I’m off to write a panel on England’s great comeback victories, a big dumb smile plastered over my big dumb face. England have come from behind to lead 2-1 in this excellent series, and the fourth and final Test is only five days’ away. See you then. Thanks for your company, bye!
This is a particularly rewarding victory for Moeen Ali and Steven Finn, two very different cricketers who have had some very difficult moments this summer. Today they took the breakthrough wickets in the afternoon session, and then Moeen took the final wicket. It was all delightfully schmaltzy.
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England have had a few of these comeback victories in recent times: Trent Bridge 2011 and Lord’s 2015 stand out, and this can sit proudly alongside them. Sod the Olympics, this is the feelgood victory of the summer. It’s rare to see such a complete team performance. It’s easy to ensure there is no dead wood when there are two of you - Finchy and Brent, exhibit A - but in an 11-man game it’s extremely unusual.
ENGLAND WIN BY 141 RUNS AND GO 2-1 UP IN THE SERIES
A superb Test match ends at 5.23pm on the final day when Sohail smashes the ball straight back at Moeen, who holds on to a fine catch. That is a glorious win for England, and one of the best team performances in England’s recent history. There were no centuries, no five-fors, not even a four-for. All XI made vital contributions, and at least five of them have a case for the Man of the Match award.
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WICKET! Pakistan 201 all out (Sohail ct and b Moeen 36)
Moeen wins the match with a superb return catch!
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70th over: Pakistan 199-9 (Sohail 34, Rahat 15) Pakistan have 15 overs to survive. Sohail cuts Finn for four and then drives him to long-off for another! England are getting an irritating reminder that, no matter how well you play, you always have to hit that winning double.
69th over: Pakistan 190-9 (Sohail 25, Rahat 15) Rahat chips Moeen on the bounce to short extra. As much as England deserve to win for a wonderful performance, it would entirely hilarious if Sohail and Rahat batted 25 overs to secure a draw.
68th over: Pakistan 190-9 (Sohail 25, Rahat 15) Alastair Cook is a believer in cheesy happy endings: he has brought Steven Finn back into the attack. Whoever is in charge of these things, please let Finn finish it off by sending a stump or two flying. Not in that over, which is defended well by Rahat and Sohail. I think they are considering a draw for the first time. DANNY BLOODY MORRISON. England now have Moeen as a back stop for the top-edged hook. Back stop, suicide gully: this is some serious slap-bass captaincy from Alastair Cook.
67th over: Pakistan 189-9 (Sohail 25, Rahat 15) Moeen comes into the attack. Joe Root goes in at silly point without a helmet, remembers what happened to Nick Knight and then decides to protect his head. Sohail blazes Moeen miles in the air, with the ball just eluding Finn and bouncing away for four.
“Dislocating one’s finer is quite common in cricket,” says John Starbuck. “I’ve done it - or rather, I’ve had it happen to me - and all you need is someone confident enough to give the digit a sharp tug. It hurts like ******* for a couple of hours but not enough to put you out of the next game. In this case, though, Vince might be deemed ‘injured’ to allow Rashid to play his part at the Oval.”
It might have been a break, though the way he ran off suggested a dislocation. I can’t see them making that change - not at 2-1 up (probably) and not without Stokes.
66th over: Pakistan 185-9 (Sohail 21, Rahat 15) Rahat fresh-airs a vigorous swipe at Broad. Pakistan need 158 from 108 balls.
Here’s James Debens on who should replace James Vince if he misses the final Test with pain of the finger. “We need to try a spinner for India,” says James, “so it has to be wily Eddie Hemmings for Vince.” John Childs is bowling beautifully at the moment.
65th over: Pakistan 185-9 (Sohail 21, Rahat 15) England have bowled abysmally at this last pair, far too short and with unnecessary machismo. Not that it really matters. Their bowling earlier, when Pakistan went from 79 for one to 151 for nine, was exemplary. Pakistan didn’t collapse at all; England flattened them.
REVIEW! Pakistan 181-9 (Sohail not out 17)
Yep, it was missing by a long way. Next!
ENGLAND REVIEW: Pakistan 181-9 (Sohail 17)
Woakes dupes Sohail with a slower ball that zips onto the pad. Joel Wilson says not out, and I reckon it was sliding down leg. England have reviewed it but I suspect this will be umpire’s call at best.
64th over: Pakistan 179-9 (Sohail 15, Rahat 15) Rahat joins in the fun by wasting Broad for a couple of boundaries - one through the covers and one over the slips.
“Man of the match,” says Siraj Khan. “Sami Aslam...of the losing team.” His has been the best performance by a mile but the award almost always goes to somebody on the winning side, doesn’t it. This is the very short list of players who have been MotM in Test defeats.
