Pakistan ploughs on to take a 281-run lead

England kept chipping away at Pakistan's batting but the visitors have built on a handy lead with useful contributions from the middle order. Despite Chris Woakes's 5 for 31, Pakistan found its way to 214 for 8 on the third day.

Published : Jul 16, 2016 17:14 IST

Chris Woakes broke the bat of Pakistan's batting on Saturday, claiming 5 for 31.
Chris Woakes broke the bat of Pakistan's batting on Saturday, claiming 5 for 31.
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Chris Woakes broke the bat of Pakistan's batting on Saturday, claiming 5 for 31.

Chris Woakes claimed his first 10-wicket Test haul but Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah made another key contribution to leave England facing a big run chase at Lord's.

>Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Yasir (6 for 72) recorded the second-best figures by a Pakistan bowler at the home of cricket as England was bowled out for 272 in reply to 339 in the morning session on day three of the first Test, with Woakes unbeaten on 35.

Woakes got on the honours board with his maiden five-wicket Test haul on day one and the England all-rounder took 5 for 31 on Saturday as the tourists closed on 214 for 8, leading by 281 runs.

Yasir now has a record 82 wickets after only 13 matches in the longest format and added 30 not out to frustrate England after Asad Shafiq (49) and Sarfraz Ahmed (45) got starts, but failed to go on. Pakistan will look to the wily Yasir to torment England in its second innings and give his side a lead in the four-match series.

England resumed on 253 for 7, in need of some valuable runs down the order, but Pakistan needed just over half an hour to end the innings.

Stuart Broad (17) was undone by a sharp Wahab Riaz (1 for 67) yorker and the magnificent Yasir trapped Steven Finn in front before Jake Ball was run out going for a second.

England was desperate for early wickets as Pakistan started its second innings with a lead of 67, and a fired up Broad delivered when Mohammad Hafeez edged tentatively to Joe Root at second slip without scoring.

Shan Masood (24) edged the impressive Woakes to Alastair Cook at first slip in the first over after lunch and Pakistan was 59 for 3 when Azhar Ali (23) was adjudged leg before after missing a delivery from Moeen Ali (2 for 49).

First-innings centurion Misbah-ul-Haq had a rush of blood when he picked out Alex Hales on the midwicket boundary with an ugly hoick off Moeen to fall without scoring. That rash stroke from the captain left his side leading by 127 on 60 for 4 and England thought it had Younis Khan cheaply soon after, but a review went in favour of the veteran batsman after he was initially given out leg before to Finn.

Shafiq continued to play positively, but Younis (25) was unable to get going and it came as no surprise when he dragged on to Moeen, ending a frustrating fifth-wicket stand of 69.

The energetic Shafiq drove Finn down the ground for an exquisite boundary and looked set for a deserved second half-century of the match until the superb Woakes bowled him with a brilliant delivery which nipped back.

England sensed an opportunity to dismiss the tourists cheaply at 168 for 6, but Sarfraz and Yasir combined for a valuable stand of 40 in the evening session - the former having a stroke of luck when Jonny Bairstow put him down off an unfortunate Finn.

Bairstow made amends by taking simple chances to dismiss Sarfraz and Wahab late in the day, ensuring Woakes had 11 to set up an intriguing fourth day.

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