England make Pakistan follow-on- England vs Pakistan, Test 3, Day 3
Pakistan began the day with a mountain to climb. They started the day 24-3 after a brilliant spell from James Anderson in the evening of day two.
Proceedings got underway and got immediately worse for Pakistan, Anderson struck again and got his fourth wicket of the innings. A full-length ball saw Shafiq edge the ball to slip cordon. England captain Joe Root neatly took the catch at first slip to pile the pressure on the visitors.
Pakistan began to build a partnership and a period of stability, but this was broken by the bowling and introduction of spinner Dom Bess. He found the outside edge of Alam’s bat with Buttler taking a very good, quick reactionary catch. Alam fell for 21 and England were running through the Pakistan batting line-up with little resistance from the Pakistan batsman.
Rizwan and Azhar Ali then frustrated England’s bowlers. Chances were few and far between with both batsmen consistently finding the boundary and seeing off England’s bowling attack.
Both batsmen achieved personal milestones but made no in-roads into the England total Ali surpassed his half century and went onto achieve his century. Rizwan who has been superb all series behind the stumps carried his form from his wicketkeeping into his batting. He achieved his half century but didn’t go on to make a big score.
Rizwan then fell to the bowling of Chris Woakes, he found the edge and a catch by Buttler saw Rizwan fall for 53. This act of stubborn defiance came to an end and opened up an end that England desperately needed.
Yasir Shah held off the England bowling attack for a short while but failed to make a major contribution to his teams’ efforts. He eventually lost his wicket for 20. Broad used the new ball to his advantage and caught the outside edge of Yasir’s bat with Root taking the catch. This wicket meant that England were deep into the Pakistan tail and were closing in on a large lead in the first innings.
Broad took another wicket quickly, a ball down the leg side was chased by Shaheen. He feathered the ball through to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. A fantastic acrobatic catch saw Shaheen dismissed for 3.
England then began to squander numerous chances. Jimmy Anderson who was three wickets away from 600 Test wickets saw three catches dropped off of his bowling. Two fell in the slip cordon and then one by fellow opening bowler Stuart Broad. Broad dropped a routine catch but made up for it by quickly picking up the ball and firing it at the stumps. A direct hit saw Abbas ran out for 1.
Despite the missed chances, Anderson soon claimed his 598th Test wicket which happened to end the Pakistan innings. Naseem was caught by Sibley off the bowling of Anderson for 0. Pakistan were all out for 273 and trailed by 310 runs behind.
Azhar Ali finished Pakistan’s first innings 141 not out. He played a sublime innings and showed his true class as a batsman. He has struggled in the series against England, the movement of the Duke ball and conditions has caused all sorts of difficulties for him but he showed his class in Pakistan’s first innings.
But unfortunately for Pakistan and Azhar Ali it wasn’t enough. The visitors ended the day 310 behind and this meant England enforced the follow on. Pakistan will begin their second innings at the start of day four.
For the most part of the day England bowled well. Threatening the Pakistan batsman and looking to take wickets. England’s bowlers showed their class in the latter stages of the day when the quickly and cheaply worked their way through the Pakistan batting line-up. There were periods in which the bowler was frustrated by the batting of Ali and Rizwan, but Pakistan failed to avoid the follow-on.
England are now in a great position to secure the victory. The hosts have two days to bowl out Pakistan. Weather permitting and based off the performance that shown on day two, England have the firepower to take the ten wickets they need to finish the series with a victory.