63rd over: Pakistan 171-9 (Sohail 15, Rahat 7) Woakes replaces Anderson and is swatted for consecutive boundaries by Sohail, who then top-edges a hook for four more! Twelve from the over.
“Are you mad?” asks Chris Goater. “Man of the match is obviously Cook. Obdurate in the first innings, fluent in the second. Has marshaled his bowling attack beautifully. MoM for certain assuming England finish this off.” You’re right. In fact they’ve just stopped play to give it to him between deliveries.
62nd over: Pakistan 159-9 (Sohail 3, Rahat 7) England have been a bit overexcited in the last couple of overs, understandably enough as they chase the last wicket. Rahat is dropped by Vince at second slip off Broad, an extremely sharp chance that seems to have dislocated a finger on his left hand. He ran straight off the field and I suppose he must be a doubt for the final Test. Who would come in? I have no idea anymore. Rob Key?
61st over: Pakistan 154-9 (Sohail 2, Rahat 3) Can you give the Man of the Match award to an entire team? It’s hard to recall a better case for that than in this match. But if I had to pick one, I’d go for Moeen I think.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Eff the football, eh? And the Olympics.” He didn’t really write ‘eff’.
60th over: Pakistan 151-9 (Sohail 2, Rahat 0) It’s a great point David makes in the previous over, and not just about the bowling performance. Usually in victories there is at least one person who is a bit down about their own performance but all of the XI have made significant contributions here. It’s been an absolutely wonderful performance. It’s a shame these are back-to-back Tests, as they all deserve a zealous night on the tiles.
WICKET! Pakistan 151-9 (Amir c Woakes b Broad 16)
Sohail flicks Broad through the diving Jimmy Anderson at leg gully. It was a spectacular effort from Anderson, who dived full length to his left like a goalkeeper but couldn’t quite hang on. Not that it matters, because now Amir has gone and England are one wicket away! He blazed a drive straight to short point, where Woakes took a lovely low catch with the minimum of fuss.
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59th over: Pakistan 150-8 (Amir 16, Sohail 1) Sohail Khan is an interesting tailender, whose version of the MCC Coaching Manual came with nothing but blank pages. It’s hard to see him lasting long.
“I do like a scorecard with the wickets shared evenly across the bowlers,” says David Hopkins. “I sign of an attack working as a unit and a pretty strong team unit.” Very true, and all five bowled superbly in the afternoon session. Mind you, when it comes to scorecards, there’s a lot to be said for the Laker look as well.
58th over: Pakistan 149-8 (Amir 16, Sohail 0) Broad has a strangled shout for LBW against Amir. It’s a matter of when rather than if England win, just as it was at Auckland in 1997.
“Driving in a convertible mustang towards the Rockies in British Columbia.. trying desperately to find a stream of TMS that works in bloody Canada to catch the end of this one,” writes Keiran Betteley. “Life is seriously unfair sometimes... the Mrs (who actually has her hands on the wheel, for those with road safety concerns, is utterly unsympathetic to my plight. Then again she’s Brazilian and is only slowly coming to an understanding(tolerance) of cricket.. she at least knows Stokes as ‘the angry one’ and describes our great and glorious captain us ‘a manly version of Kaka’... )”
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57th over: Pakistan 149-8 (Amir 16, Sohail 0) If only we could read John Woodcock’s thoughts on today’s play.
All hail! The great day is here.This is the ninetieth birthday of John Woodcock, the greatest cricket writer of all. The Sage of Longparish!
— Henry Blofeld (@blowersh) August 7, 2016
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WICKET! Pakistan 149-8 (Yasir c Hales b Anderson 7)
Jimmy Anderson strikes in the first over after tea. It was beautiful bowling, a yorker followed by a sharp lifter that took the splice and looped gently to gully. England are two wickets away from a whole heap of glory. They have played superbly for the last three days, but since lunch today they have been awesome.
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Hello again. How effing good was that? Six wickets in the session, five in an hour, four for one run, and England are on the brink of a quite glorious victory. All five bowlers were just superb in the afternoon session as England took their traditional relationship with reverse swing and Pakistan and, well, reversed it.
The Moet moment was Steven Finn staging another Edgbaston exorcism, roaring like Eric Cantona after he dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq. It was his first Test wicket in 430 deliveries and, after all he has been through, almost brought a lump to the throat - as did the serene defiance of the 20-year-old Sami Aslam, who played astonishingly well to make 70 from 167 balls before he left one from Finn that jagged back to hit the off stump.
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That’s it from me. Rob Smyth will be taking over in the next few minutes to report on the final few wickets/an incredible Pakistan fightback.
