England accumulated runs at first slowly but later more swiftly and put themselves into a strong position on day 4 of the 3rd Investec Test Match at Edgbaston. By the close they led by 311 runs and will need to decide how long they will bat on the final day.
England began the day on 120-0 which gave them a lead of 17 runs over Pakistan with Cook on 64 and Hales on 50.
Conditions again looked good for batting.
Suddenly Cook was caught from a great catch by Yasir Shah diving full negate from the bowling of Sohail. England now 126-1 and Cook had made 66.
Next up with no runs added it was Amir’s turn to join the party and Hales was removed caught by Younis Khan for 54. England had lost both wickets for no runs in the space of nine balls.
England recovered and Root and Vince began to build a partnership. Again conditions began to look good for batting on a sunny day at Edgbaston. After the first hour England were 160-2 with a lead of 57.
Rahat Ali found the edge of Root but the chance was spilled by Hafeez. Root and Hales then went on to complete the fifty partnership before lunch.
At lunch they had slowly progressed the score to 183-2. Rahat had bowled five maidens in a row.
England progressed after lunch but with the score at 207-2 Sohail drew an edge from Vince.
The run rate began to increase with 13 runs plundered from one over from Yasir.
Easier changed his line of attack and went around the wicket and almost immediately Root was caught by Hafeez trying to sweep from Yasir when on 62. England were now 221-3 and Root and Hales were five runs short of a century partnership. The lead now a precarious 118 and the game well balanced.
Vince and Balance now pushed on as they had done first innings.
Pakistan took the new ball and Amir came back on from the Pavillion End and immediately drew Vince into a rash shot outside off stump which was caught by Younis Khan at slip. Vince made 42 and the score now 257-4. The England lead now 154.
Slow progress was made by Bairstow and Ballance and then Ballance got into trouble when Yasir bowled around the wicket and was caught down the leg side by Asad Shafiq at leg slip for 28. England now 281-5 and Yasir has 90 wickets in 15 tests which is the most by anybody at that stage of their career.
Next was Bairstow and Ali’s turn and they brought up England’s 300 and pushed the score along at a fast rate. They brought up a fifty partnership from 69 balls. Bairstow shortly after bringing his own fifty up from 83 balls. They carried on in the same vein and brought up the one hundred partnership from 117 balls. Moeen then swiftly brought up his fifty from just 64 balls. The last session turning England’s way.
By close England had reached 414-5 and a lead of 311 runs.They will need to decide how long they will bat tomorrow. Bairstow was 82 not out and Moeen 60 not out.
