Strauss shows way before rain blights start of test

LONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters) England, seeking their third successive win over Pakistan, reached 27 without loss before rain cut short the opening session of the fourth and final test at The Oval today.

Andrew Strauss was on 22 not out with Marcus Trescothick on four.

Pakistan, seeking a face-saving victory after heavy defeats at Old Trafford and Headingley, sent down just eight overs in the morning. The first break of play came after two deliveries and the second downpour sent the players into an early lunch.

Pakistan showed their intent by opting to bowl first in murky conditions. Sides usually bat first at The Oval but Inzamam-ul-Haq clearly gambled on his remodelled bowling attack making an early breakthrough in the helpful conditions.

Mohammad Asif, back in the side after injury, and Umar Gul responded by seaming several deliveries past the outside edge, troubling Trescothick in particular.

The out-of-form left-hander survived a fourth-ball lbw appeal against Asif and was then hit on the chest by Gul as he tried to sway away from a lifter.

Strauss, though, looked clinical from the start, clipping Gul off his legs to open his account and then glancing Asif for four to fine leg.

He continued dealing in boundaries, a trademark square drive followed by a rasping straight drive off Asif and a pull off Gul as the England captain rattled along at a run a ball.

Strauss made a match-winning century, his second of the series, to set up England's 167-win at Headingley. Trescothick made just one half-century in the first three tests.

England fielded the same side that clinched the series at Headingley. Pakistan made three changes, bringing in the 23-year-old Asif for Mohammad Sami and also opting for a new batting opening partnership in Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat.

REUTERS PM HT1800