TEA
56th over: Pakistan 148-7 (Shah 7, Amir 15) More class through the off side for Amir. Finn’s bowling around the wicket and into him, so Amir can just wait for the ball, punching it through cover point for two and then four. As a result, Finn decides to come around the wicket and finds a single into the covers. And that is the session: 34 overs, 79 runs – six wickets. England need three more from the remaining 28 overs...
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55th over: Pakistan 141-7 (Shah 7, Amir 8) A lovely straight drive from Yasir Shah takes out the nonstriker’s stumps for none. Here’s that Finn wicket of Aslam...
Brilliant from Finn - England have four wickets for just one run! #EngvPak https://t.co/M4KutIRmDn
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 7, 2016
54th over: Pakistan 139-7 (Yasir 5, Amir 8) Shah isn’t going to be bullied by Finn. And neither is Amir, who adds on a flourish at the end of his drive to bisect point and gully for four.
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53rd over: Pakistan 134-7 (Yasir 4, Amir 4) Woakes is wicket-to-wicket and every other delivery seems to bring a whiff of an LBW appeal. The ones that do come through are just going down leg.
Is there a finer sight in cricket than this? pic.twitter.com/s1tzFiS6tY
— Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) August 7, 2016
52nd over: Pakistan 125-7 (Yasir 0, Amir 0) Quite the collapse, as Pakistan lose four wickets for a single run! “Finn bowling full and finally getting a wicket,” writes Adam Hirst. “Whoever woulda thunk it.” Cook has asked for the extra 15-minutes, thus delaying tea. Wise move - Pakistan are a mess.
WICKET! Aslam b Finn 70 (Pakistan 125-7)
Glorious delivery from Finn, who starts one wide from around the wicket and gets it to move in late and clip the top of Aslam’s off stump, who was leaving it well alone. The end of a cracking knock.
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51st over: Pakistan 125-6 (Sami 70, Shah 0) Quality bit of bowling from Woakes, who nearly has two in two but is robbed of the second by timely bat.
WICKET... REVIEW... NOT OUT
Woakes thinks he has Yasir Shah first ball as Joel Wilson raises the finger for the LBW. Shah reviews straight away and there’s a healthy thick edge in there.
WICKET! Ahmed c Root b Woakes 0 (Pakistan 125-6)
Woakes gets the ball to move off the seam this time, away from the right hander, and Root completes the dismissal with a fine low catch to his right.
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50th over: Pakistan 125-5 (Aslam 70, Sarfraz 0) Sami Aslam keeps his head in line with off stump, while others lead across with theirs. Maiden.
49th over: Pakistan 125-5 (Aslam 70) Chris Woakes replaces Moeen Ali to make use of this 48-over-old ball, which is starting to show signs of reverse swing. He doesn’t control it well against Aslam but does get one to move into Asad Shafiq, whose front foot is already planted as the ball starts to move into him. And that’s a pair for Shafiq!
This is the first time in his career that Younis Khan has gone 8 Test innings without a score of 50 or more #Cricket #EngvPak
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) August 7, 2016
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WICKET! Shafiq LBW Woakes 0 (Pakistan 125-5)
Another first over of the spell scalp for Chris Woakes, as he traps Asad Shafiq on the crease. The batsman sends it up to the third umpire but it’s making a mess of the virtual leg stump.
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48th over: Pakistan 124-4 (Aslam 69, Shafiq 0) The scream after Bairstow took the catch said it all (so does that stat in the previous entry). The delivery to Shafiq, with a packed cordon for company, rears up and takes the glove. He’s ticking, too...
WICKET! Misbah c Bairstow b Finn 10 (Pakistan 124-4)
Exceptional from Finn as he goes full and gets one to move late away from Misbah and snare the edge.
After 414 balls in this series Steven Finn has his first wicket. #EngvPak
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) August 7, 2016
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47th over: Pakistan 124-3 (Aslam 69, Misbah 10) There’s a lot to like about Sami Aslam, not least because he’s defending solidly and still giving England something to entice them. However, even when he plays his shots, he’s doing so with the conviction of a man who’s staying put. Like someone who’s rocked up to a Chinese buffet at 5pm and knows where the free water is. Two fours – one thumped down the ground on the move, the other behind point – keep Moeen honest.
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46th over: Pakistan 115-3 (Sami 61, Misbah 9) Steven Finn into the attack and Misbah jumps off strike through gully. Around the wicket to Aslam, Finn angles one into the leftie forcing him to come forward, only for the ball to move away and beat him. Cue the “that’s more like it, Finny - just keep doing that! Gonna get you out of here, yeah?”
45th over: Pakistan 114-3 (Aslam 61, Misbah 8) That didn’t last long at all, as Misbah sweeps a delivery wide of off stump to bring Aslam back on strike. After a dab through the covers for two, Aslam rocks back and cuts, not totally convincingly but four.
