England's cricketers returned home in triumph on Tuesday after their six wicket victory in Karachi had given them their first series win in Pakistan for 38 years.

To achieve the only positive result in the three match series, the tourists had to conquer the hosts enviable record of never having lost any of the 35 Test matches staged at the National Stadium and it was fitting that England captain, Essex's Nasser Hussain, was 'in the middle' when the winning runs were struck.

Set to make 176 to win in 44 overs, the success was underpinned by an unbeaten 64, including the winning runs, from Graham Thorpe with 15 deliveries to spare as Hussain ended six not out after coming to the crease when the fourth wicket went down with just 20 runs required and the light failing fast.

Commentating on the game, former England batsman David Gower stated: "This is the darkest that I've ever seen Test cricket played in."

For once, Hussain enjoyed a rare slice of good fortune, playing an extravagant stroke to the first ball he faced which the diving wicket-keeper Moin Khan touched but was unable to hold.

Because of the gathering gloom, the new batsman was desperate to administer the last rights quickly explaining that he told Thorpe, "Let's finish it now. We can't wait to the last ball because there might not be one."

Speaking afterwards, Hussain was unashamedly ecstatic, saying, "I can't believe it to be honest. We just tried to ensure that throughout the series, we stayed in there and put the pressure on Pakistan.

"It just shows what you can do if you keep getting first innings scores. All our Test series seem to be very good ones but I can't talk up this performance enough.

"To come here after 13 years and to beat this lot, well it's almost better than what we did in the summer."

Hussain has had to endure a wretched time with the bat, not only during this tour but throughout the whole of 2000.

However, he has always remained positive and captained his side with confidence and aptitude and, with coach Duncan Fletcher, has formed a successful new regime instilling a refreshing team spirit and self-belief for Team England.

They have now gained three successive series wins against Zimbabwe, West Indies and Pakistan that has lifted their status in the Test rankings.

Although they lost the one-day series 2-1 to Pakistan -- ironically that win was also achieved in Karachi -- the tour will be remembered justifiably for the success of the final Test.

Hopefully that will provide the preface to the next almanac of English cricket when the next decade starts in Sri Lanka in February 2001.

Reflecting on the win amidst understandable euphoria of his colleagues, Hussain said: "I usually play things down but this is a year that we can look back on and feel proud of.

"It has been an absolute blessing being the captain of England this year. It's been a good year for English cricket."

Triumphant trio: England captain Nasser Hussain (left), Mike Atherton (centre) and Graham Thorpe reflect on England's historic win over Pakistan in Karachi.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.