England make steady start

England safely negotiated a stop-start morning session at the Brit Oval after being asked to bat first by Pakistan.

Despite the miserable weather forecast, play got under way on time and eight overs were possible by the time the players were driven from the field for the second time shortly after midday. As rain continued to fall umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove decided to take an early lunch at 12.50pm.

England had reached 27 without loss, with captain Andrew Strauss (22 not out) dominating the scoring. Fellow opener Marcus Trescothick struggled somewhat, getting beaten regularly outside the off-stump and surviving a vociferous leg-before appeal early in the innings.

Just two balls were bowled by the returning Mohammad Asif to Trescothick before the first of the forecast showers halted play for half an hour.

The drizzle stopped minutes after the players departed the middle and umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove surveyed the ground before deciding the action should resume at 11.35am.

When it did Asif struck Trescothick on the front pad with the second delivery after the resumption - but Hair turned down the appeal after judging the ball would pass over the top of the stumps.

Trescothick took 14 balls to get off the mark and dealt in singles in his unbeaten four.