Pakistan v England 2nd Test day 4 review: Root resists as England face daunting task

Pakistan v England 2nd Test day 4 review: Root resists as England face daunting task: England’s chances of batting out time to save the Dubai Test and retain the chances of winning the series looked pretty bleak when the 4^th day started. Pakistan were already in a commanding position and looked to inflict further misery by setting the visitors an almost improbable target of 491. But England hung on courtesy a crucial stand between Ian Bell and Joe Root after the openers departed pretty early, ending the day at 130 for 3.

With three sessions still to survive Pakistan look in control but draw is not a proposition out of the English sights. But they would hope for no such disaster as the 3^rd day morning session which has brought them to this state in the game.

With more than four-and-a-half sessions to bat to save the game, the last thing England wanted was the sight of Cook limping badly, something that was obvious to everybody, except the medical staff who insisted he was fine. His running between the wickets looked severely compromised and Yasir Shah removed him in his second over, in what was telling blow for the tourists.

The first session robbed another well set batsman of his century. Misbah (batting on 87 overnight) eager to get to his second ton of the game hit an Anderson slower delivery straight down the throat of the mid-off fielder and departed without any addition to his total. The morning though belonged to Younis Khan. He and Shafiq played steadily for a while. It was always going to be about seeing off the opening hour and things would eventually get easy. Younis eventually made his 31^st Test hundred, the 10^th in the Gulf state even as Pakistan lead crossed 400. At lunch, the lead was 447 with Shafiq nearing a half century.

Pakistan continued to pile on the misery for England in the afternoon session as well. Shafiq soon got to his fifty as England got some respite dismissing Younis. He went after Adil Rashid, attempted a slog sweep against the turn to get quick runs and was caught at mid-on. This century put him on the list of batsmen with most Test centuries at the 10^th spot.

Pakistan waited for Asad Shafiq to get to his 100 but when he was caught plumb in front of the stumps off a Moeen delivery, soon Misbah called his troops in. England had a “small matter” of 491 to chase to win the game or survive five sessions.

And the English reply started on a sorry note. Throwing your bat at a full delivery outside off is never becoming of a Test opener but that is exactly what Moeen Ali did. Cook the English skipper was clearly hampered by what looked like a groin niggle and unsurprisingly was soon back in the hut attempting a sweep off Yasir Shah. He was the one England were banking on pretty heavily.

Joe Root and Ian Bell batted sedately following the dismissals of the openers. Misbah attacked the two right-handers with spinners capable of taking the ball away from them. The duo soon completed a half-century stand and looked largely unperturbed by Yasir and Babar. Not only the spinners but every Pakistan bowler lacked discipline and were not all that consistent.

All it takes is one ball to spin from the rough and do strange things. Root completed his fifty, but Bell fell short of his by four runs when he attempted to pad away a Yasir delivery pitched on the rough on the leg-side. The ball brushed his glove on his way to the first slip fielder. The umpire missed it but the review vindicated Pakistan’s joy. Bairstow and Root then survived the rest of the day without any casualty to take England to 130 for 3 at stumps.

It all makes for a cracking day 5 in store and England face a massive challenge to save the Test match. The hosts would be quite hopeful that their spinners will do the job on a wearing last day pitch.

Brief Scores

Day 4 2^nd innings 

Pakistan – 354/6 dec (95 overs) (Younis 118, Anderson 2-22)

England – 130/3 (54 overs)  (Root 59* Imran Khan 1-16)

England needs 361 runs to win with 7 wickets in hand