England wary before second clash with Pakistan

England captain Nasser Hussain warned against complacency Thursday ahead of the second one-day clash with Pakistan and urged supporters not over-react to his team's winning form.

"The win against Pakistan was satisfying but we must not get complacent as Pakistan is a phenomenal side and can always bounce back," he said. England enter the second one-dayer here Friday with a 1-0 lead in the three-match series by virtue of their gritty five-wicket win in Karachi on Tuesday.

"We may be winning but it's a gradual process and we must not take Pakistan easily," Hussain said. England supporters have reason to expect miracles from the team after they overcame sizzling conditions and the home advantage in Karachi to easily reach Pakistan's daunting target of 305, helped by a swashbuckling 84 from Andrew Flintoff.

The visitors have won six of their last eight limited-overs games with a tripartite tournament victory back home against the West Indies and Zimbabwe in July.

"It was just one game against Pakistan and there are still two to be played," Hussain said. England kept pressure on Pakistan's bowling with Hussain, Graham Thorpe and Graeme Hick hitting half centuries besides Flintoff's career best innings.

Hussain said he was "feeling alright" after twisting his ankle but would have to pass a fitness test before taking to the field Friday. Pakistan captain Moin Khan said the second match was a do-or-die affair for his team, which has lost two of their last three one-day series at home.

"We will have to go all-out in the match. We must not let go of this chance," Khan said. Pakistan's bowling, always their strong point, received some stick in the first match with seamers Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Abdur Razzak conceding 196 in 28 overs.

Spinners Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed also failed to exploit the English batsmen's weaknesses, taking just one wicket between them.

"We can't blame the bowlers for the loss. They have won us several matches. I think conditions were wet and that made the ball heavy," Khan said.

Pakistan may squeeze in allrounders Azhar Mahmood and Shahid Afridi for Friday's match, which is another sell-out. Mahmood missed the first match because of wrist injury.

Mail Cricket Editor