44th over: Pakistan 107-3 (Aslam 55, Misbah 7) First time in three overs that Anderson has the chance to go at Aslam, who edges but low on the bat, through to Jonny Bairstow after a couple of bounces. What that means is that Ali has Misbah next up...
This is great watching. Why we should be thrilled when a Test gets to a fifth day, not trying to eliminate the very chance of it. #ENGvPAK
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) August 7, 2016
43rd over: Pakistan 106-3 (Aslam 55, Misbah 6) Far from convincing shot for runs from Sami. Moeen dips one and the left hander has to really shovel it over mid on. A few more shots tenderise Vince.
42nd over: Pakistan 102-3 (Aslam 51, Misbah 6) Misbah plays at a couple that arch in but beat his outside edge.
James Vince could do with Adam Voges' Test nous, but for now he should try and make do with his baggy jumper https://t.co/hxypnxRCYm
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E) August 7, 2016
41st over: Pakistan 102-3 (Sami 51, Misbah 6) Sami Aslam, so careful against the seamers, develops a twitch when facing Moeen Ali. Maybe it’s down to a lack of respect – that he doesn’t feel he has anything to be worried about the off breaks coming his way. But, every now and again, he swings too hard and misses out on runs. Twice in that over he drives into James Vince, at silly point, trying to hit the red off the ball (and the whites off Vince).
Sami Aslam batting with Misbah-ul-Haq. Sami was just 3 years old when Misbah made his first class debut #Cricket #EngvPak
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) August 7, 2016
40th over: Pakistan 102-3 (Sami 51, Misbah 6) What a delivery to start the over! Jimmy, buoyed by the wicket, fizzes one into Misbah, between bat and pad. There’s a huge noise, but it’s just thigh pad. Misbah defends a few with the outside half of his bat before deliberately dabbing one to third man for four. Encouragingly from an England perspective, Anderson’s pace is up.
Sami Aslam the fourth Pakistan opener to hit twin fifties in a Test in England https://t.co/0YloVEZqJb #ENGvPAK
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) August 7, 2016
39th over: Pakistan 98-3 (Aslam 51, Misbah 2) A lot of chatter, a man under his nose, rising pressure and Sami Aslam relieves it momentarily with a thwack to midwicket to bring up his second fifty off the match, this one from 124 balls.
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38th over: Pakistan 94-3 (target: 343; Sami 47, Misbah 2) Misbah is the new batsman. If England break this partnership soon, or even before tea, they will have genuine hope of victory. I’m off for a bit; Vish will take you through tea.
WICKET! Pakistan 92-3 (Younis c Bairstow b Anderson 4)
Gone! Anderson strikes with reverse swing. Younis didn’t know which way it was swinging, or even how to spell his first name, and pushed a long way outside off stump at a ball that took the edge and was well claimed by Jonny Bairstow. He moved a long way to his right and claimed it in front of Cook at first slip. Lovely stuff from Anderson; “an artist at work” says Bumble on Sky.
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37th over: Pakistan 91-2 (target: 343; Sami 46, Younis 4) Moeen hasn’t built on that Azhar wicket, which came from a lovely spell. Cook gives him a fourth close fielder, a rare sighting of a silly point, and that’s his best over since the wicket, a flightful maiden to Younis.
36th over: Pakistan 91-2 (target: 343; Sami 46, Younis 4) “I need a suicide gully!” says Alastair Cook, so Joe Root dons the helmet and assumes the position. The crowd are trying to make something happen, with rhythmic applause as Anderson runs in. Sami is, or at least appears, completely unperturbed by it all and immaculately plays out a maiden. He has batted over six hours in the match without being dismissed by a bowler.
35th over: Pakistan 91-2 (target: 343; Sami 46, Younis 4)
34th over: Pakistan 89-2 (target: 343; Sami 45, Younis 3) Now this is interesting - replays show that the Broad yorker in the previous over actually hit Sami’s foot - or maybe even his shoelace - and then his bat. Had England reviewed - they didn’t even appeal - it would have been out. Anderson replaces Broad and beats Sami with a fine reverse outswinger; then Sami opens the face to steer a boundary to third man. Drift and reverse swing are giving England fresh hope of victory.
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33rd over: Pakistan 85-2 (target: 343; Sami 41, Younis 3) Not such a good over from Moeen; three from it.
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32nd over: Pakistan 82-2 (target: 343; Sami 39, Younis 2) England have been brilliant since lunch, with the ball at both ends but also in the field and even the crowd. The length of Pakistan’s tail means that they will be hopeful of victory even if Pakistan are only four down at tea. The key wickets are Misbah and first Sami Aslam, who is playing unbelievably well in the circumstances. When Broad goes around the wicket and spears in a yorker, Sami does very well to dig it out through backward square for a single. Broad has lovely figures of 10-5-9-1.
