Lord’s, London – July 16: Pakistan finished the third day of the Lord’s Test with a very healthy lead. After a fascinating day’s cricket, the game was finely balanced, a tad in favour of Pakistan given the kind of bowling attack it possesses and the variable bounce in the pitch likely to become a factor.
As play commenced on day three, Pakistan mopped up the last three England wickets for just 19 runs. With wickets falling regularly, they steadily accumulated runs and by close of play had pushed their lead to 281 runs and poised in a strong position with two days still to play in the test.
England began the day on 253-7 still trailing the Pakistan total by 86 runs with Woakes and Broad at the crease.
The morning started quietly but suddenly Wahab Riaz rattled Stuart Broad’s stumps with a magnificent yorker and dismissed him for 17.
The score trundled along to 267 but then Yasir Shah trapped Steven Finn LBW with a slider. Yasir became the first leg spinner to take six wickets at Lord's since 1983 and has got more wickets in his first 13 Tests than anyone else in history.
Then a desperate attempt to get a second run resulted in Jake Ball being run out for 4. England’s innings had ended with the total at 272 and trailing Pakistan by 67 runs. So England had lost their last three wickets for 12 runs and added only 19 runs in total this morning.
Pakistan’s second innings got off to a disappointing start when Mohammad Hafeez was caught by Root at slip off Stuart Broad’s bowling for a duck.
At lunch Pakistan had rallied to 40-1 in what had definitely been Pakistan's session. They mopped up the England tail, then pushed their lead past 100 for the loss of only Mohammad Hafeez.
Almost immediately after lunch Woakes provided the perfect start for England with Cook catching Masood immediately after the batsman had stroked him down the ground for four.
The score moved on to 59 before Azhar was again given LBW after review. This time to Woakes.
This brought Younis and Misbah together again but the partnership was not to last long as Misbah was caught on the boundary by Hales facing his second ball and the first ball he faced from Moeen. The score was now 60-4 and the lead 127.
There was a further scare with the score on 68 when England were sure they had a wicket and reviewed a not out decision against Younis but the Review showed the ball hit the bat on the way through.
Yet more drama was to come with the score on 75 when Younis was given out LBW to Finn but the decision was overturned on Review from Pakistan. The test match was finely poised.
There were further concerns when Shafiq edged Ball through the slips. Batting was tough and the hundred was brought up for Pakistan for the loss of four wickets after forty three overs.
Just before tea, Younis and Shafiq brought up the fifty partnership and at tea the score was 111-4 after a terrific session of cricket with the balance shifting between the two teams. The lead was now 178.
After tea the game continued on a knife edge. Younis played on to Moeen Ali and was out for 25. A nice partnership then developed between Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed. The partnership ended when Shafiq played outside the line and was bowled by Woakes for 49. the score was now 168-6.
Yasir Shah who had batted at 11 in the first innings now came to the crease at number 8.
On 36 Sarfraz was dropped from a straightforward chance by Bairstow from Finn. The error proved costly and Yasir and Sarfraz started to accumulate runs.
With 15 minutes play to go, Woakes came back from the Pavillion End and claimed his tenth wicket of the match when he removed Sarfraz caught behind for 45. The score now was 208-7.
Woakes went on to further glory claiming Wahab Riaz caught behind for a duck with the total at 214.
At close of play, Pakistan had progressed to 214-8 and a lead of 281 runs. A strong position.
