Birmingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Captain Misbah-ul-Haq’s measured fifty and Sarfraz Ahmed’s 46 not out left Pakistan in a strong position at tea on the third day of the third Test against England at Edgbaston on Friday.
The tourists were bowled out for 400 in reply to England’s first innings 297, a significant lead of 103 runs.
Pakistan kept England in the field for nearly 10-and-a-half hours in total.
England’s cause was hampered when James Anderson, their all-time leading Test wicket-taker, was barred from bowling again in the innings after receiving a third warning for running on the pitch from the umpires, with Pakistan then on 368 for eight.
Chris Woakes, in the all-rounder’s first Test match on his Warwickshire home ground, led England’s attack with three for 79, while fellow paceman Stuart Broad took three for 83.
With the four-Test series all square at 1-1, Pakistan resumed on 257 for three after Azhar Ali had been dismissed for 139 off the last ball of Thursday’s play, following partnerships of 181 and 76 with Sami Aslam (82) and Younis Khan (21 not out), respectively.
Younis was joined in the middle by fellow veteran Misbah.
Woakes, who had dismissed Azhar, struck again when he had Younis caught behind for 31 glancing down the legside.
Misbah got on to the front foot to ease Broad for four through the covers — his first boundary Friday taking him 40 balls.
But two balls later Misbah, showing the value of patience and good judgement, drove Broad down the ground.
Broad though found his range when a full-length delivery smashed into Asad Shafiq’s off stump for an 18-ball nought to leave Pakistan 296 for five, still one run behind.
Misbah’s single to third man off Broad saw Pakistan into the lead.
– Expensive Ali –
Pakistan’s batsmen have found Moeen Ali to their liking this series and Misbah reverse-swept him four when the off-spinner came on before lunch.
Wicket-keeper Ahmed followed up with two swept fours in as many balls off Ali, whose 17 wicketless overs cost 79 runs.
At lunch, Pakistan were 336 for five, a lead of 39 runs.
Misbah was 44 not out and Ahmed a typically brisk 20 not out off 27 balls.
After lunch Misbah — who scored a century during Pakistan’s 75-run win in the first Test at Lord’s — posted his third fifty this series when he drove Anderson for a sixth four in 93 balls.
But on 56 he was bowled playing down the wrong line to Anderson to end a useful stand of 62 with Ahmed.
Pakistan’s 358 for six soon became 361 for seven when Yasir Shah was run out by Woakes’s throw to wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow, who knocked the bails off with his elbow but had possession of the ball in his gloves.
England then saw Anderson receive a third warning from West Indian umpire Joel Wilson, having been twice cautioned in the one over by Australia’s Bruce Oxenford, the other standing umpire, on Thursday.
England captain Alastair Cook pushed his fielders right back when Ahmed was on strike with only last man Rahat Ali for company.
Ahmed was being offered the chance of an easy single in order to get Rahat on strike.
Yet when Rahat edged fast bowler Steven Finn, with the 10th-wicket duo having already extended Pakistan’s lead to exactly 100, Cook dropped a regulation catch at first slip.
The luckless Finn finished with none for 76 in 27.5 overs.
Rahat eventually nicked Broad to Joe Root in the slips.
Ahmed faced 91 balls with five fours in his unbeaten and impressive innings.
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