09/11/26 10:41:00
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09/11 10:40 CDT Pakistan brings down deficit to 23 but England still in control
of third cricket test
Pakistan brings down deficit to 23 but England still in control of third
cricket test
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) --- The Pakistan top order finally showed its batting
muscles to delay England's bid for a series sweep on day three of the third and
final test at Edgbaston on Friday.
Shan Masood (95), captain Babar Azam (76) and young opener Azan Awais (59) all
made half-centuries as Pakistan breached the 200-run mark for the first time on
its tumultuous tour and reached 297-5 at tea, reducing the deficit to England
to 23 runs.
Saud Shakeel was unbeaten on 29 and Ghazi Ghori, one of the three debutants,
was not out on 6.
Masood missed out Pakistan's first century on a tour that saw seven of his
teammates being sent home after two massive defeats at Leeds and Lord's.
Babar looked confident on a pitch which eased out for batting with hardly any
lateral movement for the pace bowlers despite gloomy conditions. However, Babar
was denied his first test century since 2022 when the England pacers set him up
with short-pitched deliveries.
Babar was nearly caught when he sliced Jofra Archer to third only to see
substitute fielder Theo Wylie disturbing the skirting with his back toe while
catching the ball over his head. In the next over, Josh Tongue (1-82) throttled
the skipper with another short ball down the leg side which took the face of
the bat. Jordan Cox took a well-judged diving catch behind the stumps.
Masood led Pakistan's fightback by adding 125 runs --- Pakistan's first century
partnership of the tour --- with Awais and shared another 89-run stand with
Babar before falling to Dan Lawrence's sensational one-handed diving grab in
the slips that gave Atkinson (1-62) his first wicket of the match.
Earlier, Pakistan had its most productive batting session of the tour and
scored 132 runs in the first session after resuming on 52-2.
The left-handed pair of Masood and Awais put the off-field chaos behind them as
Pakistan progressed to 184-3 at lunch, losing the sole wicket of Awais, whose
84-ball knock featured 10 fours.
Masood and Awais soaked up the pressure from Ollie Robinson (2-39) and Jofra
Archer (0-78).
England made a strong 453 after Pakistan was bundled out for 133 in two
sessions on day one and Robinson claimed two wickets before Pakistan scored its
first run in the second innings.
That brought Masood and Awais together and the left-handed pair grew in
confidence against Atkinson and an erring Tongue, who was punished for
boundaries whenever there was width on offer. Tongue was unlucky not to have
Masood twice before the former Pakistan captain completed his half-century off
81 balls.
Masood edged Tongue to the vacant third slip just a ball after Ben Duckett was
removed from the same fielding position and Wylie dropped a regulation catch at
point as the ball burst through his hands to the boundary.
The introduction of Lawrence broke Pakistan's best partnership of the series
when Awais feathered a leg side catch to Cox. Awais was adjudged not out but
England captain Joe Root was quick to review from leg slip and was vindicated
by video.
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