Hafeez keeps Pakistan slightly in front

Cricket365
November 17, 2015

Pakistan were in a good position at stumps on day three in Sharjah thanks to Mohammad Hafeez, with England unable to prevent the hosts from doing well on a relatively dead batting deck in the third Test.

Pakistan were on 146 for three at the close, holding a lead of 74 runs after overtaking England's first innings lead of 72. Hafeez was on 97 not out. England had been bowled out for 306 just after lunch.

The day began with England in a decent position on 222 for four, but a collapse followed over the next two and a bit hours. James Taylor, who was on 74 overnight, could only add two more runs before playing away from his body and catching the edge to the keeper.

Jonny Bairstow was also not long for the middle in the morning, as he went from 37 overnight to out for 43, bowled by Zulfiqur Babar. This left Samit Patel, back in the side after years out, to rescue the knock.

Patel and Adil Rashid, who batted for 52 deliveries for his eight runs, took the score from 245 to 285, but once Rashid departed, the end came swiftly. Patel was out in the over before lunch, for 42.

Stuart Broad was tasked with pushing the lead closer to 100, but he didn't have much to work with as James Anderson, pushed up the order to 10, was out for seven to Shoaib Malik.

Ben Stokes came out to bat with his shoulder heavily strapped, having warmed up a bit during the lunch break but was noticeably uncomfortable and unable to follow through with the bat. He lasted just 10 balls and was out for a duck to end the innings.

this left Pakistan needing to erase a 72-run deficit, and they did so without loss, as Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali put on 101 for the first wicket over 28 overs.

Two wickets fell quickly as the light started to face, as Azhar was out for 34 to an Ian Bell run out. The next over saw Malik out for a golden duck to Anderson, leaving Hafeez to continue with Younis Khan for the last hour of the day.

Younis was not fortunate enough to reach stumps though, as he fell in the third-last over of the day to Stuart Broad. The paceman trapped Younis in front for 14, and while he sent it for a review, the umpire's call was proven correct.