| Second Test, Multan (day three of 5) |
| England 281 (Duckett 63; Abrar 7-114) & 275 (Brook 108; Abrar 4-120) |
| Pakistan 202 (Babar 75; Leach 4-98) & 198-4 (Imam 60, Shakeel 54*) |
| Pakistan want 157 runs to win |
| Scorecard |
England struck late to interrupt an important Pakistan partnership on the third day of the second Test in Multan.
Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel added 108 for the fourth wicket and took the hosts previous midway in their pursuit of 355.
But Jack Leach, who struggled all through the day, had Imam edge a drive to Joe Root at slip for 60.
Shakeel stays on 54, the match tantalisingly poised, with Pakistan 157 runs in need of their goal on 198-4.
That Pakistan are even in the hunt is right down to a poor England collapse in the morning session.
Despite Harry Brook finishing his second century in as many Tests, captain Ben Stokes’ dismissal sparked a capitulation of 5 wickets for 19 runs that left England 275 all out.
Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan added 66 for the primary wicket, just for James Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood to supply a trio of magic deliveries to ship Pakistan to 83-3.
Imam and Shakeel dug in, leaving England in a battle for the victory that will seal a collection win.
England let Pakistan in
This contest has extra life in it than appeared probably at the beginning of the day because of England’s wastefulness and Pakistan’s battling qualities.
The vacationers ought to have been out of sight, however the morning collapse gave Pakistan a glimmer of hope they clung on to.
Despite the turning pitch, Pakistan attacked the spinners – Leach’s 20 overs price 88. It was solely the efforts of Anderson, Robinson and Wood, who competed to bowl essentially the most unplayable supply – that returned management to England.
Still, Pakistan wouldn’t buckle, a lot to the delight of the most important and noisiest crowd of the match thus far.
Leach’s late intervention will depart England feeling they’re just one wicket away from breaking the house resistance, however the vacationers will even remember Pakistan chased 344 to beat Sri Lanka in Galle as lately as July.
From nowhere, this collection appears to have thrown up a second fascinating finale in the house of every week.
Pacemen produce magic earlier than Pakistan defiance
Anderson didn’t bowl any of England’s 15 overs in the morning session, however wanted solely 5 deliveries of the afternoon so as to add to his canon of beautiful dismissals.
Angling the ball in, then nipping it away, it went previous the skin edge and hit off stump to ship a bewildered Rizwan on his means for 30.
Then got here Robinson’s effort, one which began huge sufficient to have Babar Azam shouldering arms, then jagged again like an off-break to bowl the house captain.
And Wood, hurling himself off his toes, discovered reverse swing at virtually 90mph to whistle the ball between Shafique’s bat and pad.
Shakeel provided a troublesome probability to Brook at quick leg off Leach when on 4, whereas Imam, batting at quantity 5 after having a scan on his hamstring, burst the arms of bowler Will Jacks on 19.
Reprieved, each left-handers expertly used their toes in opposition to the spin. All three of England’s frontline pacers hung out off the sector, whereas captain Stokes didn’t bowl in any respect.
When umpire Marais Erasmus failed to identify Imam’s tickle down the leg aspect off Wood and England opted in opposition to the evaluation, it felt just like the momentum was with Pakistan, just for Leach to conjure the dramatic breakthrough in fading gentle.
Brook shines earlier than England let it slip
How will England match Brook and Jonny Bairstow into the identical aspect when the latter recovers from a damaged leg?
Brook has regarded solely at house at this degree – he’s solely the third England man to attain two a whole bunch in his first three Tests.
With England 202-5 in a single day and Brook on 74, he continued scoring down the bottom and thru the leg aspect to achieve three figures from 137 balls.
Brook added 101 with Stokes, who hit his 107th six to equal the Test file held by England coach Brendon McCullum. But, when Stokes was nicely caught on the leg-side boundary by Mohammad Ali off the spin of Mohammad Nawaz for 41, England’s sloppy slide started.
Robinson charged and was bowled by Abrar Ahmed to provide the leg-spinner 11 wickets in the match – solely 5 debutants have ever taken extra.
Wood guided to slide, Brook holed out on the leg aspect and Anderson was lbw, all to leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood.
‘It was a masterclass, I really like him’ – response
England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick to BBC Test Match Special: “We most likely needed a number of extra runs on prime and possibly anticipated a number of extra, however with the type of play we use there may be that ingredient of threat, we wish to preserve the sport transferring ahead. Harry Brook performed an excellent innings and we misplaced a number of wickets, honest sufficient. We nonetheless put ourselves in a extremely good place to win this recreation.”
Pakistan batting coach Mohammad Yousuf: “We’ll method tomorrow positively and clearly wish to win, hopefully we get it. We have to play the identical means because the final partnership, not hurry. We’ve bought two days and 6 wickets.”
Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan to Sky Sports on his dismissal by James Anderson: “It was a masterclass, I really like him. I had no reply to his query. If you get this ball in these situations, after I noticed him he stated he bowled it like a Dukes ball in England.”
Former England spinner Vic Marks on BBC Test Match Special: “There was some extent about 40 minutes after the beginning of play the place I assumed England would possibly make themselves unassailable, simply earlier than Stokes bought out. I assumed they could come out and bat a bit sensibly. But to the exasperation of some, they misplaced 5 for 19. They tossed away a place of absolute dominance.
“A goal of 355 is stiff however ever extra steadily attained. Also the floor hasn’t bought any worse than it was on the primary day. We’ve bought a implausible recreation, I can not quibble an excessive amount of.”
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