Pakistan declared on 354-6 to leave England facing a record speed chase,and they slumped to 19-2 before a determined stand from Ian Bell and Joe Root steadied the ship as they reached stumps at 130-3 1.40pm GMTThis is still a tall order for England, with a full day remaining for Pakistan to tease out the remaining seven wickets, or the Root-Bell partnership broken just as it crept into triple figures. England will certainly need plenty more steel from their middle order than was in evidence in the first innings.
They gain a chance,though – and that didn’t seem the case when a hobbling Alastair Cook fell for 10, and England were 19-2. At that stage, or Pakistan may gain been thinking of wrapping this up in four days,but Bell and Root’s stoic third wicket stand has kept things interesting. 1.32pm GMT...but you can pretty much ignore that figure, because England are after the draw. Will they get there? Probably not. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com