Spin twins want to win more matches for Pakistan

Abu Dhabi: Pakistan's spin twins Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rahman, who played a major role in Pakistan's series triumph over England — the world's number one Test team — said they plotted the downfall when they were batting together earlier in the day.

Rahman, whose six for 25 in the second innings and his two wickets in the first earned him the Man of the Match award, said: "Me and Ajmal were batting together and we realised how difficult it was. We just decided to get as many runs for we were very confident in our ability to bowl them out."

Crucial runs

Ajmal (17) and Rahman (10) put on 26 crucial runs and helped Pakistan set England a target of 145 but their rivals were bowled out for 72 with the pair taking five wickets in three overs. "Once we had the runs on the board we knew that we could win. I and Ajmal have now been bowling together and this was a great victory for us," Rahman said.

While Rahman earned his first five-wicket haul in his six for 25, Ajmal, whose 10-wicket haul sent England helter-skelter in the first Test, also became the fastest Pakistan bowler to reach 100 wickets.

Replying to a question whether Ajmal and Rahman have taken the place of former Pakistan pace duo and match-winners Wasim Akram and Waqar Younus, Rahman said: "You can say so. We are the spinning version of the two W's and we hope we can go on winning more matches for our country."

THE LOWS: Lowest totals after being set a target of less than 150 runs

• 44 Aus lost to Eng (The Oval) 1896 (target 111)
• 62 Eng lost to Aus (Lord's) 1888 (target 124)
• 63 Zim lost to WI (POS) 2000 (target 99)
• 64 Eng lost to NZ (Well'ton) 1978 (target 137)
• 72 Eng lost to Pak (A Dhabi) 2012 (target 145)

Note: England lost their last 5 wkts in 11 balls for 4 runs.

— Mohandas Menon