Steve Harmison's best Test figures on English soil put his team in total command against Pakistan after an absorbing first day at Old Trafford.

Harmison took 6-19 and Monty Panesar 3-21 after the tourists had elected to bat first on winning the toss.

They were on a solid 90-2 at one point before collapsing to 119 all out in a dramatic period either side of lunch.

And in reply, England reached 168-2, with Alastair Cook making light of an awkward wicket to be unbeaten on 65.

By Martin Gough

"It's a dream-like day for England: a calamity for Pakistan. Everything seemed to go right and England are in a fantastic position. You feel there is no way England can't win this game."
TMS summariser Vic Marks

1821: Pietersen isn't the type to block out the last over and looks to turn Kaneria fine. It runs to the boundary but is given as leg byes. He takes a single off the final ball to make that 119 from the session and the duo jog off after putting England firmly in control.

1819: Afridi's final over sees Cook looking far from comfortable so Pakistan wheel Kaneria out for the last over of the day.

1815: Cook breaks a spell of four overs without a boundary by cutting a wide one from Sami through point.

1810: Cook has a lunge at Afridi but short-leg fielder Butt admits he didn't get to it.

1808: Pietersen aims to turn Sami leg side and gets an edge out towards point, but it falls safely. On the Pakistan balcony, former captain, now bowling coach Waqar Younis is pacing with an expression that says, "If only I were five years younger". According to his birth certificate he's still just 34 but he looks a little more mature.

1803: Afridi continues with six overs left this evening and finds the extra bounce that Panesar exploited earlier but Kaneria seems to have struggled to replicate.

"I feel we're nearing Hoggard time but looking at the balcony I can't see him yet."
Jonathan Agnew keeps watch for the emergence of England's night-watchman

1759: Afridi produces a delivery that keeps incredibly low, but Cook manages to scoop it through midwicket for four to keep this partnership zipping along and take England past 150.

1752: Just when you thought this wicket was becoming more placid, Sami gets extra bounce to clout Pietersen on either the chin or collarbone. KP calls physio Kirk Russell, who checks the batsman's shoulder movement.

1747: Pietersen's onslaught has convinced Pakistan to withdraw Kaneria from the attack. It's time for Afridi, who has some work to do to make up for his dismissal earlier. There's a bit of turn but it's Afridi's zip that tends to get his wickets, rushing batsmen into shots. Pietersen gets a single to bring up the 50 partnership from 69 balls.

1741: Pietersen executes a delicate paddle sweep which stops short of the rope at fine leg but there is no way he will be denied with a thumping cover drive to move to 27.

1736: Cook takes the single to mid on to reach 50 and waves his bat to someone in the crowd before acknowledging the arena as a whole. That half century took 93 balls, 120 minutes and included seven fours.

"The Barmy Army are warming up for the winter and they can move away from our effects microphone as soon as they wish."
TMS commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins is similarly irked

1732: Cook isn't completely at ease against Kaneria, who fools the left-hander with a googly out of the footmarks. He finds the gap in the covers with a drive to move to 49.

1731: Pietersen has a bit of a lucky break as he tries to check a pull but gets a top-edge high over the keeper for four.

1730: Barmy Army, Barmy Army, Barmy Army ...

1729: Sami returns to the attack with the ball now 34 overs old - perhaps they're looking for a little reverse swing.

1725: Pietersen's fondness for reaching milestones with dramatic shots sees him slog-sweep Kaneria for two boundaries in three balls through midwicket to take England past Pakistan's total with half an hour to play tonight. This match is England's to lose now.

1722: Razzaq is bowling well wide of off stump to Cook, looking to tempt the left-hander into something rash despite his Boycottian century at Lord's.

1715: If you missed Cook's last pull shot, that was was almost as good: a flourish of the bat to pick up the ball and a twirl of the wrist to keep it under control through midwicket.

1710: Cook avoided Kaneria for much of that second-wicket stand but when his turn comes he happily drives the spinner through the gap in the cover fielders. He looks a little less assured with a checked push that flies well to the right of the short leg fielder.

