Michael Vaughan drives another four

Their 100 partnership arrived in 136 balls, soon followed by Thorpe's 29th half-century, as Pakistan's bowlers got little help from a good batting strip.

Vaughan's third 50 for England came off another fine drive to the boundary in the 33rd over.

Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdur Razzaq found some turn midway through the afternoon, but the impetus remained with England.

Cheap wickets

The covers first came on during the tea interval as rain fell on a cold, windy day in Manchester.

When play re-started after an hour's delay, Vaughan and Thorpe picked up where they had left off.

Having dealt comfortably with everything Pakistan had to offer, they will both be looking to pass the 100-mark when play resumes on Saturday.

Having finally dismissed Pakistan for 403, things started badly for the hosts when Trescothick and Atherton went cheaply.

Gough appeals as Waqar falls lbw

Trescothick went first, clean bowled by Wasim Akram for 10 runs with just 15 on the board.

Atherton was caught on five by wicketkeeper Rashid Latif after a fine delivery from Pakistan captain Waqar Younis found an outside edge.

Earlier, Atherton had survived a loud lbw appeal off the first ball of the innings, umpire Eddie Nicholls unmoved by Akram's shout.

With the opening pair gone, it was left to Vaughan and Thorpe to calm England's jitters.

They did just that with some fine strokeplay, stabilising the innings and taking England to 79 for 2 at lunch.

Trapped

The duo swiftly brought up their 50 partnership with a succession of fours - England hit 15 boundaries in the morning session alone.

Earlier, Darren Gough's third wicket had finally ended Pakistan's first innings, with skipper Waqar trapped lbw for five.

England made an early breakthrough by dismissing Latif for 71.

The Pakistan No 8 was run out by a direct hit from Trescothick at backward point after a mix-up with batting partner Saqlain Mushtaq.

He had just surpassed his previous highest Test score of 68 against Zimbabwe in 1993.

Nick Knight fumbled a chance to remove Latif, who resumed on 64, in the first over of the day.

He dropped him in the slips after Latif had caught an outside edge off a lively Gough delivery.

Pakistan had re-started their first innings on 370 for 8.