After choosing to bat England looked in trouble on the first day of the fourth Test – that was until Moeen Ali capitalised on Pakistan’s errors to ensure the hosts posted a respectable first innings total.
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Having won the toss at the Oval, England slipped to 110 for five before Moeen and Jonny Bairstow put on 93 for the sixth wicket.
But Broad’s late wicket capped off a sterling recovery from the hosts, who hold the ascendancy, not to mention a 2-1 series lead, going into day two.
Should England take the series 3-1 and India do not win both of the remaining matches in their series away to the West Indies, Cook’s men could go top of the world Test rankings.
Pakistan claimed four wickets in the morning session, removing Alex Hales, Alastair Cook, Joe Root and James Vince in quick succession before England limped to 92 for four at lunch.
Wahab, who was dropped for the Edgbaston Test but replaced Rahat Ali for the final Test of the series in London, could have had two more before tea.
“He (Rashid) is going to keep gaining experience in the one-day internationals”.
Debutant Iftikhar Ahmed was hoisted over mid-wicket for six and, with number 11 Anderson for company, Moeen repeated the feat off Yasir Shah to register a 140-ball hundred and bring team-mates and spectators to their feet. We’d take 320 from where we were and the wicket at the end was a big wicket.
Finding further support from Chris Woakes in a partnership of 79, Moeen then powered on to his century to take his side to 328.
England were 69 for one when left-hander Cook (35) played on after under-edging a pull off Sohail. “I’m hoping we can get runs on board here, it turns a bit and there’s a bit of bounce – and that’s a leg-spinner’s best friend”, said Arthur.
Moeen was also dropped on nine off Amir by Azhar Ali at third slip, the bowler’s frustration apparent by his wild kick at the turf following that let-off.
Shafiq lofted Ali for six over long-on but Azhar fell one shy of a fifty when he gloved an attempted sweep against the off-spinner and was caught behind by wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow, although it needed a review to confirm the dismissal.
A minute’s silence was held before start of play, as a mark of respect to the victims of Monday’s Quetta terrorist attack, and both teams wore black armbands.
There was further sadness, for the tourists especially, when it was confirmed after lunch that Pakistan’s Hanir Mohammad, one of cricket’s greatest batsmen, had died aged 81 on Thursday after a prolonged illness.
Their bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed admits an opportunity has been missed – after Moeen was dropped twice early in his innings, and Bairstow was caught off a no-ball.
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It was Sohail Khan, whose fitness has been much maligned, who removed the risky Woakes and the (these days) non-dangerous Stuart Broad, and momentum returned again to the bowling unit.
