Woakes, who began the resurgence with the wicket of Pakistan centurion Azhar Ali with the final delivery of the previous evening, believes captain Alastair Cook and Alex Hales’ first three-figure opening stand has given England reason for cautious optimism.
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The record-breaking batsman scored an unbeaten 64 to drag England back into the match, having earlier conceded a first innings deficit of 103.
Pakistan were bowled out for 400 as England’s right-arm fast-bowler Stuart Broad dismissed Rahat Ali to pick up his third wicket of the innings on the last ball of the 135th over.
After Azhar Ali, whose 139 was his first Test century outside of Asia, and recalled 20-year-old opener Sami Aslam (82) put on 181 for the second wicket Thursday, Pakistan saw skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (56) and wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed (46 not out) frustrate England on Friday.
In the next over, Mohammad Amir (1) was sent back after England successfully reviewed an LBW decision and in the 125th over, Anderson was given a third official warning for transgressing the danger area on the pitch and was taken out of the attack.
Hales departed in the next over for 54, fending at a ball outside off stump from left-armer Mohammad Amir to be snaffled at second slip by Younis Khan. An attritional yet engaging period of play followed with Root and Vince looking to stay watchful against a 7-2 off-side field set by Misbah-ul-Haq.
At lunch, Pakistan were 336 for five, a lead of 39 runs.
Woakes had Younis Khan (31) caught behind and Asad Shafiq couldn’t score off 18 deliveries before being clean bowled by Broad with Pakistan adding 79 runs in the first session. It gave England an opening at the lower order and brought a period where the umpires were in the thick of the action.
Yasir snared 10 wickets in a man-of-the-match performance in Pakistan’s first Test victory at Lord’s to continue a remarkable beginning to his Test career that has seen him take 88 victims in 15 Tests (including the ongoing match in Birmingham).
After the hosts’ insipid start to this pivotal match of a series level at 1-1, Pakistan resumed only 40 behind and with seven wickets intact.
Cook has been in rude health with the bat all summer, but Hales is still awaiting his first Test ton and he looks in pole position to get it.
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The tourists were 71 in front, on 368 for eight, at the moment Anderson was excluded.
