England won the 3rd Investec Test Match at Edgbaston to go 2-1 up in the series with one match to play at the Oval next week. It was a disappointing day for Pakistan as they failed to bat out the draw and were bowled out for 201 to lose by 141 runs. They now look to coming back strong at the Oval to square the series.
England resumed with Bairstow and Moeen at the crease on 414-5 which gave them a lead of 311 runs at the start of the final day of the 3rd Investec Test Match at Edgbaston.
The big question was how long England would bat for in the morning.
England began briskly with Moeen hitting Yasir for two sixes and a four in the first over of the morning and scoring 20 runs from the over and in the process bringing up the 150 partnership between him and Bairstow.
In the next over Sohail Khan struck Bairstow on the pads. The decision was given not out but Pakistan successfully reviewed the decision and Bairstow was on his way for 83 from 127 balls.
Pakistan bowlers then slowed the run rate down and England declared on 445-6 which gave them a lead of 342 and 82 overs to try and get 10 wickets to win the test.
Pakistan chose the light roller to prepare the pitch at this stage of the game.
With the score at 6 and in the sixth over of the innings England were gifted a wicket when Hafeez pulled a short ball from Broad to Woakes at fine leg. He had made 2.
Azhar came in and almost immediately hit his second ball for a beautiful four through long on.
Azhar and Sami Aslam put together a partnership and saw off England’s opening bowlers. Woakes had a big LBW shout against Aslam but given not out and England decided not to review. Overthrows from an Anderson throw brought up the fifty partnership between Azhar and Aslam fifteen minutes before lunch. By lunch Pakistan progressed to 69-1 with Azhar 30 not out and Aslam unbeaten on 36.
Immediately after lunch Azhar played and missed at Broad. This was followed by a stumping appeal against Azhar from Moeen in the next over - again given not out.
Pakistan progressed nicely but suddenly Moeen struck and had Azhar caught by Cook for 38. Pakistan now 79-2 with over 50 overs remaining. There was further drama in the over as a bat pad catch from Aslam didn’t quite reach Bairstow.
Anderson replaced Broad at the Pavilion End and there was another play and miss from Aslam.
It was not long before he snared Younis Khan who was caught behind by Bairstow for 4. The score now 92-3.
The pressure was on by Aslam relieved some of it when he reached a fine fifty with a pull from Moeen who now had four close fielders near to the bat. Aslam the first Pakistan opener since Saeed Anwar to make a fifty in both innings in England. He also became the youngest batsman to score two 50s in the same match for Pakistan.
The next over Misbah played and missed at Anderson and the volume of the crowd began to increase. Another play and miss from Aslam to Anderson and the 5th day was building into a tense day.
Tension building further as Aslam now played and missed at Finn.
Then came the crucial wicket of Misbah who was caught by Bairstow from a thick edge from Finn for 10. Pakistan now in trouble at 124-4. This was Finn’s first wicket since he had bowled against Sri Lanka at Lord’s.
Asad Shafiq was on a pair and the umpire awarded an LBW appeal against him from Woakes on 0. He reviewed the decision but the review gave it as Umpire’s decision.
Next up Sarfraz was removed by Woakes when he edged to Root at slip for a duck. Woakes had now equalled the record number of wickets for England in a series against Pakistan with 23.
Woakes had his tail up now and an appeal against Yasir was given first ball for LBW but this was reversed on appeal when the review showed an outside edge.
However in the next over Finn bowled Sami Aslam who had scored a fine 70.
With 30 overs left in the day England needed three wickets.
At tea Pakistan were a precarious 148-7 with 28 overs remaining in the match.
In the first over after tea Yasir was caught by Hales from Anderson for 7. Pakistan now in deep trouble at 149-8.
Jimmy Anderson spilled a very tough chance from Sohail off Broad’s bowling.
In the same over Amir was caught driving by Woakes from Broad for 16 and the match was almost over.
A spirited final partnership of 50 runs between Sohail and Rahat delayed England for a long time but when Sohail was caught and bowled by Moeen for 36 the game was over and England had won by 141 runs. Rabat was stranded 15 not out and Pakistan were bowled out for 201 runs.
