Edgbaston Test: Sami, Azhar put Pakistan in commanding position

Published August 4, 2016
Azhar Ali in action. — Reuters
Azhar Ali in action. — Reuters

BIRMINGHAM: Azhar Ali's century helped keep England at bay before he was out to the final ball of the second day of the third Test at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Azhar's more than six-hour 139 ended when all-rounder Chris Woakes, on his Warwickshire home ground, struck with the new ball to have him edging to England captain Alastair Cook at first slip.

That left Pakistan 257 for three at stumps, 40 runs behind England's first innings 297.

Number three Azhar had come in just five balls into Thursday's play after Mohammad Hafeez had fallen for a duck to leave Pakistan none for one.

Azhar punished England for dropping him twice with his 10th century in 48 Tests.

Together with recalled opener Sami Aslam, who made 82, he put on 181 for the second wicket.

Aslam, a 20-year-old left-handed opener, was in sight of a well-deserved maiden Test hundred when he was run out responding to Azhar's poor call.

Younis Khan was 21 not out, having helped Azhar add 76 for the third wicket.

England's tough day in the field was made worse when James Anderson was twice warned officially in one over by Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford for running on the pitch.

One more such warning and Anderson, England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker, would be barred from bowling again in the innings.

Pakistan had seen Sohail Khan, one of their two changes from the side beaten by 330 runs in the second Test at Old Trafford as England levelled the four-match series at 1-1, take a Test-best five for 96 on Wednesday.

Sohail justified both his inclusion, and Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq's decision to field first.

After the 32-year-old paceman sparked a top-order collapse, England were indebted to left-handers Ballance (70) and Ali (63) for getting them close to 300.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.