Sarfraz, Shafiq steer Pakistan to 281-run lead
akistan finished the third day of the first Test in a strong position after Yasir Shah took six wickets as England were dismissed for 272 then the visitors reached 214 for eight in their second innings for a lead of 281.
Wickets fell regularly at a sunny Lord’s as Pakistan looked to maximise their firstinnings lead of 67 but Sarfraz Ahmad (45) and Asad Shafiq (49) kept the scoreboard ticking with valuable contributions.
Chris Woakes took 5-31 as England tried to limit the damage of losing their last three wickets for 12 runs in the morning session when they added only 19 runs to their overnight score. He removed Sarfraz, caught behind by Jonny Bairstow, having earlier bowled Shafiq. Shortly before the close he had Wahab Riaz caught behind for a duck to give England a glimmer of hope today.
Moeen Ali also took two wickets. Woakes has 11 wickets for 101 runs in the match — the second best match figures of an England player in this decade.
Driving seat
It could all be in vain though as Pakistan are in the driving seat, albeit still a few runs short of the total they would ideally have posted second time around.
England had resumed on 253 for seven in reply to Pakistan’s 339 all out but Yasir’s leg spin outfoxed the hosts.
His figures of 6-72 were the best recorded by a visiting spinner against England at Lord’s since Sid Pegler’s 7-65 for South Africa 104 years ago.
Stuart Broad only managed to add six runs to his overnight total before he fell to a full inswinger from Wahab.
The 30-year-old Yasir then trapped Steve Finn leg before for five and, with no reviews left, he had no choice but to walk.
Debutant Jake Ball was run out by Shan Masood as he looked for a second run to keep Woakes on strike but was short by some distance as Pakistan wrapped up the England tail.
Ball had sliced his second ball behind square leg with an outside edge to record his first four test runs. Woakes was unbeaten on 35. Earlier at tea, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq followed his first-innings hundred with a duck as Pakistan managed 111 for four in their second innings — a lead of 178 runs.
He fell when he hoisted offspinner Moeen Ali legside and Alex Hales, running round to the mid-wicket rope, held a good catch.
Pakistan had never previously lost a Test when Misbah had made a hundred and never won one when he had made a duck.
With conditions set fair on a sunny day at Lord’s and more than two days left in the match, something had to give.
Younis, on 11, was given out lbw by umpire Joel Wilson after a prolonged and theatrical appeal from fast bowler Steven Finn on his Middlesex home ground.
Asad Shafiq had kept the scoreboard ticking over with an unbeaten 29 off 46 balls including five boundaries.
Woakes follow his Test-best six for 70 in the first innings with two wickets.