Shafiq made the most of England’s mistakes to post his ninth Test hundred, on a day when the Oval’s pavilion flags flew at half-mast in respect at the passing of the great Pakistani batsman Hanif Mohammad at the age of 81.
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England had to re-arrange their cordon after James Vince, usually at third slip for the quicks, was unable to field close in after suffering a finger injury trying to take a catch at Edgbaston.
England still trails by 126 runs with Pakistan looking likely to level the four-match series.
“The firmly struck pull shot came quickly but Broad used all of his 6′ 5” frame to cling on in stark contrast to England’s catching earlier in the day. Cook couldn’t handle the late movement edging it to first slip where debutant Iftikah Ahmed took a sharp catch.
“You can’t go into the match referee’s office during the game and have a heated exchange as Alex Hales did”. In the process, England also lost a review, and Hales’s exit meant he ended the series with a tally of just 145 runs at an average of 18.12. TV replays confirmed he was out plumb. The leggie drew Vince forward with some extra bit of air forcing him to hand a comfortable catch to Misbah-ul-Haq in the cover. Root opted for review but it was a waste because Hawk-Eye showed it was hitting middle stump.
Shafiq may equal Garry Sobers for the most amount of Test centuries made at number six, but as many have suggested for some time, his future belongs higher up the order for Pakistan – and while he may not be as young as his looks would imply, at 30 he has plenty of good years left in him.
England won the third Test at Edgbaston by 141 runs after overturning a first-innings deficit of 103 runs.
Pakistan were 542 all out at tea break on third day with lead by 214 runs.
Younis received a standing ovation from the Oval crowd after batting for a gruelling seven-and-a-half hours, which included 31 fours and four sixes.
But it was Ahmed, 17 not out overnight, who was the initial aggressor on Saturday as he scored in typically brisk fashion.
Cook chose to bring on Moeen Ali for one over before lunch and Younis pounced on the opportunity to hit a couple of boundaries and move on to 147.
Pakistan have seldom tried to attack James Anderson and Stuart Broad earlier in the series.
The partnership was finally broken though on 75 when Moen Ali got the wicket of Azhar for 49 caught behind.
But DRS proved umpire Bruce Oxenford was in error with his lbw decision, because the ball would have cleared the stumps. Overall, Shafiq’s is the tenth century by a Pakistan No. 4 in Tests in England.
Asked if the never-say-die spirit of Birmingham could yet come to their aid to close out series victory from 2-1 up, fast bowler Steven Finn said: “We’re going to need that, and some, in this situation”. Moeen has conceded 83 runs off his 16 overs in this innings so far, including seven fours and three sixes.
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After completing his imposing double tons with a sixer off English bowler Moeen Ali’s bowl, he put down his head in supplication to Allah (SWT).
