After Sohail sparked a top-order collapse, England, who lost the toss, were indebted to left-handers Gary Ballance (70) and Moeen Ali (63) for taking them to what could yet prove a challenging total.
Advertisement
Post his fifer, a Pakistan outlet based journalist asked Sohail about him learning English besides focusing on his bowling.
England had levelled the series after defeating Pakistan by 330 runs at Old Trafford last month.
So, too, did the straight exchange of a left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz for a right-armer, Sohail Khan, hitherto a bowler with a single Test wicket in a two-match career and an absence from the national side of five years.
Yorkshireman Ballance returned to the team for this series and doggedly complied a half century, his first since the Cardiff Ashes Test last summer, from 113 balls with eight fours.
Ballance’s knock was his first score of 50 since he was recalled to the side at the beginning of the Pakistan series, which is now locked at 1-1, having not played for England for more than a year after being axed during last summer’s Ashes.
England were rattled by Sohail (5-96) in the 10th over when he had Alex Hales (17) caught behind and removed Joe Root (3) in the 12th.
In contrast to the hosts’ approach, Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq did not publicly name his team. But next ball, with the bowler around the wicket, he shuffled across his stumps, tried to flick a turning leg-break but succeeded only in edging down the leg side to the wicketkeeper, Sarfraz Ahmed, who took the third of his five catches with excellent anticipation.
Misbah had described the pair as the “pillars” of England’s otherwise fragile top order.
But his seam attack provided some vindication as England reached 100 for three in the morning session.
Warwickshire favourite Woakes, now looking forward to a first Test appearance on his Edgbaston home ground, has been a revelation in England’s four home Tests this term. Just when it seemed like Alastair Cook (45) was settling in for the long haul after a positive start, he was trapped LBW in the 19th over by Rahat Ali (2-83).
Cook reviewed, more in hope than expectation, but was duly given out to leave England 75 for three. Vince was watchful but became Sohail’s third victim on 39, being given out by the third umpire after his edge just carried to Younis Khan at slip.
The Hampshire captain cover-drove Mohammad Amir for four and flicked Sohail for a legside boundary.
Advertisement
One small consolation for Vince was that at least on this occasion he had not been caught in the slips off a loose drive. But despite an impressive series against Sri Lanka, Hales’ chances to nail down a position in this England test side are running out.
