BIRMINGHAM: Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali shared a stubborn unbroken second-wicket partnership to take Pakistan to 69 for one at lunch on the final day of the third test in Birmingham on Sunday.
Chasing a notional 343 for victory, Pakistan lost Mohammad Hafeez for two when he inexplicably pulled a short ball from Stuart Broad straight to Chris Woakes on the long leg boundary.
Sami and Azhar, who put together a century partnership in the first innings, batted calmly to give their side hope of saving the match and sending the teams into the final match of the series level at 1-1.Sami was 36 not out at the interval with Azhar on 30.England earlier extended their second innings to 445 for six before captain Alastair Cook declared.
Sami was 36 not out at the interval with Azhar on 30.England earlier extended their second innings to 445 for six before captain Alastair Cook declared.
Moeen Ali was not out at 86 and Chris Woakes had just come in after Jonny Bairstow was trapped lbw off a Sohail Khan delivery at 83 when Captain Alastair Cook sent the signal.
At stumps on Saturday, England were 414 for five in their second innings, a lead of 311 runs.
Bairstow was 82 not out and Ali 60 not out.
England’s sixth-wicket duo had added an unbroken 132 runs inside 27 overs ahead of Monday´s final day.
Pakistan will now have to set a new record for the Birmingham ground if they are to go 2-1 up in the four-match series, as the most any side have made in the fourth innings to win a Test at Edgbaston is South Africa’s 283 for five in 2008.
