England on course for victory

England - England captain Andrew Strauss survived being dropped on 10 to lead England towards a win over Pakistan in the second Test at Edgbaston on Monday.

England were 71 for one -- needing 47 more runs to reach a victory target of 118 -- in their second innings at lunch on the fourth day.

Strauss was 37 not out and Jonathan Trott 26 not out as England closed in on an unbeatable 2-0 lead in this four-match series.

England had made just seven when struggling opener Alastair Cook was clean bowled by 18-year-old left-arm quick Mohammad Aamer after a full length delivery kept low.

Left-hander Cook has now failed to reach 30 in his last seven Test innings.

But Strauss, encouragingly for England, off-drove Mohammad Asif for four.

Pakistan introduced Saeed Ajmal into the attack as early as the eighth over, having seen opposing off-spinner Graeme Swann take a Test-best six wickets for 65 runs in their second innings.

Ajmal, recalled in place of axed leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, had taken a Test-best five for 82 in England's first innings.

And with his only his third ball he induced an edge from left-handed opener Strauss, playing a forcing shot.

But debutant wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider could not hold the tough chance with England on 17 for one.

An increasingly assured Strauss later swept Ajmal for a boundary.

Pakistan, who resumed on 291 for nine, were bowled out for 296.

Their second innings lasted for just 11 more balls on Monday, with Asif (14) caught in the gully by Kevin Pietersen off Stuart Broad.

Umar Gul, batting with a runner, was 13 not out. But Gul's hamstring injury meant the fast bowler did not take the field for England's second innings.

Pakistan's total saw Zulqarnain, in on a king pair, top-score with 88.

It represented a remarkable recovery after Pakistan made just 72 -- their lowest score against England -- in the first innings.

Pakistan have only once successfully defended a target of under 150 in a Test match.

They dismissed New Zealand, chasing 127, out for 93 to win by 33 runs at Hamilton in 1992/93 in an innings where current Pakistan coach Waqar Younis took five wickets.

England won the first Test of this series by 354 runs at Trent Bridge on August 1.