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Even contest as Pakistan chip out Root and Vince

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Tea England 297 and 262 for 4 (Ballance 21, Bairstow 2*) lead Pakistan 400 by 80 runs
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

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WATCH – Yasir’s stunning catch

Neither side could claim a decisive advantage during the first two sessions of the fourth day at Edgbaston, with Pakistan chipping away often enough to keep their hopes alive while England nudged the lead to 159 at tea.

Pakistan made the early moves in the morning session, removing Alastair Cook and Alex Hales within the opening five overs, before Joe Root and James Vince added 95 in 35 overs as Pakistan preyed on their patience. A crucial moment came in the morning session when Root had 25, amid a period when the scoring dried up, and was dropped low at first slip by Mohammad Hafeez: at that point, England’s lead was 63.

There was a brief surge in the scoring shortly after lunch as Root went to his fifty from 108 balls, and his eagerness to try and increase the tempo may have played a part in his dismissal when he top-edged a sweep against Yasir with the legspinner operating round the wicket.

Vince had produced his sturdiest Test innings to date, resisting, ball after ball, from chasing deliveries outside off stump as Pakistan’s quicks hung the ball wide. He had again opened with a driven boundary, but forced himself to play within his body, profiting when the bowlers strayed too straight, with his other six boundaries come through the leg side. Yet, after 121 balls of composure, the nemesis returned as he dangled his bat at Mohammad Amir’s first delivery with the second new ball and edged to second slip.

It remains to be seen if either side wants to throw down the gauntlet; Pakistan will feel they stand a decent chance if they dismiss England for another 100 runs, while conversely England’s best opportunity could be to get bowled out with a lead around 300 because Cook is unlikely to dangle the carrot too much. By tea, Gary Ballance was again shaping up solidly alongside Jonny Bairstow.

After letting the game slip on the third evening – Mickey Arthur made his displeasure known after play – Pakistan needed an early spark. They got it from Yasir, but in the field rather than with the ball. Sohail Khan, who had come in for some of Arthur’s criticism, drew Cook into driving at a wide delivery which he spooned towards point where Yasir dived full length to his left.

In the next over, Hales’ patience also snapped as Amir probed away outside his off stump and suckered him into a drive which was well taken at second slip by Younis Khan. There was a zip about Pakistan’s cricket, sensing a sniff to get into England’s middle order, and Root was given an early wake up when his second ball from Sohail leapt over his top edge.

Misbah-ul-Haq was content not to over-attack, as is often his style, and opted to bowl at England’s ego – the desire to score briskly – with a combination of close catchers and boundary sweepers. At one stage, Yasir and Rahat Ali delivered the captain’s plan to perfection, delivering four consecutive maidens. Root had been kept scoreless for 18 deliveries when Rahat – whose seven-over morning spell included five consecutive maidens – drew an edge with him on 25 only for Hafeez to further blot his fielding copybook.

Root appeared to be having problems with his back, a long-standing issue he manages, and at one stage need attention from the physio. But it did not appear to overly hamper him in the afternoon, the pain on his face as he walked off more a realisation that another Test hundred had passed him by.

Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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