Saqlain Mushtaq accepted his opportunity to make amends for his winter disappointments by bowling Pakistan to a sensational victory over England in a fitting finale to the compelling second Test.

But the victory was tinged with controversy as four of the England wickets fell to no-balls.

After four days of thrilling cricket from both sides, the match appeared to be heading for an inevitable draw and earn England their fifth successive series triumph in preparation for the Ashes challenge later this summer.

But the 13,000 spectators who had taken advantage of the cut-price ticket offers in the hope of a exciting climax at Old Trafford were not to be disappointed with Saqlain claiming four wickets for five runs in 36 balls to seal Pakistan's 108-runs victory.

Saqlain's display completed a memorable final session, which began with England comfortable on 196 for two and a further 32 overs to survive to claim a deserved draw, with all but two of the wickets falling in the 23 overs after Pakistan took the new ball.

The master spinner had not only played a leading role in an amazing Test triumph, but also restored his own reputation after struggling to make an impact during England's winter success in Pakistan.

He had claimed 18 wickets during that three-Test series, but it had taken him 203.2 overs to do that because of the success in England's tactics to nullify his effectiveness.

The tense final day had begun with England quietly harbouring hopes of claiming an historic victory which, if they had been successful, would have been the third highest fourth innings total to win a Test in history.

To achieve that, England would have had to maintain a rate of over three an over throughout the day a task which would have been difficult enough in itself to maintain without taking into account the highly-skilled Pakistan attack.

Neither Wasim Akram or Saqlain, who teamed up later to devastating effect, deviated from their accurate line very often and limited England to just 64 runs in the 28 overs during the morning session.

With victory becoming an increasingly unlikely possibility, England's next objective was to ensure they got into a position from which they were unlikely to lose, which they appeared to have done successfully despite losing Michael Atherton and Michael Vaughan prior to tea.

Marcus Trescothick had played a leading role in that by progressing from 48 overnight to reach his second Test century although he had been fortunate to survive an appeal for a catch at short leg by Yousuf Youhana off Saqlain shortly after reaching his hundred, which was deflected off the glove and pad.

His presence at the crease seemed to have guaranteed another satisfactory result for England, though, until Pakistan's last desperate decision to take the new ball shortly after tea transformed the outcome of the match with England losing six wickets in the next 12 overs.

Captain Waqar Younis made the important breakthrough with an inswinging delivery which pierced the gap between Graham Thorpe's bat and pad. That provided the impetus for Wasim and Saqlain, sensing they could exploit England's ability to collapse, went into overdrive with four wickets falling for one run in 13 deliveries.

Wanting to provide a ''memorable'' performance on his last Test appearance at his adopted Old Trafford home, Wasim almost lived up to his word and claimed the key wicket of Trescothick three overs later with a rising delivery which was gloved behind.

Yet it was Saqlain who provided the cutting edge of Pakistan's push.

Winning the nod from umpire David Shepherd to remove Alec Stewart when he was hit on the pads pushing only half forward, Pakistan's persistent pressurising of the umpires prompted a string of inconsistent decisions and accelerated England's demise.

Nick Knight also fell leg before to Wasim, but television replays proved it was the first of four wickets to be claimed with no-balls with both Shepherd and Eddie Nicholls missing Pakistan's continued over-stepping of the crease.

Ian Ward was the next to suffer the injustice when he got an inside edge behind to wicketkeeper Rashid Latif as he attempted to cut and Andrew Caddick was bowled comprehensively with the next delivery, which was also revealed as a no-ball.

Darren Gough and Dominic Cork resisted for a further 59 deliveries before Saqlain completed his four-wicket haul by dismissing the Derbyshire all-rounder leg before with yet another no-ball.

To complete a memorable finish, Gough's amusing cameo innings of 23 was ended with a brilliant catch by substitute fielder Imran Nazir in the gully diving to his right.