Stumps - England 46 for two, target 284
Shoaib Malik’s farewell series started with him headlining with a double-century with the bat, and it could end with him playing a key role in winning it with the ball.
The all-rounder, who announced his retirement from Test cricket on the third evening here, took two early wickets as England set about the taxing assignment of chasing 284 to win and halve the series.
He ended the day with two for eight off seven overs. First he trapped Moeen Ali, who had earlier been hit on the back of the helmet by Wahab Riaz, lbw for 22.
England’s task became even more difficult when Malik then sent back Ian Bell for a duck. Alastair Cook and Joe Root, the two most prolific batsmen in Test cricket this year, were the not out batsmen at stumps.
Tea – Pakistan 319 for eight, lead by 247
SHARJAH // If this is to be Misbah-ul-Haq's last Test, then his Pakistan batting career ended in ignominious fashion.
He might still be celebrating a Test and series win, though, as Pakistan have already fashioned an advantage that will be extremely tricky for England to overcome.
Misbah, who is pondering whether to carry on playing after this series, was trapped lbw by Stuart Broad for 38.
England edged away, taking four wickets for 90 runs in the afternoon session. Mohammed Hafeez's vigil was finally ended when he holed out to Ian Bell off Moeen Ali.
The opener had been given four chances, all told, by England, and his innings of 151 could yet be the difference between the sides.
Lunch - Pakistan 229 for four, lead by 157 runs
Mohammed Hafeez made hard work of the three runs he needed at the start of the day to reach his century.
The Pakistan opener survived a big lbw appeal, and then a subsequent television review, to the first ball of the day from Adil Rashid.
He might have been stumped two balls later, too, but Jonny Bairstow, England’s wicket-keeper, also failed to pick Rashid’s googly. Instead, the ball ran away for four byes.
Hafeez did eventually notch up three figures when he swept Rashid’s leg-spin to deep backward square leg for a single.
He also escaped a caught and bowled chance to Stuart Broad when on 113. His effort is underpinning Pakistan’s victory push, as they stretched their lead to 157 by the interval.
pradley@thenational.ae
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