31st over: Pakistan 80-2 (target: 343; Sami 38, Younis 1) So nearly another one for Moeen! Sami got a big inside-edge onto the pad, with the ball dropping on the off side. Bairstow reacted smartly and dived forward in front of the stumps, but couldn’t quite get there. Moeen started this match with question-marks over his place; he might yetend it with the Man of the Match award.
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WICKET! Pakistan 79-2 (Azhar Ali c Cook b Moeen 38)
This has been coming, and it’s a triumph both for Moeen and Alastair Cook. Azhar was tempted into the drive by a full delivery which drifted a fair way to take the edge, and Cook - who had moved himself to gully in the previous over - took a really smart reaction catch.
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30th over: Pakistan 79-1 (target: 343; Sami 38, Azhar 38) Broad pings a short ball past the head of Sami, who ducks calmly. He seems to have an outstanding temperament. At the age of 20, I couldn’t even hide my emotions when cans of Coors were reduced to 50p; Sami is facing a superb seam attack yet remains completely inscrutable.
Is England's Gary Ballance joining the Ministry of Silly Walks? #ShotOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/dl4C84VCf4
— ICC (@ICC) August 7, 2016
29th over: Pakistan 79-1 (target: 343; Sami 38, Azhar 38) England appeal optimistically for LBW when Azhar offers no stroke to Moeen. It was missing off. He does look relatively uncomfortable against Moeen, however, and Cook decides to bring in both a gully and a short leg. A good maiden from Moeen.
28th over: Pakistan 79-1 (target: 343; Sami 38, Azhar 38) Before you can seize the moment you have to sense the moment. The great matchwinners like Curtly Ambrose and Stuart Broad are masters at it, and Broad is definitely putting more into this spell. He induces a false stroke with a slower ball to Azhar, who is desperate to get off strike and eventually does so from the fifth delivery.
27th over: Pakistan 78-1 (target: 343; Sami 38, Azhar 37) Azhar has been jittery at both ends since lunch but plays the majority of that Moeen over comfortably enough.
26th over: Pakistan 76-1 (target: 343; Sami 37, Azhar 36) There is a lot of intensity in this spell from Broad, the intensity we associate with those magic spells. He almost gets a wicket too when Azhar, feeling outside off stump, edges fractionally short of Cook at first slip. The follow-up is a beautiful short ball that rams into the glove as Azhar snaps his head back. That was a superb over.
25th over: Pakistan 76-1 (target: 343; Sami 37, Azhar 36) Sami Aslam’s performance in this match has been staggering. He’s a 20-year-old playing his first first-class match rhis year, in alien conditions and in a vital Test, and he’s batted like a Hanif Mohammad tribute act.
Meanwhile, England appeal for a stumping of Azhar, who is beaten by a fine delivery from Moeen. Bruce Oxenford plays it safe by going upstairs but Azhar’s back leg stayed grounded. Moeen is in the game here. It’s not ragging or anything but there is enough going on to make him a threat. Pakistan might need to counter-attack to try to disrupt his rhythm.
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24th over: Pakistan 74-1 (target: 343; Sami 36, Azhar 35) If this is a draw, we’ll go into the final Test of the summer with the scores level for the first time since the 2009 Ashes. It used to happen a fair bit - 1989, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2002 - but no so much any more. It would be quite an occasion, especially as Pakistan have a magnificent record on that ground. Anyway, Broad starts at the other end and zips a good delivery past the defensive grope of Azhar. I thought he’d nicked that for a second. A maiden.
“Rob, If you decide you’ll continue with the film riff - I know, we’ve done this before - then one way to judge The Greatest Film of All Time is how many quotes it generates,” says John Starbuck. “In which case, Young Frankenstein is our favourite.” Well that’s just, like, your opinion, man.
23rd over: Pakistan 74-1 (target: 343; Sami 36, Azhar 35) Moeen Ali starts after lunch. You would think Pakistan will have to go after him if they are to win, though that won’t be as easy as usual because there’s a bit of turn on this fifth-day pitch. Azhar edges all along the ground for four to get the scoreboard moving again.
Here’s an email from William Hargreaves. “Rumour has it KP wanted back into the team, appealed saying that he could now get on with Strauss and Cook, but was informed by the selectors that: ‘the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world...’ and that they politely declined.”
Hello folks. “Obviously way too early to call, but Pakistan have previous for chasing a daunting target relatively quickly,” says Nabeel Younas. “They chased down over 300 in around 60 overs against Sri Lanka not too long ago...”
