LONDON, Aug 17: Mohammad Asif returned to Pakistan's ranks to put them in total control on the opening day of the fourth and final Test against England on Thursday.

The home side, having already clinched the series with emphatic wins at Old Trafford and Headingley, collapsed from 54 for one to 173 all out at The Oval after the willowy 23-year-old gutted the top order.

Pakistan, in reply, rattled up 96 for one, with Imran Farhat on 56 not out and Mohammad Yousuf unbeaten on 12 as England continued to misfire.

The home side began with some wayward bowling, then missed three catches in three overs, Paul Collingwood dropping Imran off a full-blooded cover drive to allow him to his half-century before Yousuf was dropped at slip and gully. All three chances came off Matthew Hoggard.

Sajid Mahmood took the one wicket, Younis Khan gloving down the leg side.

Earlier Asif, playing in only his sixth test and his first game of the four-Test series following elbow trouble, mixed control with some classic fast-medium seam and reverse swing bowling to finish with four for 56.

Umar Gul, his fellow fast bowler, took four for 47 but there were no doubts who set the tone of the day.

His four wickets also repaid the faith of the Pakistan selectors and his captain, who surprised most onlookers, including England captain Andrew Strauss, by opting to bowl first.

The tactic failed to pay off during a rain-restricted morning but Umar Gul soon made the first incision after an early lunch, removing the off-colour Trescothick cheaply to make it 36 for one.

Asif, blessed by a high, languid action, then rooted out Strauss (38) and Kevin Pietersen (0) off successive deliveries.

Strauss has looked in the form which earned him a century in the previous Test but, after cutting, driving and pulling his way to seven boundaries, he edged a leg-cutter behind.

Asif's next ball landed on the perfect line and length and Pietersen, lured forward, shaved a second catch into Kamran Akmal's gloves.

When Collingwood departed lbw to five it was 64 for four and Pakistan never let go of the initiative.

The only notable resistance came from Alastair Cook, who survived Asif's hat-trick delivery and top-scored with an unfussy 40 before Shahid Nazir angled in a yorker on the left-hander's off stump.

Ian Bell, though, seeking a fourth century in four Tests, fell 91 short as he was caught at bat pad off leg spinner Danish Kaneria.

There was a late flurry from wicket-keeper Chris Read, who made 33 and put on 46 with Mahmood for the seventh wicket – the highest partnership of the innings. That, though, was about as defiant as England got.

Pakistan, desperate to avoid losing three Tests in a row, played with more snap throughout.

Like England, they came into the series hamstrung by injuries. Strike bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan were missing, as was Asif. All three were in contention for an Oval return but the selectors limited themselves to gambling on Asif and he quickly proved to be the missing link.

He came to the fore by taking a Test-best six for 44 off 23 overs and match figures of 11 for 71 against Sri Lanka at Kandy in April.

Opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez retired hurt for eight with a leg injury in Pakistan's reply.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND (1st Innings):

M.E. Trescothick c Hafeez b Umar Gul 6

A.J. Strauss c Kamran b Asif 38

A.N. Cook lbw b Shahid Nazir 40

K.P. Pietersen c Kamran b Asif 0

P.D. Collingwood lbw b Asif 5

I.R. Bell c Iqbal b Kaneria 9

C.M.W. Read b Umar Gul 33

S.I. Mahmood b Umar Gul 15

M.J. Hoggard c Kamran b Asif 4

S.J. Harmison not out 8

M.S. Panesar b Umar Gul 0

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-4, NB-7) 15

TOTAL (all out, 53.2 overs) 173

FALL OF WKTS: 1-36, 2-54, 3-54, 4-64, 5-91, 6-112, 7-158, 8-163, 9-173.

BOWLING: Mohammad Asif 19-6-56-4; Umar Gul 15.2-47-4 (3nb); Shahid Nazir 11-1-44-1 (3nb); Danish Kaneria 8-1-18-1 (1nb).

PAKISTAN (1st Innings):

Mohammad Hafeez retired hurt 8

Imran Farhat not out 56

Younis Khan c Read b Mahmood 9

Mohammad Yousuf not out 12

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-6, NB-3) 11

TOTAL (for one wkt, 22 overs) 96

FALL OF WKT: 1-70.

TO BAT: Inzamam-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Nazir, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Danish KaneriaBOWLING (to-date): Hoggard 9-0-29-0 (2nb); Harmison 6-1-38-0 (1nb, 2w); Mahmood 6-1-24-1; Panesar 1-0-3-0.

UMPIRES: B.R. Doctrove (West Indies) and D.B. Hair (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: P.J. Hartley (England).

MATCH REFEREE: M.J. Procter (South Africa).

NOTE: Mohammad Hafeez retired hurt at 35-0.—Agencies