Pakistan thrash dismal England

Date released: 19 January 2012

Umar Gul was Pakistan's hero as they beat England in Dubai

England crashed to a dismal 10-wicket defeat in Dubai, as Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal inspired Pakistan to victory over the world's number one ranked Test side.

Gul finished with four wickets while Ajmal completed his second ten-wicket haul in Tests, dismissing Graeme Swann to end England's second innings.

Andrew Strauss' side's hopes of a miraculous turnaround in the second innings, after conceding a deficit of 146, were quickly scuppered as the top order succumbed to a brilliant opening spell from Gul.

The seamer, who finished with figures of 4-63, dismissed openers Strauss and Alastair Cook before tempting Kevin Pietersen into a rash hook to reduce the tourists to 25-3.

He then returned to claim the wicket of Jonathan Trott, England's top scorer with 49, to round off a superb display of fast bowling.

Gul was backed up wonderfully by spinners Ajmal (3-42) and Abdur Rehman (3-37), who once again succeeded in tying down the England top order.

Ian Bell fell victim to the Ajmal doosra for the second time in the match, while Eoin Morgan edged Rehman through to wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal, who had earlier frustrated England with an innings of 61.

Swann, who took four wickets in Pakistan's innings, played a counter-attacking innings of 39 - which included a huge slog-swept six off Rehman - to ensure Pakistan had to bat again.

Their token chase of 15 lasted just 3.4 overs though, as Misbah-ul-Haq's side condemned England to their most chastening defeat since losing to the West Indies in Jamaica in 2009.