JAMES Anderson returned to the England fold with three top-order wickets as the tourists' Test back-up seamers made early inroads into the Patron's team batting on the second morning at the Pindi Stadium.

Anderson, who has not played for his country since a discouraging display in a one-day warm-up match in South Africa at the start of this year, got rid of the first three batsman - and then debutant Liam Plunkett snapped up two more as the hosts faltered to 103 for six in first-innings pursuit of 256 for nine declared.

There were also four catches for wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, leaving the Patron's team in the same sort of lunchtime problems England had encountered yesterday - but without anyone of the ilk of Marcus Trescothick staying put to offer hope of rescue.

Anderson (three for 32) looked rusty in his first over with the new ball as he overpitched and was hit for three fours. But continuing to operate at a full length, he found telling swing and struck in both his second and third overs to see off Asher Zaidi and Bazid Khan.

For Michael Vaughan's team, Anderson's apparent return to form was a heartening sight on a day which began with the news that key left-arm spinner Ashley Giles had returned to the team hotel with a stomach upset and was unlikely to take any part.

Anderson struck first when Zaidi chipped a long half-volley low to Vaughan at mid-on; then he found enough outswing to have Bazid edging an attempted drive into Jones' gloves.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq also went caught behind, edging a wide one in Liam Plunkett's first over.

Yasir Hameed went in similar fashion off Anderson, as did Faisal Iqbal to the bowling of Plunkett who was making instant amends for having dropped the same batsman when he offered a routine outfield catch at deep backward-square via a mistimed pull at Paul Collingwood.

Plunkett's Durham team-mate Collingwood soon had a wicket to celebrate when he pinned left-hander Asim Kamal in the crease to win an lbw verdict - opening up the prospect of an extended second opportunity for England's batsmen to make the runs they left almost exclusively to Trescothick yesterday.