Having conceded a 103-run first-innings deficit on the third day, it took Alastair Cook’s current team less than 48 hours to turn the tables on the tourists so convincingly that they now head to London tomorrow with a 2-1 series lead and a shot at reclaiming the world No 1 Test ranking.
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The wicket of Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was his first in 71.3 overs, a sequence dating back to the third Sri Lanka Test at Lord’s in June.
The fourth Test starts on Thursday, live on Sky Sports.
At tea, Pakistan were 148 for seven, with Yasir Shah seven not out and Mohammad Amir 15 not out.
But a rare misjudgement by the 20-year-old left-hander saw him bowled by Finn as he deliberately left the ball.
His excellent 83 came off 127 balls including eight fours, with Bairstow and Ali adding 152 in under 29 overs.
Pakistan were all-out for 201 runs in their second innings.
Pakistan’s chase started poorly when Mohammad Hafeez (two) fell cheaply for the second time in the match before Aslam and Azhar Ali, who made 139 in the first innings, put on 73.
Finn had now taken two for none in 11 balls.
England’s Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad celebrate the wicket of Pakistan’s Asad Shafiq.
Pakistan’s priority now was to try to bat out the day’s remaining 28 overs and prevent England going 2-1 up in the series ahead of next week’s fourth and final Test at The Oval.
Alastair Cook, the England captain, was 64 not out and Alex Hales 50 not out, with the duo having compiled their first century stand in 18 innings together as a Test match opening pair.
Devastating bowling from Steven Finn and Chris Woakes, who each took two wickets, tore open the middle order and delayed tea as England tried to force an early victory after taking six wickets in the afternoon session.
The fifth and final morning had begun with Cook being criticised over his decision not to declare overnight – despite the fact his side already had a 311-run lead.
Moeen Ali belted two sixes off Yasir Shah in the first over of the day and when Cook pulled the pin, the bearded allrounder had scored 25 of the 31 runs the hosts added in their brief stint this morning.
Jonny Bairstow was 82 not out and Moeen Ali 60 not out after they had taken the match away from Pakistan on Saturday.
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Finn was a central figure in England’s victory, removing arguably the two most prized Pakistan batsmen to reward an improved performance in what has been a trying summer.