1706: Razzaq dishes up a leg-stump half volley which Pietersen uses to get off the mark, driving through midwicket for four. A Razzaq no ball brings England's total up to 100.

1700: Pietersen looks like he is refusing to take strike. He has taken his gloves off and is chatting to Cook in the middle of the wicket. Umpire Taufel takes out his walkie-talkie and it looks like they're asking for hospitality box windows to be opened to stop reflection from the sun. After a five-minute break we're back underway.

WICKET England 95-2 (Strauss 42)
Big Sam has a lot to answer for as a distracted Strauss follows a ball angled across him and gets an edge behind to end a stand of 65. Maybe the football posse are eager to see Kevein Pietersen this evening.

1657: There is a problem with open windows in the hospitality boxes reflecting light. A TV close-up shows Bolton FC manager Sam Allardyce is to blame.

1654: At the request of the batsmen, we are in the middle of a drinks break. Sami is having some physio treatment to his knee or lower thigh - just a little strapping.

1651: That Barmy Army member who bears at least a passing resemblance to Rod Stewart and can be seen at every single Test match is leading the latest chorus. No, it's not Maggy May. It starts, "Everywhere we go ...".

1647: This has the feel of the middle of a one-day international as Strauss and Cook milk singles from Razzaq, whose pace doesn't compare to Harmison's heroics.

1641: Iqbal walks from the field, holding his left forearm. Salman Butt, unlucky to be dropped for this Test, is now unlucky to be asked to field under the helmet. Yousuf, at silly mid off, dons a protective lid too.

1638: Kaneria whirls his elbows in his run-up as if he is struggling to take off his pyjama top. Strauss finally connects with the bat, then connects with the wrist of the fielder at short leg. Faisal Iqbal is the victim and a thudding blow and is now being attended to by the physio.

1637: After three successive maidens there is an ironic cheer as Cook takes tweo off his pads from the last ball of Razzaq's over.

1633: Kaneria is looking for turn out of the footholds to Strauss, who grits his teeth as he prods, pokes and pads.

1630: Razzaq replaces Gul in the attack and makes Cook play and miss with a drive-cum-waft in a maiden over.

1624: Strauss is looking far from comfortable against Kaneria but he plays with soft hands to make sure the edges don't carry.

1621: Cook reaches to drive Gul through the covers, where even a diving Sami can't prevent a boundary. What a shot! Cook pulls just in front of square for four - a shot that must make his school coach, Derek Randall, proud.

1616: Strauss drives Kaneria masterfully through extra cover but Razzaq manages to stop it just before the boundary.Kaneria has three close catchers for Cook but the youngster is undaunted, showing Strauss exactly how to reach the boundary with the cover drive.

1614: Cook's square cut off Gul is meritorious in itself but also impressive because it distracts the Barmy Army from their chant.

1610: "Everywhere we go/People want to know/Who we are/Where we come from". As the team break has offered a chance to top up their plastic pint pots, the Barmy Army are off. Listeners of a more traditional dispostion may want to switch off until the Ashes are over.

1606: Strauss gets a thick edge off Gul for four, another delivery which both sides could see as a victory. Cook plays a little away from his body but still connects nicely to steer past gully to the boundary.

1602: Kaneria continues after the break, turning one in to Cook and appealing despite hitting the pad well outside off.

1558: Umpire Taufel checks out the light as he and Steve Bucknor emerge into the Old Trafford gloom after the break. Pakistan are having another lovey-dovey huddle.

Tea - England 49-1 - Strauss 29, Cook 5

1539: There is just time for another over from Gul before we break out the scones and jam. Gul beats Strauss, or Strauss pulls out of a shot, depending on who you're backing. It's not a pitch you can settle in easily on but England just need to bat for time and the runs will come.

1535: In what is likely to be the last over before tea, Pakistan turn to spin in the form of Danish Kaneria and it will be interesting to see if he can repeat Panesar's success this morning. He pitches the ball up and there is just a little turn to start with. The batsmen swap singles happily.

