Ali crashed a leg-side four to bring up his sixth Test half century but after Broad was caught at slip by Azhar Ali off Amir for 13, the classy number seven was out for 63 when Sarfraz pouched his fifth catch of the innings off the same bowler.
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It was a cruel end for the impressive batsman but his performance still puts Pakistan in a commanding position on 257-3, just 40 runs behind England’s first innings total of 297. He removed Mohammad Hafeez for a duck with the fourth ball of the day but thereafter, Pakistan’s batsmen were in control.
Novice opener Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali shared a 181-run stand for the second wicket after Pakistan lost Mohammad Hafeez without a run on the board. Azhar was dismissed from the final ball of the day with Sami run out for 82 earlier in the evening session.
Younis Khan, in at No.4, gave Azhar good support during a 76-run stand for the third wicket, and will resume on the morrow on 21 not out.
“The last ball is always nervy – it was a loose shot”, Azhar told Sky Sports.
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“The reputation is we don’t perform in English conditions and you want to prove that wrong”.
Anderson was twice warned by umpire Bruce Oxenford for running on the pitch and may face action from match referee Richie Richardson if it is decided he spoke out of turn to the official.
“I know I was out of order with the way I behaved back then and have apologised to both umpires”.
“Guys were getting starts but weren’t able to kick on, but overall we’re pretty happy with it”.
“All credit to the Pakistan guys at the top of the order – they played really well”.
The four-match series now stands level at 1-1.
Aslam, brought into the side to replace Shan Masood, shaped up well in his third Test showing good awareness of his off stump and an eagerness to take singles to keep the strike rotating.
His only prior innings this tour had seen Aslam make just 17 against Worcestershire last week in a two-day warm-up match.
Azhar was equally severe when Steven Finn dropped short, cutting the fast bowler for four over point.
The Middlesex quick was dropped after going wicketless for the first time in a Test match during the series opener at Lord’s, his home ground.
Azhar nearly fell to a similar shot off Ali when on 68, but the bowler was unable to hold a tough return chance above his head off a hard-hit drive.
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“If you can scrap and work really hard for your runs, then there is no reason you can’t get runs here”, he added. Batters like Gary Ballance, Alex Hales and James Vince are more conventional characters than Trott and Pietersen while Cook himself is a not a confrontational person.
