Monty Panesar ripped through Pakistan’s top order to reduce the hosts to 125 for four at the close of the third day of the second Test on Friday, 55 runs ahead of England’s first innings total.
Spinner Panesar, playing his first Test match since 2009, dispatched opener Mohammad Hafeez (22), captain Misbah-ul-Haq (12) and Younis Khan (1) in Abu Dhabi to leave Pakistan struggling on 54 for four with England looking well-placed to avenge their 10-wicket defeat in the series opener last week.
However, Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali dug in, roared on by the team’s passionate support as they put on an unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 71.
Shafiq (35) and Ali (46) upped Pakistan’s run rate from just 73 in the first 40 overs of the innings to 52 from the final 21 overs.
The afternoon had started brightly for Pakistan, who bagged England’s final two wickets before openers Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar made a steady start to their second innings.
Earlier, Stuart Broad’s unbeaten 58 had helped England achieve a 70-run first innings lead. His knock was vital after Matt Prior and Ian Bell both disappointed with the bat, England losing their final five wickets for 120 runs.
For Pakistan, all-rounder Hafeez finished with three for 54, while Saeed Ajmal ended on four for 108.
SCORE BOARD
PAKISTAN (I Innings): 257
ENGLAND (I Innings, O/n: 207/5):
Strauss c Shafiq b Hafeez 11
Cook lbw Ajmal 94
Trott b Rehman 74
Pietersen c Hafeez b Ajmal 14
Bell lbw Gul 29
Morgan c Hafeez b Ajmal 3
Prior lbw b Ajmal 3
Broad (not out) 58
Swann lbw Rehman 15
Anderson b Hafeez 13
Panesar lbw Hafeez 0
Extras (B-5, LB-7, NB-1) 13
Total (all out, 112 overs) 327
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-166, 3-198, 4-203, 5-207, 6-227, 7-268, 8-291, 9-327.
Bowling: Gul 13-1-53-1, Junaid 8-0-33-0, Hafeez 22-4-54-3, Ajmal 40-6-108-4, Rehman 29-9-67-2.
PAKISTAN (II Innings):
Hafeez lbw Panesar 22
Umar b Swann 7
Azhar (batting) 46
Younis b Panesar 1
Misbah lbw Panesar 12
Shafiq (batting) 35
Extras (LB-2) 2
Total (for 4 wkts, 61 overs) 125
Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-29, 3-36, 4-54.
Bowling: James Anderson 10-2-31-0, Stuart Broad 11-6-16-0, Monty Panesar 25-13-44-3, Graeme Swann 15-4-32-1.
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