BIRMINGHAM, England: In-form England cruised to an emphatic nine-wicket win over Pakistan in the second test at Edgbaston on Monday to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott each scored an unbeaten 53 to guide England past a modest victory target of 118 with a minimum of fuss in the afternoon session of the fourth day.
England has now won six straight tests as the team gears up for the defence of its Ashes crown in Australia, which starts in November, but captain Strauss insisted that victory at Edgbaston had not been entirely comfortable.
"It's a reminder that test cricket is a tough game and you don't have everything go your way all the time," he said.
"Batting on the second day was very tough and I think the way Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott played made a massive difference in the context of the game. A large first innings lead was crucial."
Pakistan's struggles continue, however. Since a shock win over Australia at Headingley last month, Salman Butt's team has suffered two humiliating defeats by England.
Pakistan cannot play matches at home due to security issues and although it managed to draw its "home" series against Australia 1-1 — played at neutral venues in England — it was whitewashed by the same opponents on a disastrous 2009-2010 tour.
Although the tourists had threatened a dramatic comeback on Sunday when they recovered from 82-5, inspired by Zulqarnain Haider's 88 and 50 from Saeed Ajmal, the overnight pair of Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul added just five on Monday as Pakistan were bowled out for 296 — meaning it has yet to pass 300 in nine test innings since arriving in England.
The innings ended after the 11th ball of the day, when Asif was caught at gully by Kevin Pietersen off Stuart Broad, who finished with figures of 2-66.
Graeme Swann was England's leading bowler, with test-best figures of 6-65.
Mohammad Aamer (1-31) was the only Pakistan bowler to take a wicket in England's second innings, bowling the out-of-form Alastair Cook for four.
But Pakistan had been on the back foot from the opening morning when Butt decided to bat first in difficult conditions and saw his side skittled for 72, its lowest ever total against England.
"It was a difficult decision, but I think it was a positive one," said Butt.
"If we'd made 180 or even held all our chances it would have been even, but I think more than blaming the batsmen you have to give credit to England's bowlers."
Pakistan, as it did in the first test, again struggled in the field, missing a host of chances, a factor which Butt thought was the difference.
"Since we arrived in England there have been glimpses that the side can win," he said. "But we'll need to put on a good show regarding all three aspects of the game — batting, bowling and fielding.
"I think the guys realise you only need to take 20 catches to win a test match so if you drop 14 catches in one match that's more than half."
There was an electrifying start to England's run chase when Aamer ripped out Cook's stumps with the 16th ball of the innings.
Pakistan's bowlers repeatedly passed the edge and in the eighth over Strauss nicked a ball from spinner Ajmal behind, but Haider spilled a difficult chance.
However, Strauss and Trott gradually played themselves in, reaching 71-1 at lunch.
Strauss had another escape in the second over of the afternoon session when Ajmal again found his edge, only for the ball to fly off the tip of Haider's glove.
Pakistan's final chance came and went in the 32nd over, when Strauss charged down the wicket to Shoaib Malik, but his miscued slog just eluded Asif at mid-off.
Strauss reached his 50 from 108 balls with three off Ajmal in the 35th over.
In the next over, Trott drove Malik through the covers to bring up his 50, off 100 balls, and Strauss hit the winning run five balls later with a single from Ajmal to fine leg.
Stuart Broad was fined 50 percent of his match fee on Monday after pleading guilty to a charge of "throwing the ball inappropriately" at Haider during Sunday's afternoon session, but Strauss defended his bowler.
"It didn't look good," Strauss admitted. "Stuart accepts that he's overstepped the mark and he's paid the price for it. It was a one-off incident and I know it wasn't deliberate.
"In general he's been very good this summer, so I've got no real issues with him
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