Spinners put Pakistan on brink of series win over England

The lone consolation for Cook was that he finished as the overall top scorer after making 450 runs in three test matches that included a double century in Abu Dhabi.

Root, who survived a controversial leg-before decision as Pakistan used up their final DRS review, stayed in until the close along with Cook, and at least one of them must make a big total if England are to score the 238 runs still needed.

England will make history if they win as their target of 284 is 75 in excess of their previous highest successful fourth-innings run chase in Asia – against Bangladesh in Dhaka six years ago – and Anderson will be content to remain in the pavilion. This is his 118th match.

James Anderson’s economy rate in the series – he bowled 108.1 overs and conceded just 203 runs.

“We know it is going to turn and they have got a few world-class spinners, so we are going to have to bat very well”.

It was a battle of survival for Pakistan in the morning session as England looked for early wickets to force a series-levelling win.

Cook admitted England did not have quality spinners as compared to Pakistan.

Contrastingly, Pakistan´s leg-spinner Yasir Shah grabbed 15 in two Tests, Malik 11 and Zulfiqar Babar nine.

Shah and Zulfiqar Babar (2-31) had pushed England to the brink of defeat inside the first 30 minutes on the last day when they claimed four wickets as England limped to 59-6. Jonny Bairstow missed a stumping off an Adil Rashid googly in the first over of the day, while Stuart Broad put down a low one-handed chance in his follow-through with the opener on 113. Malik was the only wicket-taker for Pakistan in the day and was also the most economical.

Hafeez swept Rashid in the next over for a single to reach his century off 169 balls, his second at the Sharjah venue.

England players wore black armbands in memory of former batsman Tom Graveney who died on Tuesday at the age of 88 after a long illness.

But Hafeez soon completed his ninth Test hundred, off 169 balls, and there were only brief moments of encouragement for England – each accompanied by more of that frustration.

However, on a pitch at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium that turned from Day 1, the trio failed to pose enough problems to Pakistan’s batsmen.