London, Sept. 3: Shoaib Akhtar believes he has still to find his best form in the run-up to next year’s World Cup after starring once more against England.

"The Rawalpindi Express" continued his impressive comeback to international cricket after six months out with an ankle injury by taking 4/28 as Pakistan beat England by seven wickets in the second one-dayer at Lord’s.

England, as well as being 1-0 down in the five-match series, were left contemplating the worrying prospect that Akhtar was, in his own estimation, still only "80 per cent fit". "I was just trying to bowl in the right areas, not go for wickets so much as dot balls," explained Akhtar after being named man-of-the-match.

"I’m still only at 80 per cent of my fitness so I’ve been a lucky guy to get a few wickets. Other people might say I’m match fit but my goals are really high."

This last week has seen a steady improvement from the paceman who returned to international duty with 1/31 in Pakistan’s five-wicket Twenty20 win against England in Bristol and then took 3/45 in Wednesday’s washed-out one-day series opener.

At Lord’s on Saturday he routinely hit the 90mph mark and was accurate with it, striking sixth ball to have England captain Andrew Strauss caught behind for nought.