Pakistan overcame a late batting collapse to beat England by four wickets in the third test today and trail 2-1 in the four-match series.

Set 148 to win after Mohammad Amir claimed career-best figures of 5-52 to help dismiss England for 222, Pakistan reached 148-6 at The Oval.
 

Amir finished on four not out in 25 balls and Umar Akmal was 16 in 36 after nervously surviving a late England assault.

The winning runs came when Akmal glanced off-spinner Graeme Swann to fine leg. It followed the loss of four wickets for 29 runs. 

Captain Salman Butt earlier led from the front with 48 from 64 balls. Swann claimed 3-50.

Victory for Pakistan ended England's six-test winning streak and keeps the series alive ahead of the Lord's test from Thursday.

The hosts won at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston, both of which ended within four days.

England looked to be down and out at lunch with Pakistan on 115-3 but England went on the attack after the interval.

James Anderson's spell after the break was 1-8 in nine overs, with five maidens. Pakistan went 28 balls without a run at one stage

Opener Imran Farhat hit 33 and Mohammed Yousuf scored 33 after Yasir Hameed made a golden duck as England struggled initially on a flat batting pitch and with conditions seemingly too dry for conventional swing, until the ball reverse swung later on.