Pakistan lose by record margin

—Corruption allegations overshadow game

LONDON,  (Reuters) – England completed a crushing  innings and 225 run victory over Pakistan in the fourth and  final test at Lord’s yesterday on a morning overshadowed by  corruption allegations.

Police arrested a 35-year-old man on Saturday after a  British newspaper said Pakistan players had been involved in  spot fixing, the illegal practice of manipulating incidents  within the course of the match.

In an innings in keeping with an unusual game, Umar Akmal smashed 79 not out from 68 balls including two sixes in a total of 147.

He shared a last-wicket partnership of 50 with Mohammad Asif, who contributed only one, but still could not prevent Pakistan tumbling to the biggest test defeat.

England won the series 3-1 after dominating the first two tests before they were defeated by four wickets in the third  match at the Oval. Pakistan, who played six tests in seven  weeks, drew 1-1 with Australia earlier in the season.

Pakistan resumed at 41 for four in their second innings before a scattering of spectators on a dull, overcast day.

They left their north London hotel late yesterday morning and did not take part in the usual team warm-up before play  began.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann, who took four for 12 in Pakistan’s  first innings of 74, was again the destroyer with five for 62.

DOWNBEAT STRAUSS

Swann bowled Azhar Ali for 12 and Mohammad Amir for a duck as three wickets fell in the space of 11 balls.

Wahab Riaz was caught by Kevin Pietersen at mid-on off Swann  without scoring before Akmal flourished with a frenetic innings  including a huge six over long-on in his first half-century of  the series.

Stuart Broad, who scored 169 in a world-record eighth-wicket  stand of 332 with Jonathan Trott (184) on Saturday, was named as  England’s man-of-the-match.

Trott was England’s man-of-the-series while 18-year-old  Mohammad Amir won the man-of-the-series award for Pakistan.

Amir, 18, became the youngest bowler to reach 50 test  wickets when he captured six for 84 in England’s first innings.

However, he was one of the players named in the newspaper  article and on Sunday tour manager Yawar Saeed said he had been  questioned by police and his phone had been confiscated.

“I don’t think anyone wants to finish a Test series in this  scenario,” said England captain Andrew Strauss.

“It has taken the gloss off the series win which is very  disappointing because we had some outstanding performances.

“The partnership by Trott and Broad is the best I’ve seen in  an England team and we followed it up with our bowling.

“It’s been a hard-fought series and it’s nice to win it but  not in these circumstances.”