Gough captures his 200th test wicket

London, May 20: Pakistan were battling to avoid the follow-on at lunch on the fourth day of the first test on Sunday after England pace bowler Darren Gough seized his 200th test wicket.

Gough, the eighth Englishman to reach the mark, took two of the four wickets to fall in the morning session, leaving the touring team on 203 for eight and still needing 39 to avoid the danger of being forced to bat again.

Pakistan, resuming on 115 for four in reply to England's first innings of 391 after the first day was washed out by rain, had added just one run before a disconsolate Yousuf Youhana was dismissed.

Youhana, who made two centuries in the home series against England last year, was trapped lbw for 26 by Gough as he shuffled forward to the 17th ball of the morning.

Younis Khan, however, responded to the loss of his partner with a series of attacking strokes, pulling Gough to the square leg fence, driving Andrew Caddick through mid-on to bring up the 150, then snatching a single to complete his 50 off 78 balls, including eight fours.

All-rounder Azhar Mahmood, fresh from taking four wickets in the England innings, also started positively with a boundary off Gough.

On 14, however, he became Caddick's fourth victim, the ball catching the shoulder of the bat and being caught by a sprawling Marcus Trescothick as he ran back from second slip.

That made it 153 for six, and not long afterwards Younis played slightly across a delivery from Dominic Cork and was bowled for 58.

Wasim Akram (19 not out) and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif had put on 36 from 43 balls before Latif was caught behind down the leg side off Gough on the stroke of lunch, giving the Yorkshire bowler figures of three for 61. Caddick had four for 52.

England were being captained by Alec Stewart after Nasser Hussain was ruled out of the rest of the two-test series on Saturday, having broken his right thumb while batting.

The second test starts at Old Trafford on May 31 before the two sides take part in a triangular one-day series also involving Australia.