Pakistan secured a famous victory at the Kia Oval in the fourth and final test match at the Kia Oval to level a thrilling series 2-2. England’s resistance lasted until some time after lunch which meant Pakistan needed to bat again to score 40 runs but Pakistan won a fantastic victory by ten wickets after they knocked the winning runs. Earlier Yasir had taken five wickets.
England resumed their second innings with Bairstow and Ballance at the crease on 88-4 still trailing Pakistan by 126 runs with 6 wickets remaining.
Bairstow and Ballance got off to a brisk start and added quick runs from the opening overs of the day bringing up England’s hundred.
After 50 minutes the vital breakthrough came. Sohail finding Ballance’s outside edge with extra bounce and Sarfraz taking the catch to remove him for 17. England now 128-5.
Yasir switched ends and found more turn from the Pavillion End.
Batting looked straightforward and Bairstow progressed to his fifty. Moeen joined in counterattacking and making quick runs. With four overthrows from a shy at the stumps from Sarfraz Bairstow achieved a six and Moeen matched in more conventional style from Yasir.
Moeen was pinned on the crease by Amir and the decision was given not out. Amir was very unlucky not to win the review with the ball shown to clip the stumps but the decision given as Umpire’s call. Pakistan had now lost the last of their Reviews.
Moeen and Bairstow accumulated a fifty partnership off just 72 balls.
A moment of magic from Yasir found the edge of Moeen’s bat and Srfraz took the chance to remove him for 32. England now 193-6 and still trailing by 21 runs.
Amir was now bowling at 86.5 miles per hour but England survived. At lunch England were 194-6 and still trailing Pakistan by 20 runs.
Woakes and Bairstow stood firm after lunch but after twenty minutes a spectacular run out from Wahab from his own bowling saw the end of Woakes for 4.
The very next ball Bairstow was caught by Azhar from Wahab for 81. England still trailed by 5 runs with only two wickets left.
Finn and Broad contrived to make sure Pakistan would have to bat again when the England score passed 214 but England’s fate looked sealed and only delayed.
There was a review for a catch from Broad to Yasir but it was shown to have fallen short of slip.
The resistance continued until Broad was caught from a reverse sweep by Younis from Yasir for 5. Yasir now had five wickets.
There was a mishap when Wahab was removed from the attack after receiving a third and final warning from the Umpire.
After a rally for the final partnership the final England wicket fell at 24 when Iftikhar trapped Anderson LBW for 17 to take his first test wicket and Pakistan now needed to chase 40 runs to win.
Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali opened for Pakistan. There was bad luck for England when Steven Finn pulled up with a hamstring injury and he was forced to leave the field.
Then after tea Aslam and Azhar saw Pakistan through to a famous victory at the Oval to level the series.
