Two wickets from Mark Wooden shortly earlier than lunch on the fourth morning of an unbearably tense second Check have given England a terrific probability of clinching a historic 2-0 win in Pakistan.
Set 355 for an unlikely victory – greater than any workforce has ever efficiently chased to win a Check on this nation – Pakistan had reached 290 for 5 when Ben Stokes requested his quickest bowler to goal quick.
The transfer paid prompt dividends. Having added an apparently match-winning 80 for the sixth wicket with Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Nawaz gloved one down the leg facet and was simply caught by Ollie Pope for 45.
England regained momentum forward of the lunch break as Mark Wooden took two key wickets
The bearhug with which Stokes smothered Wooden mentioned all of it: England’s probabilities of successful the collection with a recreation to spare have been nonetheless alive.
They usually have been higher than that in Wooden’s subsequent over, as Shakeel – who had batted heroically for practically 5 and a half hours for 94 – flicked at one other leg-side supply. This time, Pope threw himself low to his proper and claimed the catch.
The on-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Aleem Dar conferred and gave a comfortable sign of out, however TV official Joel Wilson took an age to uphold their resolution. The doubt surrounded whether or not Pope had dragged the ball alongside the bottom after it entered his gloves.
The footage appeared inconclusive, however Wilson determined his fingers have been underneath the ball, and England have been delirious. Lunch was taken moments afterward 291 for seven, nonetheless 64 in need of the victory that might take this recreation to decider in Karachi later this week.
The quick bowler dismissed Mohammad Nawaz earlier than choosing up the wicket of Saud Shakeel
When Pakistan resumed at 9.45am, they have been 198 for 4, nonetheless 157 adrift of victory and with a protracted tail encouraging English ideas of a swift conclusion.
The early wicket of Faheem Ashraf didn’t discourage them, caught at slip by Zak Crawley for 10 as he poked at an off-break from Joe Root. At that time, Pakistan – who had misplaced Imam-ul-Haq late the earlier night – have been 210 for 5, and WinViz in England’s favour.
However Shakeel appeared immovable and, whereas Nawaz often rode his luck, particularly towards Ollie Robinson with the second new ball, Pakistan’s sixth-wicket pair appeared to have carried out a lot of the onerous work.
Then got here Wooden, conserving alive English hopes of what can be a memorable collection win.