I hope it goes to the last over with all four results possible and Misbah 93 not out from 49 balls - “always with the scenarios” - but I suspect there will be a handshake just after 5pm. England can slow the game down if they need to, and I can’t see Pakistan losing nine wickets in two sessions to the old ball.
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“I count Will Smith’s decision to share the poster for a movie with anyone in a couple of his recent flicks (Margot Robbie and Margot Robbie plus others respectively) as a major move forward for him,” writes Michael Hunt. “As a quick game, try to remember the last time pre-Focus when he so much as had another face on the poster with him that wasn’t a) a money-spinning sequel, or b) his own progeny with him.” Now that is a question. Bad Boys II? While I mull a few over, Rob will join you soon.
LUNCH
22nd over: Pakistan 69-1 (Aslam 36, Azhar 30)
Joe Root to provide the obligatory over of spin before lunch. Azhar Ali finds three beyond first slip to allow Aslam to get back the strike after he pinched a single off the first delivery. The final ball gets the big build-up of a field change and some inane chatter from Bairstow behind the stumps, before Aslam plays it out to point for a single. That’s it for that session: with 62 overs left, Pakistan require 274 to win. Very, very doable...
21st over: Pakistan 65-1 (Sami 35, Azhar 27) Perhaps it was Ali’s line outside off stump or the impending lunch interval, but Azhar Ali plays out watchfully before nabbing a single. Decent turn from the fifth ball, which grips, too.
@Vitu_E 'Utter garbage saved somewhat by Will Smith' - isn't that every film of the 90s? Bad Boys, Independence Day, Men in Black...
— Max Williams (@maxwykeham) August 7, 2016
WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MEN IN BLACK?! Incidentally, Independence Day was my first 12-rated movie.
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20th over: Pakistan 63-1 (Aslam 34, Azhar 26) Michael Holding purrs as Finn targets the ribs of Sami from around the wicket.
@Vitu_E Greatest film? Andrei Rublev - https://t.co/SbIk1Hw6vA
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) August 7, 2016
19th over: Pakistan 62-1 (Aslam 34, Azhar 25) Moeen Ali into the attack and starts with a long hop. Luckily, it’s so short that Aslam can’t quite get hold of it and only gets two as it plinks into the leg side. Better flight and length for the rest of the over, mind.
18th over: Pakistan 60-1 (Aslam 32, Azhar 25) Much better over from Finn, who cranks up the pace and has Azhar Ali hopping outside off stump.
@Vitu_E Man, Casablanca is a brilliant film. Do I even want to open the meaningless Greatest Of All Time can of worms? *Rear Window*
— Max Williams (@maxwykeham) August 7, 2016
I’ll tell you what isn’t the greatest film of all time – Suicide Squad. Saw it last night. Good grief. Shot through an Instagram filter, with the content to match. Utter garbage saved, somewhat, by Will Smith.
17th over: Pakistan 59-1 (Aslam 31, Azhar 25) As the ball leaves Woakes’ hand, he thinks about appealing. But Azhar does brilliantly to work the ball, on middle stump, inside fine leg for four. And when Aslam drops and runs, Anderson’s needless throw beats Stuart Broad who’s backing up and goes for four overthrows. England need the interval, which is 15 minutes away.
We know the script, Misbah in the last over, six to win, Rahat at the other end, three balls left, and he'll be caught playing a lap scoop.
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) August 7, 2016
Drag your length back, Finny,
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) August 7, 2016
16th over: Pakistan 40-1 (Aslam 26, Azhar 20) An LBW appeal from Steven Finn speaks volumes: the impact was outside the line and Aslam was playing a shot, but Finn asks like a man who knows he needs something to get him going. It’s not quite, “please sir can I have some more” but “oh come on – just one to take the edge off!”. Still, a maiden. “No doubt Shane Watson was as shocked as Louis every time he reviewed an lbw decision and found it confirmed his dismissal,” writes David Wall.
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15th over: Pakistan 49-1 (Aslam 26, Azhar 20) Azhar ticking, too. The first ball, which tails in a touch, is left outside off stump. The second – fuller and straighter – gets the full face through mid off. Another well struck drive, this time through cover, is stopped well by Stuart Broad, who palms the ball into mid off to save two runs.
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14th over: Pakistan 43-1 (Aslam 26, Azhar 14) Garbage from Anderson, who cocks up at mid off and allows a drive to him bounce through his arms and away for four. Finn, peeved, puts a bit more on the next delivery, which Aslam works supremely through midwicket for four. Pakistan now need 300 to win from 70 overs...
Sami Aslam now averages 100 in the UK.
