LONDON, 20 August 2006 — England, needing to score 331 to avoid an innings defeat against rejuvenated Pakistan, closed on 78 for one after a rain-affected third day of the fourth and final Test yesterday.

Captain Andrew Strauss was 37 not out, with Alastair Cook undefeated on 33 as Pakistan heaped further humiliation on the home side at the Oval.

Marcus Trescothick continued his wretched run, caught behind for four off paceman Mohammad Asif. The left-handed opener has totaled 135 runs in the series at an average of 19.28.

England, despite a blundering performance in all departments, are sure of winning the series after victories in the second and third Tests.

Pakistan, replying to the home side’s first innings 173, earlier resumed on 336 for three and batted through several rain interruptions before being bowled out for 504.

Mohammad Yousuf top-scored with 128 although he never regained the fluency he displayed on Friday.

His statistics form a striking contrast with those of Trescothick.

Fourth in the world rankings, Yousuf has made 631 runs in England, including innings of 202 and 192, at an average of 90.14. He has compiled 1,123 test runs in 2006, more than any other player. Steve Harmison swept up the Pakistan tail with two wickets in three balls to finish with four for 125 while Matthew Hoggard took three for 124.

Hoggard deserved far more, dismissing three of the top four batsmen and having three catches dropped. Harmison deserved far less, spraying the ball in all directions.

His wickets took his series tally to 20 but he looked out of sorts for long spells, only coming to life in the afternoon after having skipper Inzamam ul-Haq caught at second slip for 31.

Harmison suddenly found an extra yard of pace as well as a sense of direction, removing Kamran Akmal in similar fashion for 15. That gave him two wickets for one run in 15 balls.

In the 46 overs before removing Inzamam, a barren run going back to the third Test at Headingley, the lanky strike bowler from Durham had failed to take a single wicket.

If Harmison needed inspiration, he should have watched the 24-year-old Asif.

Asif, in only his sixth Test, produced a masterclass of seam and reverse-swing bowling in England’s first innings and shone again at the start of the second, leaving Pakistan fans wondering what might have been if he had not missed the first three matches with an elbow problem.

India-Sri Lanka One-Dayer

Abandoned Once Again

In Colombo, heavy rain washed out the first limited-overs One-Day International between India and Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club yesterday.

A sharp thundershower around 10.30 a.m. (0500 GMT) waterlogged the outfield and forced the game to be called off an hour later.

The remaining two matches will be played today and Tuesday at the same venue, weather permitting.

India were due to resume at Friday’s score of 11-0 in 3.4 overs with captain Rahul Dravid on nine and Sachin Tendulkar, returning to international cricket after five months, on two.

Just 16 minutes play was possible on Friday due to rain and match referee Chris Broad had ruled play would resume at that score yesterday.

The three-match series has been organized in lieu of the tri-series that was canceled on Wednesday after South Africa pulled out due to security reasons.

“It is obviously not the ideal situation,” said Dravid. “It is frustrating sitting in hotel rooms with nothing to do but one really does not have control over the weather.