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England lose two wickets in 284 run chase

They struck two heavy blows in the last session when Malik, playing in his last test, dismissed Moeen Ali and then Bell in quick succession with the score on 34.

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Cook and Root then survived close leg before appeals off Zulfiqar Babar towards the end of the day as Pakistan lost both its reviews.

England’s highest successful chase in Asia is 209 against Bangladesh in Dhaka five years ago.

James Anderson remains confident England can go for victory in the third Test against Pakistan in Sharjah despite losing two early wickets as they chase a target of 284.

When in management, Hafeez timed the ball superbly and has hit 15 boundaries and three sixes in his knock.

Hafeez said he was pleased with his contribution.

Hafeez punishes England mistakes: Hafeez’s 151 was the main reason England were kept in the field beyond tea. This is his 118th match.

Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez finally got a century against England – and that was after missing out on three previous occasions.

Sarfraz batted confidently before left-armer Samit Patel managed to spin one into his stumps. In the third and final test, Pakistan trailed in the first innings – visiting England surpassed the hosts 234 runs by scoring 306 runs.

The opener finally found a willing partner in Adil Rashid, and alongside Cook the pair got England to lunch and beyond as they batted for nearly 22 overs for a partnership of 49, before the leg-spinning all-rounder became the only wicket for a seam bowler in the innings. England are reeling, wobbling as Babar and Shah are looking to pick a wicket off every ball. Jonny Bairstow also missed a stumping chance early in the day to give Hafeez a chance in his 90s.

Hafeez swept Rashid in the next over for a single to reach his century off 169 balls, his second at the Sharjah venue. England players wore black armbands in memory of former batsman David Graveny who died on Tuesday after long illness. He played 79 Tests for England.

England were looking frazzled by the time Anderson put down a swerving drive at mid-on off Patel, with Asad Shafiq on 29, but there was an eighth wicket on the stroke of tea when Yasir Shah cut Rashid to point.

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However, on a pitch at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium that turned from Day 1, the trio failed to pose enough problems to Pakistan’s batsmen.

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