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) August 7, 2016
13th over: Pakistan 34-1 (Aslam 18, Azhar 13) Geez Aslam’s a player: watchful as Woakes comes around the wicket and then drives him powerfully through the covers for four. How on earth Shan Masood kept him out of the first two Tests is a mystery. God bless the OBO and god bless Chris Fowler, who wades into the Casablanca debate: “Nobody ever says ‘Play it again, Sam’ in Casablanca. Rick and Sam have the following exchange:
Rick: “What’s that you’re playing?”
Sam: “Oh, just a little something of my own.”
Rick: “ Well, stop it. You know what I wanna hear.”
Sam: “No, I don’t.”
Rick: “You played it for her, you can play it for me. If she can stand it, I can. Play it!”
12th over: Pakistan 30-1 (Aslam 14, Azhar 13) Steven Finn starts loosely and Aslam drives him very nicely through mid off for four. Still, it’s better to be driven than cut in this situation and that’s backed up by a few that Aslam doesn’t quite time.
@Vitu_E in hammock reading @guardian_sport #obo trying for more Casablanca cricket linkages. could not be happier. Kepler weasels = Louis?
— Paddy Blewer (@Padsky) August 7, 2016
Playing both sides? I like it.
11th over: Pakistan 25-1 (Aslam 9, Azhar 13) Woakes angles one into the stumps and Azhar gets it around the corner for four to fine leg. An edge is found into the slips but it’s low and, in the end, well stopped by James Vince diving to his right.
10th over: Pakistan 21-1 (Sami 9, Azhar 9) Good from Azhar Ali, who not only judges well but is punching through into the leg side, with a straight bat, well enough to keep the close catchers out of luck.
9th over: Pakistan 20-1 (Sami 9, Azhar 8) Woakes for his first go of the innings, as he replaces Anderson to start with a solid yet unspectacular maiden.
@Vitu_E love the casablanca clip. "We all try, you succede " a wonderful humble line shared by all amateur cricketers watching pros.
— Paddy Blewer (@Padsky) August 7, 2016
My girlfriend and I have just had the debate (again) about the actual line – “Play it Sam”/”Play it again Sam”/”How’s your wife and my Sam” – and whether it appears as a standalone quote.
8th over: Pakistan 20-1 (Aslam 9, Azhar 8) Aslam works brought to square leg as Broad angles one in on leg stump, before Azhar Ali gets right behind one on off. Broad has found his radar. He’s got, well, two bat-pads: one close and helmted, the other a bit further back.
7th over: Pakistan 12-1 (Aslam 8, Azhar 5) Glorious from Azhar Ali as h on drives for four, despite the fact that Anderson has a fielder at Hoggard-to-Hayden-mid-on. Another four ends the over, as Sami Aslam guides the ball beyond the slips.
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6th over: Pakistan 6-1 (Sami 3, Azhar 0) The absolute state of it...
One down, nine to go... #EngvPak https://t.co/sYCPMpymHR
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 7, 2016
WICKET! Hafeez c Woakes b Broad 2 (Pakistan 6-1)
Utterly moronic from Hafeez: Broad goes short and Hafeez hooks to find the one man out at deep square leg. England have one of 10.
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5th over: Pakistan 6-0 (Hafeez 2, Aslam 3) Really good finish from Anderson, who has planted a seed of indecision in Sami Aslam’s head, who plays for the inswinger as the ball leaves him.
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4th over: Pakistan 5-0 (Hafeez 1, Aslam 3) An LBW appeal from Broad, around the wicket to Aslam, has a touch of height and a lot of bat to it. Is it Woakes Time yet?
3rd over: Pakistan 5-0 (Hafeez 1, Aslam 3) First run off the bat, as Hafeez nudges behind square on the leg side to get him off his pair. Anderson temps Aslam with a fuller ball which is played and missed outside the off stump. Hafeez ends the over with a peculiar waft to a short wide delivery, after he’s brought on strike but a nice square drive from Aslam.
2nd over: Pakistan 1-0 (Hafeez 0, Aslam 0) Stuart Broad starts with a no ball that replays show was a bit harsh. Sami Aslam goes to leave the first legitimate delivery of the innings but isn’t able to get the bat out of the way early enough and ends up guiding the ball low into the cordon off the face of his bat. Broad, having allowed the left hander a few leaves, finishes the over around the wicket and at the stumps.
Recent cases of England taking 10 wickets on fifth day to win: v NZ Lord's 2013, v Pak Leeds 2006, v SA Joburg 2005, v WI the Oval 2000
— Simon Wilde (@swildecricket) August 7, 2016
1st over: Pakistan 0-0 (Hafeez 0, Aslam 0) New nut, Jimmy – let’s go. Three slips, gully and a bit of away movement. Hafeez looks like he’s playing at the last ball before letting it pass by, raising his bat to his shoulders, at the last moment. Maiden.
Always handy to have a fifth day up your sleeve, eh Test cricket?!
