Steven Finn has been known to block up an end and Woakes was happy to let him have the strike but he became Yasir’s sixth victim three overs later, trapped in front of leg stump by a ball that skidded on.
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England, set 283 for victory, were bowled out for 207 after tea on the fourth day.
Fortunately for England, it was not too costly a miss with Woakes producing even simpler chances that Bairstow held to get rid of both the gritty Ahmed and Wahab Riaz (nought).
It was Yasir Shah who had done the damage earlier to the English batting side as his two quick wickets after lunch helped put Pakistan in the driving seat.
Rahat Ali was the one who began things positively for Pakistan, removing England’s top three to reduce the home team to 47 for 3.
“I’m disappointed that none of our batsmen pushed on today”.
But, as with most of the England upper order in the first innings, they failed to establish themselves, and Pakistan took wickets and regained the upper hand.
Cook felt his team’s failings with the bat were ultimately what cost them dear, while he reserved special praise for stand-out performer Chris Woakes, who finished with match figures of 11-102.
Cook praised Chris Woakes for his positive contribution, and made it clear that the absence of the experienced duo of James Anderson and Ben Stokes did not prevent England from winning.
Bairstow top-scored in the second innings with a composed and clever knock which, while not without luck, underlined why he has scored 225 more runs than any other Test batsman in world cricket this year. We allowed Yasir to get six wickets when he wasnt turning the ball.
England was making steady progress at 135 for 4 when Yasir, who took 6 for 72 in the first innings, struck.
It was Broad’s first short one, and Yasir gloved behind trying to pull and was well-caught high above his head by Bairstow.
England had resumed on 253 for seven in reply to Pakistan’s 339 all out but any hopes of reaching parity or overtaking that total quickly vanished.
Stuart Broad misjudged one from left-hander and was bowled for one, then and was dismissed as he looked for a second run.
England were then gifted a wicket when Mohammad Hafeez carelessly fell for a duck as he guided Broad straight to Root at second slip in the manner of a coach giving fielders catching practice.
After a brief partnership with Younis Khan (25), Azhar was given out lbw against Woakes in the 28th over.
England’s second essay bore a strong resemblance to that of Pakistan’s, but the 67-run first-innings lead the visitors squeezed on Day 3 proved decisive.
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Misbah-ul-Haq’s tourists are therefore 1-0 up, with three to play, having profited most from their captain’s first-innings century and then Yasir’s expertise – defying unfamiliar climes, in his first Test outside Asia.
