However, by then Azhar’s tenth Test century had cut through English optimism like a scalpel and manoeuvred the tourists into a match-winning position.
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Ali, who came into the crease following the dismissal of Mohammad Hafeez, put on a 181-run partnership with opener Sami Aslam, who suffered a run-out dismissal after scoring 82 runs.
England failed to capitalise on a bonus early breakthrough as Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali shut them out on day two of the third Investec Test at Edgbaston.
Pakistan ended the second day’s play at Edgbaston in the driver’s seat at 257 for three, trailing England by just 40 runs with seven wickets in hand.
“The last ball is always nervy – it was a loose shot”, Azhar told Sky Sports.
His tetchiness, and England’s concern, was doubtless amplified after Wilson’s colleague Bruce Oxenford warned him twice in one over for running on the pitch – leaving Anderson one more admonishment away from exclusion from the attack for the rest of an innings with plenty more legs.
“I’ve apologised to both umpires, because my behaviour wasn’t acceptable”. I don’t necessarily think it was what I said, it was just the way I behaved.
“Guys were getting starts but weren’t able to kick on, but overall we’re pretty happy with it”. Unfortunately I didn’t finish it off but it’s still a good day for us.
Hafeez, playing his 50th Test, fell to the fourth ball of the morning when he slapped a short, wide delivery from James Anderson low to point but that was the only success for England over the first two hours.
The other bold decision which worked Pakistan’s way was inclusion of Sohail Khan in the side, the 2-Test Match bowler was preferred over pace gun Wahab Riaz, who played both the opening Test matches of the series.
This was a chastening day for England – one which put their score of 297 into some context – but the late removal of Azhar provided a cause for optimism for day three.
It did not help his mood when Joe Root dropped Azhar off his bowling on 38 at second slip.
Azhar s cover-driven three off fast bowler Steven Finn saw him to a 129-ball fifty, including six fours.
England wasted another opportunity to break the stand when Moeen couldn’t hold onto a sharp overhead catch off his own bowling when Azhar drove hard back to him.
But at Thursday s tea they were 154 for one, with Aslam 69 not out and Azhar unbeaten on 72.
Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott said captain Alastair Cook “doesn’t have any real feel for the game – he just bowls them by numbers”.
After losing two big wickets of Root and captain Cook, Vince and Ballance have weathered the storm to an extent with a decent-looking stand. He did have the consolation of notching up his highest Test score so far, easily surpassing the 20 he made against Bangladesh in Khulna previous year.
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Azhar reached his 10th Test century with an awkward deflection of Stuart Broad and celebrated with the press-ups that have become Pakistan’s trademark on this tour.