— mark butcher (@markbutcher72) August 7, 2016
ENGLAND DECLARE! Pakistan need 343 to win in 84 overs
129th over: England 445-6 declare (Moeen 86, Woakes 3) And there it is. Alastair Cook calls the innings to a halt, with 41 added in four overs. Fair dos.
Warnie still calling red inks "Steve Waughs". Gotta laugh at this little war.
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) August 7, 2016
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128th over: England 441-6 (Ali 84, Woakes 2) Amir replaces Yasir and is much harder to get away. Just two from theo over. “Morning Vish. An hour, you say?” asks Simon McMahon. “I was thinking 15 minutes. 100 for Bairstow (now Ali), Pakistan chasing 360, few overs with the second new ball at end of day if required.” Oh an hour is far too much batting on, I agree.
127th over: England 439-6 (Ali 83, Woakes 1) Bairstow goes, looking to move the game along. A drive off Woakes brings Ali on strike and, after a few missed pulls, he hooks around the corner and nutmegs Rahat Ali at fine leg for four. “The current round of Test series is serving the same function as last season’s final episode of Game of Thrones. It will establish the possibilities of who may emerge as top dog in the next series. When the dust settles on the current round of test matches, there may be four teams within three ranking points of each other, any one of whom could be perched triumphantly on top of the ICC’s iron rankings throne in a few months’ time.” Much like Game Of Thrones, you never quite know who the bad guys are.
WICKET! Bairstow LBW Khan 83 (England 434-6)
Not sure how that wasn’t out first time around... Bairstow moves across to off stump and is struck in front of middle and off. The ball races away for four leg byes, Misbah reviews and it’s plummers.
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A watchful start from Mo... #EngvPak https://t.co/bZgGPzL9uj
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 7, 2016
126th over: England 434-5 (Bairstow 83, Ali 79) Yasir Shah starts the bowling this morning and, first ball, Moeen Ali skips down and finds a single to mid off. Once he gets back the strike, he skips down once more to hit the first six of the innings! Sent over midwicket, with aplomb. And then he goes again! Even bigger! Shah changes to come over the wicket... and Moeen goes again! Not quite out of the screws, but wide of the man put out for the shot for four. That’s the 150 partnership (170 balls), too. And a pinched two through extra cover makes that 20 off the over. Is Mo going to get to his hundred before Jonny??
“Morning Vish, morning all!” Morning, Dean Kinsella. “A little over a year ago, during the thrilling series between NZ and England, a new and adventurous dawn appeared to be breaking in English cricket. ‘Let’s go for the win’ was the attitude and it was a breath of fresh air, not to mention successful! This excellent Test match deserves a proper denouement in keeping with that spirit. No more than an hour at the crease please Cookie!” Yep, can’t see any reason for them to be out there for any more than an hour, especially if Jonny Baistow (82*) and Moeen Ali (60*) score as briskly as they did last night.
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If you’re in Brum or the surrounding area and have a free day and love change from a twenty:
Day 5️⃣ tickets: £16 adults, kids from a fiver. Fancy some #EngvPak Test Cricket? pic.twitter.com/L8HXchN8wY
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 6, 2016
More from Cook on batting on: “There’s something about putting pressure on a side who know they can’t win. It’s a slow wicket so we’re going to have to fight to take 10-wickets.”
There you go then...
"If we can score a few more then that victory target is out of their reach" Cook on why England are batting on. pic.twitter.com/0NF45hZ5oa
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) August 7, 2016
Whenever Edgbaston 2005 comes up, as well as evoking joy, it reminds me of Daniel Harris, from these here pages (and this excellent book)...
Lot of chat about Edgbaston 2005. Here's what an unbroken, unused final day ticket looks like. pic.twitter.com/7oEutToqOw
— Daniel Harris (@DanielHarris) July 14, 2013
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On the subject of thrilling final days, it’s 11-years to the day since *that* day at Edgbaston. Relive those terrifying moments...
Morning everyone. Fascinating day’s play in store that could be scuppered by a lack of declaration or impetus. An overnight pulling out would be really quite something but the whispers (i.e. people speculating on Twitter with words like “think”, “hearing” and indeed “whispers”) give the impression that England will bat on. And to bat on will be to accrue enough runs to feel totally safe. That last bit is crucial: the pitch is still very good for batting, as indicated by the fact that the scores have got bigger with each innings. The 311-run lead is a big one but, bearing in mind Pakistan have chased down 302 (won by five wickets) and 377 (won by seven) since 2014, on pitches similar to this, and with another Test around the corner, it’s probably worth saving the pitchforks for another day.
Vish will be here shortly. Until then, here’s Vic Marks’ report on an intriguing fourth day’s play.
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