Pakistan fight hard and the game is finely poised at the end of day one at the Kia Oval
Pakistan fought hard after England won the toss and decided to bat on what seemed to be another good batting track at the Kia Oval. They bowled England out for 328. Facing a difficult short period before the close Pakistan lost Sami Aslam and were 3-1 at the close to leave the game finely balanced.
The 4th Investec Test Match began at the Kia Oval today climaxing the series.
A minute’s silence was held by both teams before play to make the the tragic loss of life in Quetta this week.
England won the toss and elected to bat in this the final test match of the series. Pakistan made two changes from the team which had played at Edgbaston with Iftikhar Ahmad coming in for Mohammad Hafeez and Wahab Riaz coming in for Rahat Ali.
Cook and Hales got off to a brisk start. However with the score on 23 Hales appeared to chip a catch to Yasir Shah at mid wicket from Amir. It was given out by the on-field umpire and the third umpire reviewed the catch and determined it was out. So England were 23-1.
Cook and Hales then moved along at a speedy rate and brought up England’s fifty. At drinks after the first hour England were 53-1.
With the score on 68 Cook gave a chance at slip to Iftikhar from the bowling of Wahab but it was dropped.
The drop was not to cost Pakistan too much as Cook played on in the next over attempting a pull from Sohail for 35. England now 69-2.
Root was next to depart for 26 when he was caught by Sarfraz from Wahab. England now 73-3 and the morning session transformed.
A further blow came for England when Vince was caught behind by Sarfraz from Wahab for 1. England now in trouble at 74-4.
England went into lunch at 92-4. A very good morning for Pakistan after losing the toss.
After lunch there was huge disappointment for Pakistan. Bairstow was caught by Yasir from the bowling of Wahab when on 13 and the score 94 but the Umpire called no ball and Bairstow had a reprieve. Inevitably he struck the next ball for four.
There was no deprive for Gary Ballance when shortly afterwards he was caught by Azhar Ali from Wahab for 8. England now reduced to 110-5.
Pakistan now on a roll. Moeen was then struck on the helmet by Wahab facing his first ball.
Amir now roared in and there was possible LBW and caught behind shout from Bairstow against Amir. The decision was given not out and was reviewed but the third umpire adjudged not out on both counts.
There was another life for England when Azhar dropped Moeen on 9 at slip from the luckless Amir. This followed the ball before where a bottom edge from Moeen against Amir trickled past his stumps.
Bairstow and Moeen then rallied and began a recovery for Pakistan. They reached a fifty partnership for the 6th wicket from 83 balls.
Bairstow reached his own counter attacking fifty from 73 balls.
There was another edge through the slips by Moeen from Wahab but no man there.
By tea Moeen had reached his fifty too and England had pushed on to 200-5.
Amir finally got what he deserved when Sarfraz took a catch from Bairstow who had made 55. So England now 203-6 and the partnership between Bairstow and Moeen was 93.
Woakes and Moeen now set about building a partnership. A flurry of boundaries and they brought up the fifty partnership from 62 balls. One over from Wahab conceding 17 runs including four boundaries from Woakes.
Woakes however was to fall to Sohail who had him caught behind for 45. Woakes reviewed the decision but it was upheld. England now 282-7 and the game intriguingly poised.
Broad was up next and there was soon an LBW appeal against him from Sohail. Broad immediately reviewed but DRS gave the decision as Umpire’s call and the wicket stood. England now had no reviews left and were 282-8.
With the score on 296 Finn was bowled by Sohail for 8.
England brought up their 300 with a wide. The Moeen brought up his hundred in fine style with a six over mid wicket from Yasir.
England’s last wicket partnership produced quick runs and added 32 runs but then Yasir Shah caught Moeen from Sohail for a fine 108. England were all out for 328.
An awkward ten minutes remained for Pakistan to bat. They lost Sami Aslam and were 3-1 at the close to leave the game finely poised.
