Inzamam hails Pakistan win

MULTAN – Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was delighted with his team’s 22-run win over England on a dramatic fifth and final day of the first test yesterday.

“It was a very important victory for us,” said Multan-born Inzamam at the after-match presentation ceremony. “It was difficult to defend a lead of 197 in the last innings but we decided in the team meeting that we would fight hard.”To beat England in Pakistan is fantastic for Pakistan,” added Inzamam after being introduced as the sultan of Multan.Opening batsman Salman Butt was named man of the match for his scores of 74 and 122.”That was the best I have played,” said left-hander Butt.”They (England) are a good side but we were confident after working very hard over the last 12 months.I would love to carry this form into the next test (at Faisalabad starting on Sunday).”Acting captain Marcus Trescothick acknowledged that England’s batting had failed on the final day.”We didn’t get enough runs today,” said Trescothick, who stood in as skipper for knee-injury victim Michael Vaughan in this match.Trescothick top-scored in the match with his first-innings 193.- Nampa-Reuters”It was difficult to defend a lead of 197 in the last innings but we decided in the team meeting that we would fight hard.”To beat England in Pakistan is fantastic for Pakistan,” added Inzamam after being introduced as the sultan of Multan.Opening batsman Salman Butt was named man of the match for his scores of 74 and 122.”That was the best I have played,” said left-hander Butt.”They (England) are a good side but we were confident after working very hard over the last 12 months.I would love to carry this form into the next test (at Faisalabad starting on Sunday).”Acting captain Marcus Trescothick acknowledged that England’s batting had failed on the final day.”We didn’t get enough runs today,” said Trescothick, who stood in as skipper for knee-injury victim Michael Vaughan in this match.Trescothick top-scored in the match with his first-innings 193.- Nampa-Reuters