1531: Gul replaces Sami in the attack, switching to the Stretford End. Strauss pulls for four square along the ground and a lady on the boundary gets a nasty shock as the ball spits up off the rope and hits her on the head.

1524: Sami dishes up a full toss and Strauss takes the boundary with thanks. His next stroke is more orthodox but goes for just two down the ground.

1518: Abdul Razzaq replaces Gul at the Statham End and - if his first Test performance is any guide - England could get away here if Cook settles. The Essex batsman gets off the mark with two on the off side.

WICKET England 30-1 (Trescothick 5)
Sami gets a little more movement and Trescothick's stuttering innings is brought to a close as he follows it and gets an edge behind. Pakistan's fielders gather for a lecture from Big Inz.

1514: Trescothick finally finds some momentum after 16 balls on one, driving a wide one from Sami through the covers.

1511: Strauss unwraps that lovely cover drive again, with Gul the victim.

1505: Trescothick is tempted by a delivery shaping away from him. Akmal appeals for an edge but umpire Taufel is not deceived. A delivery keeps so low that it zips between Akmal's ankles and the keeper kicks the ground in disgust as it goes for four byes.

1501: Gul over-pitches and Strauss delivers a classical cover-drive for four. There is a risk of an inside edge as he gets out to the last ball of the over, though.

1459: Sami spears one in to Trescothick and it doubles him up but passes the bat, and the keeper, on the way for four byes.

1457: Perhaps if Gul delivered something around off stump, the batsmen would have a go. he hasn't so they're not. Both are happy to leave anythign wide.

1452: Gul has struggled so far to locate his line for the left-handers and it gets worse as he over-steps for a no ball, Trescothick getting off the mark with a single.

1449: Strauss chops Sami with the minimum of fuss in front of cover for four but is lucky to survive when he is dropped next ball by third slip Imran Farhat, the villain at Lord's when he put down three chances on the first day.

1443: Umar Gul shares the new ball from the Brian Statham End, starting down the leg side to Andrew Strauss who takes a single. Gul is clocked at 83mph second ball but there's nothing that will shock a batsman.

1439: Sami's second delivery bounces over the top of wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal's head. The keeper jumps and just gets a glove to it as umpire Taufel signals wide. Either Sami is trying to tempt Trescothick into a wild drive or he simply hasn't found his line.

1438: They're back out already and Mohammad Sami is marking out his run-up.

WICKET Pakistan 119 all out (Kaneria 0)
Pietersen gets his throw in this time, Jones collects and dislodges the stumps with Kaneria inches short. A referral to the TV umpire brings the red card from the animated figure on TV and that's it. Pakistan bowled out in 38.4 overs after opting to bat first.

1427: Harmison gets a rousing reception as he retakes his place in the field having completed his fourth haul of six or more in a Test. meanwhile Gul is unlikely to last long against Panesar. He takes a daring single and is lucky when Pietersen misses with a throw from gully. Pakistan 12th man Salman Butt has an umbrella up on the balcony and it has got darker here. WICKET 118-9 (Razzaq 9)Razzaq plays around a ball of blistering pace from Harmison and his middle stump is ripped out of place by the rampant fast bowler, who is clearly back to his best even if the pitch is helping.

1417: Razzaq shows he has regained his compsure with a cool pull for four off his tormentor Harmison. He seems keen to protect Gul, declining a single on the leg side. Harmison beats him outside off stump. maybe Gul could do better.

WICKET 113-8 (Sami 1)Harmison completes his first five-wicket haul for more than a year as Sami has an understandable flash outside off stump and Strauss collects with a hop at second slip.

1408: Harmison hits Sami on the back shin with a low full toss which the batsman clearly had no idea about because he was ducking. The appeal is turned down as it is heading down leg side.

1406: It has been threatened all week that Pakistan bat right down the order, but they don't do what Michael Atherton would describe as"stodge" terribly well. Sami tries to get off the mark pulling Panesar but misses completely and gets a jeer from the Old Trafford faithful.

