Andrew Strauss dismissal leaves England reeling against Pakistan

Adnan Akmal hit a gritty half-century before Umar Gul removed England captain Andrew Strauss prior to the lunch interval to put Pakistan firmly in control of the opening test in Dubai on Thursday.

Akmal frustrated the England attack with a determined 61 and was the last man out as Pakistan's tailenders added 50 precious runs in the morning before the hosts were finally dismissed for 338 in their first innings, a lead of 146.

England needed a solid start but Strauss departed for just six runs in a controversial manner as the tourists reached the interval on 16 for one with Alastair Cook (two) and Jonathan Trott (eight) in the middle.

Umpire Billy Bowden adjudged Strauss caught behind down the leg-side off Umar Gul even though hotspot revealed no trace of the ball touching his bat or thighpad. The England captain opted for a review but could not overturn the decision.

The dismissal compounded the misery of an England team who collapsed for 192 in their first innings and could not stop the Pakistani tail from wagging on the third morning.

Overnight batsman Akmal rotated the strike well and hit the occasional boundary to bring up his second test fifty.

Stuart Broad (3-84) earned the breakthrough when he had Gul caught at point and Swann removed Saeed Ajmal and Akmal to finish with a figures of 4-107.

Pakistan are hosting the three-match series in the Gulf due to security concerns in their own country.