BIRMINGHAM: England have set a 343-run target for Pakistan in the third Test match Birmingham.
Pakistan will have 84 overs to accomplish the target on the last day today. Or it could be said Pakistan need to survive 504 balls to draw the match.
Pakistan will now have to set a new record for the Birmingham ground if they are to go 2-1 up in the four-match series, as the most any side have made in the fourth innings to win a Test at Edgbaston is South Africa’s 283 for five in 2008.
On Saturday, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali both scored dashing fifties as England wrested the initiative from Pakistan on the fourth day.
At stumps, England were 414 for five in their second innings, a lead of 311 runs. The next day, Moeen remained not out on 86, taking lead to 342.
Bairstow was 82 not out and Ali 60 not out after they had added an unbroken 132 for the sixth wicket. England had been well-placed at 120 without loss overnight.
But openers Alastair Cook and Alex Hales both went early on Saturday as Pakistan took two wickets for no runs in nine balls. Joe Root (62) and James Vince (42) stopped the rot during a painstaking stand of 95.
“The way Cookie and Halesy played last night was outstanding,” Root told Sky Sports before turning to Bairstow and Ali’s stand.
BIRMINGHAM-Cricket Match – theMagTime.com
“It was an unbelievable partnership tonight, good to watch and an exhibition of how to bat in the third innings. “The pitch doesn’t look like it is breaking up, but there’s enough there to take 10 wickets tomorrow (Sunday).”
But Pakistan bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed said: “I don’t know what England are going to do tomorrow (Sunday), but one thing is for sure: this is a good pitch for batsmen, and our batsmen are in good form.”
Mohammad Amir then turned 126 for one into 126 for two when Hales (54) edged a seaming delivery from the left-arm quick and Younis Khan held a difficult low chance at second slip.
It was tough on left-arm paceman Rahat, who bowled superbly in reeling off five straight maidens in a spell of seven overs for just seven runs.
After lunch, Root pulled Shah for a boundary that saw him to a 108-ball fifty.
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