WICKET 112-7 (Afridi 15)
That was one shot too mant for Afridi, who was looking to smear Panesar over midwicket but instead gets an edge high to Pietersen at gully.

1404: Afridi has clearly decided attack is the best form of defence as he steps down the wicket and lofts Panesar straight into the 12th row of the stand at long on.

1402: Razzaq has a grin on his face, perhaps because he took a real clonk to the head in the last over. He just manages to keep out a fuller delivery from Harmison to end the over.

1357: Fielding at long on, Harmison takes a bottle of isotonic drink and wrings it to get it down his throat more quickly. Afridi decides to sweep Panesar and although there is very little control in either shot there are fours through fine leg and deep midwicket.

1353: Afridi attempts to hook Harmison and coach Bob Woolmer's expression suggests that isn't quite what's required in this situation. He gets off the mark with a defensive push. Harmison welcomes Razzaq with a short one that glances off the side of his helmet. Ian Bell should have a target painted on him at short leg as Razzaq is the latest to edge just wide of him.

1350: Razzaq drives the first runs off Panesar today, just in front of point for four. That's messed up his figures, which read 2-4 now. He turns one past the outside edge to let Razzaq know there won't be easy runs here.

1347: In case you got lost during that frenetic passage of play, Shahid Afridi is the man on strike, with Abdul Razzaq his partner.

WICKET Pakistan 93-6 (Inzamam 0)
It was short from Harmison but the pitch is to blame again, the ball spitting up and taking the shoulder of Inzamam's bat. Pietersen collects a ballooning edge at gully. Harmison's figures currently read 7.1-3-14-4.

WICKET Pakistan 93-5 (Iqbal 3)
Panesar finds the extra bounce again to find Iqbal cutting unwisely, Jones taking a reflex catch to take the thin top-edge.

1340: Panesar resumes after the break in bright sunshine. The first ball finds extra bounce while the second keeps woefully low.

Lunch - Pakistan 93-4 - Inzamam 0, Iqbal 3

"If England could deal with Inzamam, there are some powerful players there still but England have a chance to take a stranglehold."
TMS summariser Vic Marks

1259: Poor Faisal Iqbal won't fancy his lunch much after being squared up by successive balls spitting up at him. Harmison tries a slower ball as his last before the break but it's a full toss and Iqbal gets off the mark with three.

WICKET Pakistan 90-4 (Younis 44)
Harmison returns to the attack and takes a wicket with his first ball. It's a loose one outside off stump but Younis has a waft and Collingwood, moved back out to his favoured position, makes no mistake at third slip.

1253: To steal an idea from one of our message board users, Inzamam most have considered using a lunch-watchman here so he could tuck into his starter but the Pakistan captain has placed his napkin in his pocket to begin work on what could be his 10th consecutive half-century against this opponent.

WICKET Pakistan 90-3 (Yousuf 38)
It's fun now! Yousuf tries to run a straighter delivery to third man but feathers an edge behind to Jones, who joins Panesar in leaping around like a salmon.

1249: There is a cheer as Monty Panesar takes what is becoming a habitual pre-lunch outing at the Statham End. His second delivery turns through about 90 degrees and keeps low! This could be fun later.

1246: Younis executes the first hook of the day, just in front of square for an audacious four. Mahmood digs one in short but Younis manages to steer it effortlessly to the point boundary.

"The pressure on the Pakistan batsmen has evaporated. When Flintoff is absent there is no real solution to get a perfect balance in attack."
Blofeld's current side-kick in the box, Vic Marks

"What England badly need now is a wicket. If England could go into lunch with this partnership broken they would enjoy their lunch more."
TMS commentator Henry Blofeld

1242: Collingwood seems to have found a more consistent line and is shaping the ball away this right-handed duo.

1239: Yousuf just manages to flick a short, testing ball from Mahmood fine of the short leg fielder. The young bowler is producing the occasional brilliant delivery here but there seems to be a four-ball in most overs.

1237: Collingwood's career Test bowling figures so far are 55-10-181-0 and he has shown no sign of being a partnership-breaker yet today.

