England came back strongly on day 3 of the 3rd Investec test match at Edgbaston. They bowled Pakistan out for 400 and then a strong batting performance with a century opening partnership between Cook and Hales saw them wipe out the first innings deficit. At close of play England were 120-0 giving them a lead of 17 runs.
Pakistan resumed on 257-3 with Younis and Misbah at the crease. Anderson began the attack from the Pavillion End.
Despite England throwing everything at them Younis and Misbah demonstrated calm and safely navigated the tricky first half hour but that all changed when Younis tickled Woakes down the leg side to Bairstow after scoring 31. At this stage Pakistan still trailed by 23 runs.
Woakes took 1-12 in his spell at the beginning of the morning.
Misbah and Asad Shafiq added 22 runs but Shafiq was bowled by Broad for 0 after facing 18 balls. Pakistan now 296-5 and still trailing by one run. Asad had gone 49 innings without a duck before this. Only Majid Khan had gone longer for Pakistan.
Pakistan brought up their 300 from 664 balls half an hour before lunch. Finn then drew an edge from Misbah which didn’t carry to slip and swiftly travelled to the boundary.
Misbah and Sarfraz steadied the ship and by lunch had taken the Pakistan total to 336-5 and a lead of 39 runs. Misbah 44 not out and Sarfraz 20 not out. Sarfraz giving a sharp chance from Moeen Ali in the last over with an edge over leg slip.
Twenty minutes after lunch Misbah was unlucky to play on to the wicket via his boot from Anderson. He had scored 56. The score now 358-6 and the lead of 61. Suddenly the home crowd were roused. In the same over Yasir edged over the slips for four.
Anderson trapped Yasir LBW in his next over on 6. Yasir reviewed the decision and the decision was reversed as he was adjudged to be outside the line.
A run out then followed with Yasir run out for 7 on a very close call.
Then a big LBW shout against Amir from Woakes was given not out. Woakes immediately reviewed and this decision was overturned in favour of England. Three wickets had now fallen for ten runs.
More drama as Jimmy Anderson received a third formal warning for running on the pitch. Replays showed this was a close call but Anderson was now removed from the bowling attack for the rest of the Pakistan 1st innings as a punishment.
Sohail now hit his first ball for four from Finn who had replaced Anderson.
After a period of calm Broad successfully appealed for an LBW against Sohail who had scored 7. It was reviewed but the decision was upheld. The score now 386-9 and the lead 89.
The lead had progressed to 100 when Cook dropped Rahat from Finn from a regulation chance. The physic was then needed when Broad struck Sarfraz on the finger.
With the lead at 103 Broad finally removed Rahat for 4 when he was caught at slip by Root. Sarfraz was 46 not out and the Pakistan first innings total was 400 all out. The final wicket meant tea was taken and 44 overs still remained to be bowled in the day.
Cook and Hales got England off to a brisk start. Alastair Cook passing Kevin Pietersen’s record for aggregate of runs in all forms of cricket for England.
On 36 for no wicket Amir drew an edge from an attempted pull by Hales but it flew over the slips.
With an hour and a half still to play Cook and Hales brought up the fifty partnership. They went on to make their highest partnership together when they reached 71.
There was a missed run out chance immediately after that when Hales was some way short of the crease but the throw missed the stumps.
Shortly after 6pm Cook and Hales brought up a hundred opening partnership. England’s first century opening partnership since 2013.
Still trailing by two Pakistan thought they had Hales LBW but it was given not out and the Review backed that decision.
So England went on to catch up their first innings deficit without the loss of a wicket.
At stumps England were 120-0 with Hales reaching his fifty from the final ball of the day and Cook on 64 not out. England lead by 17 runs with all 10 wickets remaining.
