By Sam Hathaway
September 9 2006

Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss' innings guided England to a convincing victory over Pakistan. 86 from Bell and 78 from the captain put England in the driving seat with 8 wickets remaining. Debutant Michael Yardy was the most impresssive with the ball as he took 3-24.

Jon Lewis began from where he left off from the last game with another very good bowling display managing some sharp away swing and claiming 2-49. The amount of runs he conceded didn't reflect his bowling performance as he was harshly 'smacked' by Abdul Razzaq as Pakistan's innnings came to a close.

Sajid Mahmood was good early on but didn't really find his feet in his second spell. Allrounder Jamie Dalrymple was impressive again but only claimed 1 wicket after he caught and bowled Inzamam-ul-Haq who miss timed his shot.

Young star Stuart Broad managed the wicket of Shoaib Akhtar but only bowled 7 overs.

Michael Yardy was the star for England with the ball. The left arm spinner was getting grip, turn and bounce out of the pitch and was really troubling the Pakistan batsman. Andrew Strauss dropped a slip catch off his bowling but shortly made up for it after catching Kamran Akmal.

England had a scare at the end as Razzag hit continuous sixes off Mahmood and Lewis as Pakistan ended on 235-8.

Englands batsman would need a good start with Joyce and Strauss looking confident. But Joyce fell on the dreaded 13 mark but Bell cae in and steadied the ship with his skipper. Bell played some classy shots right out of the text book on the way to 86 and Strauss backed him up well before he fell.

Impressive Bell and Kevin Pietersen eased England to victory with 8 wickets to spare.