1227: We had ODI Mahmood for his third over but we're back to Test Mahmood in the fourth as Yousuf gets a short one then is lucky not to be caught at short leg. Oh no, the one-day version is back with a wider delivery, which Yousuf cuts for four, then a fuller one, which is driven through the covers.

1223: Collingwood replaces Hoggard at the Statham End and Younis cuts his first ball into the ground and over third slip for three. The next ball is steered through third man for four but he beats the bat with the third. There is a third man in place by the end of the over. Hoggard's spell brought figures of 9-1-30-0 but he deserved far better with good control and swing away for much of it.

1219: Yousuf cuts Mahmood for four to bring up the Pakistan 50. He edges the next ball but gully fielder Alastair Cook can't hold onto a fizzing chance. Mahmood is steering down the leg side a little to Yousuf, who still doesn't look really comfortable.

1217: It's perhaps time to end Hoggard's spell at nine overs as he drifts leg side and is shoveled for four by Younis.

1212: Mahmood is a little less inspired in his second over. He loses control and is wided and Geraint Jones returns the ball personally with a word of encouragement. Jones has recently been appointed a member of the England players' management committee, the group that takes the place of an official vice-captain. Younis is yet to find the middle of the bat but that cover drive is close enough, a glorious, flowing stroke to move to 26.

1210: "I'm never going to complain about hotels in India and Pakistan ever again because last night was excruciating."
Mike Selvey finds that Manchester hotels are unprepared for the heatwave

1206: Hoggard continues for his eighth over and finally bowls a bad ball down leg side, which Younis helps for four. He rediscovers his line straight away, though, and Younis is back to groping outside off stump.

1158: There is a polite ripple of applause to welcome Lancashire lad Sajid Mahmood, playing his first Test at his home ground. He produces a beauty of an out-swinger to beat Yousuf then brings one back in to go through the gate of the batsman who scored a double century at Lord's. Is this the same bowler who looked like he couldn't spot a batsman at 22 yards during the one-day series? Yousuf would rather be facing the other one as a delivery spits up and strikes the glove as he defends his face. A crackin' over from the Bolton lad.

1156: The pitch has shown signs of uneven bounce throughout this first hour, another one keeping low for Hoggard.

1153: Wonderful news for England. One of last year's Ashes heroes, Gary Pratt comes onto the field as a substitute fielder for Harmison. Ricky Ponting's nemesis is sporting the usual spikey haircut and wide grin. Pratt has played six Championship matches for Durham this year but is averaging 19.30 with the bat and is not with his county facing Middlesex at Lord's.

1150: That was either a good leave or a foolish one, depending on whether Yousuf realised Harmison's delivery was going to jag back over his off stump. Yousuf almost plays on with an inside edge later in the over but it runs for four.

1148: Hoggard, in his sixth over, is still getting swing away from the bat but Younis is happy to be patient and leave what he can't cover.

1144: With no mid on in place yet, short leg fielder Ian Bell is forced to run a good way to stop Younis's drive. Panesar makes a start from mid off but gives up quickly.

1140: Like his predecessors this morning, Yousuf gets off the mark with an edged four, the ball falling in front of Collingwood at third slip but running away to his right.

1137: Hoggard will be pleased by Younis's eagerness to drive with some swing on offer but the batsman looks in good form already, despite his injury lay-off.

1134: At the ground where sunshine-off-a-greenhouse once stopped play, there is a slight delay while umpire Taufel asks for some windows to be shut. Younis drives straight but Panesar chases it down the ground and keeps the batsman to three. Those are the first runs off Harmison, who is bowling like Curtly Ambrose this morning.

1130: Younis takes a single to bring new batsman Mohammad Yousuf on strike. He deals well with a short ball from Hoggard.

"A cabbage white butterfly flies past the box rather vigourously."
Welcome Henry Blofeld to the TMS box for his first spell of the Test

WICKET Pakistan 9-2 (Akmal 4)
Wicket-keeper Jones does his best to stop him by diving to his right but first slip Marcus Trescothick still hangs on to a nick that came to him at waist height, putting Akmal out of his misery. Harmison has two wickets and has yet to concede a run.

