Charmed life for Trescothick as England prosper

LEEDS, England, Aug 7 (Reuters) Marcus Trescothick led a charmed life during an unbroken century-stand with fellow opener Andrew Strauss to give England the perfect start to their second innings on the fourth morning of the third test against Pakistan today.

Trescothick, struggling for any sort of form, somehow contrived his best score of the series as England lunched on 121 without loss, for an overall lead of 98.

Strauss, in contrast, looked in majestic form on a Headingley pitch showing the first signs of variable bounce, reaching 54, the same score as his partner, at the break.

The two left-handers had resumed on three without loss after Pakistan had taken a 23-run lead following their first-innings total of 538. England lead the four-match series 1-0.

Rarely can a test batsman have played worse than Trescothick in the first hour and prospered more, yet it was hard not to admire his determination to continue playing his shots despite his lack of fluency.

His first life came in the third over of the day when, on six, he swished airily at a lifting leg-side delivery from Mohammad Sami.

The nick flew to Kamran Akmal's right but the wicketkeeper dropped the chance after half-heartedly thrusting out one hand.

Five balls and one run later Trescothick enjoyed an outrageous slice of luck. Beaten repeatedly outside off stump by Umar Gul, he finally got an edge only for the hapless Akmal to grass the most routine of chances as his team mates began to celebrate around him.

KEPT GOING Trescothick kept on going for his shots -- on 21 he edged Sami between second and third slip in the air and on 29 he drove him just short of extra cover, prompting the exasperated bowler to exchange a few words -- and the runs continued to flow, with 65 off the first 10 overs.

Strauss, meanwhile, was batting beautifully, middling a series of cuts and whipped drives to leg. His one error, missing a straight ball from Danish Kaneria which hit him on the front pad, ended with Billy Doctrove ruling in the batsman's favour.

The England captain's response was to sweep a series of fours off the leg spinner.

The two shots of the session, however, came from his fellow left-hander. Trescothick suddenly seemed to recall where his bat and feet belonged and blitzed a return drive past Gul to the fence, then sent Kaneria over long-off for six.

Trescothick completed his morning by playing a delivery from medium-fast bowler Shahid Nazir into the ground only for the ball to spin back and bounce over his stumps.

REUTERS AY KP1830