England set target of 343 runs for Pakistan in 3rd test

England fought back admirably after a 103-run first innings deficit – Pakistan 400, England 297 – to achieve one of its most memorable victories in test cricket.

Former England off-spinner and BBC Test Match Special summariser Graeme Swann said Finn’s was the “stand-out performance” of the day.

England’s progress had previously been gradual as they tried to eke their way through the tourists’ second innings, after Alastair Cook declared on 445 for six to set a ground-record Test chase of 343.

Vince was eight runs short of his first Test half-century when he hung his bat out to a wide ball from Amir and Younus took another neat slip catch.

However, England’s bowlers seized control of the contest by taking six wickets during a insane afternoon session that left Pakistan on 148 for seven and teetering on the brink of defeat at tea. “Our seamers were fantastic, it showed how good they are today on a flat pitch”.

Pakistan were left with a minimum of 84 overs to score the runs they needed, a rate of slightly more than four per over, with that rate rising to almost six.

Azhar Ali is so far the top scorer at 139 runs, followed by Sami at 82 runs.

Woakes then pinned Asad Shafiq lbw for his second duck of the match before finding the edge of Safraz Ahmed’s bat to leave Pakistan 125-6. But a rare misjudgement by the 20-year-old left-hand batsman saw him bowled by Finn as he deliberately left the ball.

It was the end of an innings that last more than three and-a-half-hours, with Aslam hitting 11 fours.

In the process, Bairstow became the tenth England wicketkeeper to score 1000 runs in Tests and his 22 innings is the quickest among the ten, eclipsing Les Ames’ 25 innings.

With all their specialist batsmen dismissed, Pakistan’s tail had to survive the remaining 28 overs to hold out for a draw. James Anderson and Moeen Ali, England’s much-maligned merchant of off-spin, grabbed the other two wickets to bring the previously unlikely prospect of victory close to reality.

Man of the match Moeen, who added 152 with Jonny Bairstow (83) for the sixth wicket in the second innings, now has 176 runs and nine wickets in the series.

However, Moeen then accounted for Azhar on 38, inducing an edge to Cook at second slip, and with Younis Khan managing just a 17-ball 4, Pakistan were reduced to 124 for 3.

Neither did for long at the start of a shortened final session, but the defiant last-wicket stand made England sweat for another 11 overs until Sohail was caught-and-bowled by Moeen.

Birmingham-born Ali, who grew up near Edgbaston, struck 19 runs in the first over of Sunday’s play from Yasir Shah, including two successive sixes.