1120: This is just the third match of the tour for Younis, who missed the first Test with a shoulder injury. He gets off the mark with a drive just past point, not quite under control.

1117: Younis Khan retains strike with a leg bye as he looks to flick Harmison off his pads.

WICKET Pakistan 4-1 (Farhat 0)
An obvious plan by England to get this opener out works 11th ball. Harmison set him up with a succession of short balls then pitches a few up and Farhat plays away from his body at the third such delivery, nicking to Pietersen at a hybrid gully/point position. He scoops it at ankle height and Duncan Fletcher high-fives video analyst Mark Garaway, probably.

1114: Harmison gets a cheer with a tumbling stop at the end of his follow-through to keep

1108: Akmal gets bat on the first couple of deliveries, only squirting the ball out to point. As Statham's partner Fred Trueman would have said of the following delivery, "That were wasted on thee." Maybe Hoggy is saying the same. Finally there are runs, and edge through vacant third man for four.

1103: Steve Harmison begins at the Stretford End, knowing he needs to improve his consistency after showing just glimpses of his old form in the first Test. He is clean-shaven, which will be a relief to those of you with a military bearing. There are just two fielders on the leg side for Harmison, who sticks the first two in short. Pietersen is at second gully and there is a cover point. Pakistan are yet to get off the mark.

1100: Kamran Akmal takes strike to Matthew Hoggard, who takes the ball at the Brian Statham End. He gets some violent away swing to beat the bat. He gets it a little straighter and the new opener is all over the place. The fifth ball keeps low - perhaps a slower ball but surely not the pitch yet.

1056: Umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Bucknor emerge to the strains of Jerusalem. It's not quite so triumphal this year as it was during that glorious Ashes summer. Andrew Strauss leads England out and into their huddle, and he will do so for the rest of the series now with Andrew Flintoff injured.

1054: "The heatwave continues but it is showing signs of crumbling now. There have been storms around and the humidity is as high as you ever get in this country. There is some cloud around and it will thicken up with the possibility of thunder at the end of the day. Tomorrow will be the best of the lot. I think there will be some rain towards the end of Saturday. After that it's back to normal British weather with some scattered cloud and showers."
BBC weather forecaster Phillip Eden

1052: "I think they should have played four seamers because they don't have a controlling bowler in there. The potential is there for them to lose control if it doesn't go spot-on"
TMS summariser and former England bowler Mike Selvey who made his Test debut at this ground 30 years ago

"I predict Mahmood will take four wickets plus. It will mean so much more to him playing against Pakistan and he will have the adrenaline pumping."
Uptight_Pseudonym on the TMS message board

1048: Speaking to TMS, Andrew Strauss says England need to "find our straps" today. He was talking about hitting straps during the one-day series so it appears he has scaled back his expectations to more realistic proportions.

1047: Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal will open the batting for Pakistan after they dropped Salman Butt in favour of middle order bat and vice-captain Younis Khan.

"After 18 months of trying to explain the intricacies of our wonderful game to young Max Griffiths I have finally had to concede that the only way for him to understand field placings is to visit the Test whilst listening to your excellent commentary. So today he is sitting to your right in the F upper stand."
Spike, North Wales, via email to Test Match Special

1033: "We expect a bit of pace and bounce on this wicket and hopefully our bowlers can get it right this morning and put Pakistan under pressure. The first session is going to be important. If we can put the ball in the right areas the pace and bounce will be to our advantage."
England skipper Andrew Strauss

1031: "In the first 8-10 overs the ball will swing but after that it's a good batting track. It's a good, hard pitch. The, first two days will be good for fast bowlers and I think good for shots as well."
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq

1030: The coin falls Inzamam-ul-Haq's way and, unsurprisingly chooses to bat first.

1000: The fourth day of the Test - if it goes that far - will unfortunately coincide with the Salford Triathlon, meaning several roads to the north of Old Trafford will be closed. You could always swim through Salford Quays then get on your bike.