KARACHI: The last Pakistani pair of Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali had pulled the team tantalising close to an unlikely draw with an 11.1-over stay at the crease that accounted for the second highest partnership.

The match was as good as lost when Ali, who remained unbeaten on 15, joined Khan at the crease with Pakistan still 192 runs behind England’s target of 343.

The two forged a partnership of 50 runs – the second highest in Pakistan’s second innings behind Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali’s 73-run stretch for the second wicket.

But more important in the context of the game, they stayed together for 11.1 overs, also the second longest stay after the Aslam-Ali partnership (25.2 overs).

When Khan fell on an individual score of 36, the third highest after Aslam, 70, and Ali, 38, they were only 13.1 overs away from end of play that would have drawn the game, keeping the series level at 1-1.