BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan led England by 39 runs at Lunch on day three, posting 336 for five in the third Test at Edgbaston.
After facing blows in the shape of Younis Khan’s and Asad Shafiq’s dismissals, Pakistan Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed steadied the innings.
Remaining wicket-less on day two, England’s right-arm fast-bowler Stuart Broad picked up his first scalp as he rattled Shafiq’s stumps on duck.
Chris Woakes picked up his second wicket when veteran batsman Younis (31 off 90) was caught-behind attempting to clip a wide delivery down the leg-side.
Pakistan started the day at three down for 257, a trail of 40 runs. The visitors added 79 runs in the first session with Misbah and Sarfraz not out at 44 and 20, respectively.
Yesterday, Pakistan’s One-Day International skipper, Azhar Ali, was caught in the slips off Chris Woakes on the last ball of day two. Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq joined veteran batsman Younis Khan to begin proceedings.
Azhar, along with 20-year-old Sami Aslam, put Pakistan on track after the visitors faced an early blow when Mohammad Hafeez, playing his 50th Test, handed a catch to Gary Ballance at backward-point on the fourth ball of the day.
The right and left-hand combo of Azhar and Aslam put a 181-runs stand for the second wicket.
The partnership, however, broke when a mix up between the two batsmen provided James Vince with an opportunity to run Aslam out on 82.
Azhar registered his 10th century and first one overseas as he scored 139.
