Joe Root pleased with England’s batting effort

England batsman Joe Root is happy with the batting effort of his team in the second innings of the third Test match against Pakistan. After conceding a lead of 103 runs in the first innings, the batsmen showed a lot of character to end Day 4 with a lead of 311 runs with 5 wickets remaining.

“The way we applied ourselves throughout this whole innings has been a magnificent effort,” Root said on Saturday.

“It started off last night really, with the way Halesy and Cooky took the initiative and built that platform. It would have been very easy, if we’d lost a couple of wickets then, to feel under pressure going into today. We had to absorb a little bit of pressure this morning, me and Vincey — to get through that was really important…With any four-man attack, that’s what you look to do — take it deep,” Root reckoned.

Jonny Bairstow and Mooen Ali really pushed the run-rate up with their stroke play and aggressive batting as they quickly piled on runs towards the end of the day’s play. “The way Jonny and Moeen played tonight was fantastic,” Root said. “I think the way he (Bairstow) has applied himself to Test cricket over the last 18 months has been great.”

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The hosts have done well to take control but the tough decision is yet to be taken on the declaration. “I’m sure Cookie will want a night to mull it over…But we’ve just got to rock up tomorrow with the right mentality to take 10 wickets,” Root opined.

At the end of day 4, England already have a lead of 311 runs, which is nearly 20 runs more than the highest successful chase at the venue – 283 for 5 by South Africa in 2008.