In glorious batting conditions, England mustered one wicket in each of the first two sessions – nightwatchman Yasir Shah and then Azhar Ali.
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Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan made gritty centuries to lift Pakistan to 340 for six as England’s bowlers toiled in ideal batting conditions on the second day of the final Test at The Oval on Friday.
“As a senior there is a lot of expectation on me”, said the 38-year-old after compiling his sixth test double hundred.
The score at that stage was 434 for 8, the lead a healthy but still precarious 106 – only three runs more, in fact, than the deficit that England had overcome in last week’s third Test at Edgbaston.
Gary Ballance was unbeaten on four at the close with Jonny Bairstow on 14 but Pakistan should secure victory on Sunday to level the series 2-2.
If the four-match series ends 2-2, Pakistan could go top of the world Test rankings, but England must avoid defeat at The Oval to keep their hopes of replacing Australia at the summit alive. Pakistani batsman played responsible knocks in the first innings.
Leg-spinner Shah then took three wickets for four runs in 22 balls as England, in their second innings, slumped to 88 for four at the close – still 126 runs behind.
The demise of Hales, who has failed to cover himself in glory both on and off the field in this final Test, somehow summed up England’s miserable plight.
Vince’s 158 runs at 22.57 this series left his Test future open to question.
After Wahab Riaz squared up Alastair Cook to have him well taken at first slip, Yasir removed Alex Hales, James Vince and Joe Root in a spell of 3-4 in 22 deliveries.
Root was playing nicely before he too was lbw to Yasir – and unsuccessful on review.
From despair one week to delight the next, Asad Shafiq’s last three innings have been a fitting representation of the ever-changing fortunes of the Pakistan cricket team.
On the other hand, Mohammad Amir (39 not out), who remained run-less for 23 deliveries, got off the mark with a six off Moeen and followed it back to back boundaries in the next over to bring the 50-run stand with Younis.
By contrast it took Younis 13 balls to add his first run Saturday.
This was his fifth Test double hundred, to add to a triple, and he made England’s bowling look ordinary.
“The way I push myself and my fitness, if Allah helps me the way he has, maybe I can play some more years”, said Younis, who shepherded the tail masterfully on the fourth day, to the tune of 202 runs for the final four wickets. Younis opted for a review but the ball was clipping the leg stump ending his marathon innings.
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Given that he had managed only 122 runs in six innings before in this series, what he produced yesterday was tailor-made for his team – and more than deserved the standing ovation he received from a packed Kia Oval when Jimmy Anderson finally got him lbw on 218.
