PTV Sports Live: Pakistan likely to win Dubai Test against England

England is faced with the task of scoring the highest fourth innings total in the history of the sport for an unlikely victory.

Not a single batsman except Root could prolong his innings and he also got out after making 71 runs.

Inzamamul Haq, then Pakistan’s captain, was punished for his role in Pakistan’s unprecedented forfeit of the fourth Test against England at the south London ground.

Both are roles to which he will have to adapt if he wants a long career but there is nothing wrong with hoping for a little leg-up at the start.

Wahab Riaz and Yasir Shah bagged four wickets each in England’s first inning as they were bowled out for 242.

Curbing his natural instincts, Root seems like he’s out there to do what Cook did in the last match – perhaps best exemplified by him guiding Johnny Bairstow through the end of the day – their partnership 9 runs off 59 balls.

Rashid and Broad withstood the Pakistan pressure in a 15-over stand, the latter hitting four boundaries in his 70 minutes in the middle.

Meanwhile, in the post-match drama British media said that Wahab was reported for using his foot to tamper the ball. “Riaz was not summoned by the match referee so there is no issue on that”.

Paul Farbrace, England’s assistant coach, gave Moeen his backing at the close of play on day four in Dubai.

Now that the dust has settled in Dubai, let’s take a look at a few of the takeaways from the final day of this Test and what it might mean for the future.

“Riaz certainly won’t be signing for Chelsea in the Premier League with his footballing skills”.

Jonny Bairstow soon followed, clean bowled by Shah for 22, and England was quickly six down for 178 when the out-of-form Jos Buttler nibbled at Shah’s leg-spinner and edged it to Younis again in the slips.

That final wicket saw Pakistan declare with the score at 354-6, setting England a world record 491 to win, and giving themselves just under five sessions to bat.

England expect a turner next week in Sharjah, where the ball spun in the two warm-up matches at the start of the tour, and if Cook can do his leg-spinner a favour by winning his first toss of the series then Rashid will have a chance of producing an all-round performance that features the good and not the bad. He was the difference between the sides. We did that in Abu Dhabi and came up just short.

England’s Captain Alastair Cook is the top scorer in this series till now with 338 runs while James Anderson of England has taken 7 wickets, the most by any bowler in this series. If you lose one wicket, you are allowed to against that bowling.

Pakistan (2nd innings): 354/6 decl. “I think pitches suit us and that’s why we’ve performed well here”.

Earlier, England began cautiously after resuming the day on 130/3.

“I want to perform well in that format and I will be there (playing one-day cricket) one day”. But England are a tough team and may fight back.

“We’ve got to come back with the attitude that we can survive the day”.

They insist he will still be fit to play in six days’ time, despite belated confirmation of a groin injury which was plain for all to see while he was batting on Sunday.