The way England’s bowlers conjured up a win at Edgbaston was nothing short of brilliant. That wicket was Woakes’ 23rd of a prolific series.
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England had been fighting to stay in the game from the first day but a flawless display on the final day saw the tourists wilt under the relentless pressure of the home attack.
The final Test at The Oval starts on Thursday. “But after lunch they got it reversing and we were not having any clue”.
“We kind of pounced on them, knowing one breakthrough would give us a sniff”.
The hosts had it all to do after conceding a first-innings lead of 103 runs at Midlands county Warwickshire’s headquarters.
Now England could complete one of their big goals by becoming the No 1-ranked Test team in the world if they win at The Oval and secure a 3-1 triumph. However, England captain Alastair Cook praised his side’s resilience as they came from behind to beat Pakistan in the third Test at Edgbaston. At one stage four wickets fell for one run in 22 balls.
Asked to rank this win, Cook said: “This has got to be right up there”.
Ali added: “We were behind the eight-ball a little bit, but fought back brilliantly”.
“I’m very proud of the way we hung in there”, said the England captain. That doesn’t always happen.
“This side is toughening up”.
However, having been set 343 in 84 overs, Pakistan subsided over the final two sessions.
“If we do win there, I wouldn’t say we are anywhere near our potential”. I thought it might come in a couple of years’ time.
James Vince, who was not on the field at the moment of victory after dislocating his finger when getting a hand to sharp chance at slip, will be fit and available.
But chunky left-handed opener Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali resisted for 25 overs with a similar application they displayed during their long partnership in the first innings.
Ali broke the stand soon after lunch when he lured Azhar Ali to play an expansive drive and edged to Cook in the second slip.
Veteran Younis Khan, 38, was caught behind during a superb spell by Anderson.
“Until lunch it was easy”, the Pakistan skipper said.
Anything other than two wins would see England also leapfrog India, completing an fantastic first 15 months in the job for coach Trevor Bayliss.
He added: “Full credit to England for the way they fought back after we had a lead of more than a hundred”.
I’d go as far as saying it was the best bowling I can remember seeing from a group of seam bowlers.
Anderson followed Broad in reversing it from the pavilion end, and it was handsome craftsmanship.
Finn then combined with Woakes in a sensational Pakistan collapse against some reverse swing when he had Misbah-ul-Haq caught behind and brought one back enough into the left-hander Aslam to clip the top of the stumps. I was made up for Finny.
Cook, though, knows his team still have a long way to go before they are the finished article.
Quite a few England bowlers have been able to reverse swing the ball into right-handed batsmen.
Finn followed on from Anderson.
Woakes then replaced Moeen and struck in his first over, Asad Shafiq bagging a pair lbw on the defence – using up a review too, before departing.
When Aslam offered no shot to Finn after 167 balls of concentration, the game was up.
Graeme Swann helped massively on both those tours and despite the best efforts of Moeen Ali – who took the final wicket of this match in Birmingham – and leg-spinner Adil Rashid, England have not replaced the off-spinner who took 255 wickets in 60 Tests.
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The day started in spectacular style when Moeen whacked wrist-spinner Yasir for six, six, four, two off successive deliveries.
