Stokes and Woakes drag England back into Test with late Pakistan wickets | The Guardian

First Test, day three: Pakistan 326 & 137-8; England 219Pakistan wickets tumble but offer warning to England batsmenIn the old days the advice would be to make sure you turn up on time on Saturday because this is the type of match where every ball seems to count. After three days of captivating cricket Pakistan are the favourites to win the match. They lead by 244 and have two wickets remaining; all their batsmen have gone. Even if the last two were dismissed immediately on Saturday morning England would be faced with a formidable target on a surface that is becoming increasingly dry and unreliable.But if just two England batsmen could cobble together significant scores then an amazing heist remains possible. Pakistan have dominated nearly all of the past three days yet in a bizarre final session England, who were far from flawless out there, contrived to take seven wickets. And the game is still alive. As is Ben Stokes, who did his utmost to deliver his Lazarus impressions by snatching the ball late in the day and taking two wickets. Whether that affects his fitness for the next Test remains to be seen. Continue reading…

• First Test, day three: Pakistan 326 & 137-8; England 219
• Pakistan wickets tumble but offer warning to England batsmen

In the old days the advice would be to make sure you turn up on time on Saturday because this is the type of match where every ball seems to count. After three days of captivating cricket Pakistan are the favourites to win the match. They lead by 244 and have two wickets remaining; all their batsmen have gone. Even if the last two were dismissed immediately on Saturday morning England would be faced with a formidable target on a surface that is becoming increasingly dry and unreliable.

But if just two England batsmen could cobble together significant scores then an amazing heist remains possible. Pakistan have dominated nearly all of the past three days yet in a bizarre final session England, who were far from flawless out there, contrived to take seven wickets. And the game is still alive. As is Ben Stokes, who did his utmost to deliver his Lazarus impressions by snatching the ball late in the day and taking two wickets. Whether that affects his fitness for the next Test remains to be seen.

Continue reading…