Three 40s in England’s middle order were not enough, after they had bowled Pakistan out for 215 and set off to make some history of their own – with nearly two full days at their disposal.
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As for Amir, a teenager in 2010 but now aged 24, Misbah said: “Everybody wants Mohammad Amir to play, especially the crowd”.
Pakistan’s Yasir Shah celebrates after taking the wicket of England’s Joe Root during First Test match at Lord’s on Friday, July 15, 2016. But Bairstow’s three-and-a-half hour innings ended when he was bowled trying to whip a Yasir leg-break.
His back-off-a-length ball had left-hander Cook (eight) edging through to wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed. Rahat had taken 2 for 8 in 13 balls and England were 32 for 2.
Cooks opening partner Alex Hales made a brisk 16 before carelessly chasing a wide ball from Rahat outside off stump, with Mohammad Hafeez holding a good catch at first slip.
Rahat (three for 47) very almost had four before lunch, James Vince surviving on nine when he squeezed an edged drive low to Younus Khan’s right at second slip. Yet to play a major Test innings, Vince was nearly out on 9 when his edged drive off Rahat flew to Younis Khan at second slip.
Broad unleashed a short ball which Shah attempted to hook but could only edge behind to the leaping Bairstow who clung on with one hand. The 25-year-old batsman picked up pace and hit Wahab Riaz for three consecutive boundaries and followed it up with two more off Yasir in the next over to go past his previous best individual score of 35. We always believe if we cross 300 runs (Pakistan made 339 in their first innings), we are very much in the game.
Misbah remained the top-scorer with 114 runs whereas Chris Woakes took 6 wickets for England. The bowler lured Root into attempting a pull and had Yasir stationed at deep square leg who completed a neat catch, running to his right.
Moeen Ali hardly helped England’s cause, dismissed for two when he charged at a Yasir delivery and was bowled to leave England on 139 for 6.
Should they manage to get England home it would be their biggest run chase to victory here at Lord’s – at 283, one more than their highest ever chase here back in 2004.
Riaz bowled an excellent spell of reverse swing to the duo, but though he beat the bat and found the edge, he was unlucky to not effect the breakthrough.
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Earlier, Pakistan added just one run to its overnight 214 for 8 as Stuart Broad cleaned up the tail. Yasir Shah was yet again the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan with a total of 4 wickets in the second innings.
