England crumble under Ajmal's off-spin

DUBAI: Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal flummoxed England's batsmen with his off-spin for his career best haul in tests of seven for 55 to dismiss the visitors for 192 on the first day of the opening Test here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

In reply, Pakistan openers Mohammad Hafeez (22) and Taufeeq Umar (18) survived 15 overs from the number one-ranked Test side to finish on 42-0 at the close, 150 runs in arrears.

Ajmal, whose previous best figures were 6-42, bagged his fifth five-wicket haul in Test matches as England were shot out in the last session of the day.

England were reduced to 94 for seven at one stage before Matt Prior (70 not out) and Graeme Swann (34) stemmed the rot with a defiant 57-run stand for the eighth wicket. (Reuters)