London, August 17:

Pakistani pacemen Mohammed Asif and Umar Gul blasted away England’s first innings on the first day of the fourth Test on Thursday, dismissing the home team for a meager 173 at The Oval. Pakistan were 96-1 at close with Imran Farhat unbeaten on 57 and Mohammed Yousuf batting on 12.

Earlier, Asif tore through England’s batting with impressive figures of 4-56 and Umar Gul took 4- 47.

Alastair Cook top scored with 40, captain Andrew Strauss hit 38 and wicketkeeper Chris Read hit an attractive 33 on a lively wicket that offered assistance to Pakistan’s bowlers, especially early in the day.

England has already won the series 2-0 and Pakistan were a transformed team, fielding sharply and enjoying the return of Asif, who missed the first three matches of the series with an elbow injury.

The first session of the day was restricted to less than an hour because of rain and England went in to an early lunch on 27-0. Asif transformed the innings in the second session with an 11-ball burst of three wickets for four runs, dismissing Strauss, big hitter Kevin Pietersen for a first-ball duck and Paul Collingwood for 5.

Opener Marcus Tresco-thick edged a delivery by Gul to Mohammed Hafeez at gully. Cook, looking for his third century of the series, batted stylishly but was trapped leg before for Shahid Nazir’s only wicket.

SCOREBOARD:

ENGLAND — 1st Innings

M Trescothick c Hafeez b Gul 6

A Strauss c Akmal b Asif 38

A Cook lbw b Nazir 40

K Pietersen c Akmal b Asif 0

P Collingwood lbw b Asif 5

I Bell lbw b Kaneria 9

C Read b Gul 33

S Mahmood b Gul 15

M Hoggard c Akmal b Asif 4

S Harmison not out 8

M Panesar b Gul 0

Extras: 15 (7nb, 4b, 4b)

Total: 173

FoW: 1-36, 2-54, 3-54, 4-64, 5-99, 6-112, 7-158, 8-163, 9-173

Pakistan bowling: Asif 19-5-56-4, Gul 15.2-2-47-4, Nazir 11-1-44-1, Kaneria 8-1-18-1

Pakistan — 1st Innings

M Hafeez retired hurt 8

I Farhat not out 57

Y Khan c Read b Mahmood 9

M Yousuf not out 12

Extras:10 (lb 1, w 6, nb 3)

Total: 96/1

FoW: 1-70

England bowling: Hoggard 9-0-29-0, Harmison 6-1-38-0, Mahmood 6-1-24-1, Panesar 1-0-4-0