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Pakistan beat England as banned Amir completes return

Captain Misbah ul-Haq said it was a tribute to those who ran Pakistan’s army-style boot camp before the tour, but Cook was less impressed.

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Pakistan’s Rahat Ali celebrates the wicket of England’s Alex Hales. Yasir Shah was yet again the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan with a total of 4 wickets in the second innings whereas Rahat Ali picked 3 wickets.

Amir’s appearance here six years ago was his last Test. He bowled two no-balls to order as part of a spot-fixing scam that ultimately brought him a five-year suspension and a term in a young offenders’ institute.

England captain Alastair Cook was the top scorer for his side with an individual score of 81 runs. There was none forthcoming, though, as Rahat did the early damage. Certainly when you’ve lost a game of cricket for the first 20 minutes or so it’s not pleasant.

Vince got a life when batting on nine as Younis Khan faltered at second slip and grassed a low chance despite a double attempt.

It would have been a breath-taking catch had the veteran collected either with his initial dive or the parry he flicked up to have a second chance.

The Ballance method did not quite cut it either as he, like Vince, fell short of 50 just when it seemed he might haul England within sight of victory.

42-year-old Misbah, who scored a vital first-innings century, was equally effusive in his praise for his rest of the teammates especially match-winner Yasir Shah.

Moeen Ali (right) was bowled after an extravagant, yet ultimately unsuccessful, charge to leg-spinner Yasir Shah.

And at tea on the fourth day, England were stuttering on 155 for six with Jonny Bairstow (28) and Chris Woakes (five) the not out batsmen. The run-rate slowed as Bairstow and Woakes dug in, knowing they had just the tail behind them at a sun-drenched Lord’s.

Woakes, who was recalled to Test duty after fellow all-rounder Ben Stokes was injured during the preceding Sri Lanka series, now has an overall return of 11 for 101 – the first time he has taken at least 10 wickets in a Test match.

Jake Ball was the last man to go, cleaned up by Amir for 3 to spark wild celebrations from the Pakistanis at Lord’s.

Bairstow and Chris Woakes (23) added 16 runs together before England headed into the second break of the day, still 128 shy of an improbable win.

The Yorkshireman, whose tame dismissal in the first innings precipitated a collapse, pulled a short ball straight to Yasir at deep square leg.

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Joe Root, Englands new number three, got off the mark with a back-foot cover drive for four off Rahat and also drove him through the same region, off the front foot, for another boundary. Wahab completed the dismissal at the bowler’s end and Pakistan were congratulating themselves on a job well done before the third umpire confirmed Ball’s fate.

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