Inzamam forces pace

Inzamam-ul-Haq demonstrated his attacking intent as Pakistan extended their commanding lead over England on another rain-affected day in the final Test.

The Pakistan captain hit an array of boundaries during a morning session restricted to only 11.5 overs on the third day at The Oval as England struggled in vain to make a breakthrough.

Resuming already 163 runs ahead on 336 for three, Inzamam showed his determination with a couple of early boundaries and after a lengthy delay progressed swiftly to an unbeaten 27. That gave his side a 196-run lead on 369 for three at lunch.

Having suffered a disappointing series by his towering standards - he has scored only two half-centuries in six innings - Inzamam quickly set about the attack.

He took only four balls to find his range before rocking back and cracking Matthew Hoggard through the covers for the first boundary.

Steve Harmison, given only nine overs yesterday by stand-in captain Andrew Strauss, suffered another wayward start to the day and fired several deliveries down legside.

He also provided Inzamam with another boundary when he dug the ball in short and wide and allowed him to power the ball to the cover boundary.

Harmison was unlucky with the next delivery, a full-length ball which rapped Inzamam's pads but failed to attract the interest of umpire Billy Doctrove.

But before England and Harmison could build any momentum, another shower arrived and forced the players off the field after just 20 minutes play.

Play resumed over an hour later and Inzamam once again quickly picked up the same rhythm, pushing Harmison for another boundary through mid on and then top-edging an attempted hook for another four.