook for the third wicket, he failed to add to his overnight 38 before driving at a wide delivery from left-armer Gul and slicing to gully.

Imran Farhat took a sharp catch, dislocating a finger in the process, but that was the only wicket to fall before lunch as England added 104 runs.

Cook, 65 overnight, quietly accumulated while at the same time highlighting the Pakistani batsmen's lack of composure yesterday. He reached his hundred with a nudge past slip off spinner Shahid Afridi, celebrating next ball with a fine square drive for four. It was his third test century in seven matches.

Paul Collingwood added a bit of spice shortly before lunch.

Dancing down to Danish Kaneria, he chipped the leg spinner for six over mid-on to take England's lead beyond 100. Moments later, to the biggest cheer of the afternoon, he produced a carbon-copy which also ended up in the Brian Statham stand.

Pakistan, however, fought back in the afternoon as England slipped from 288 for three to 321 for six. Collingwood went first, a half-hearted pull at Gul ending in square leg's hands and ending his 48-run stay as well as a 119-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Cook was then adjudged lbw to a ball slanted across him and the out-of-form Geraint Jones managed one top-edged six over fine leg before being dismissed lbw by Mohammad Sami.

That left Bell with a four-man tail to protect but Mahmood surprised Pakistan and most of his home crowd with a couple of fine shots before falling to the final ball before tea.

REUTERS DH RS2056