Pakistan v England: second test, day four – live | England cricket team

A big breakthrough for England! Ashraf pushes with hard hands on a good delivery that straightens up to take the lead, and Zak Crawley takes a comfortable grip on the slip. This is the wicket of Joe Root’s 50th test.

69th: Pakistan 208-4 (Shakeel 58, Ashraf 9) A swinging half-volley from Anderson is crushed midway for four by Ashraf, the first limit of the day. So far so good for Pakistan.

68th: Pakistan 203-4 (Shakeel 58, Ashraf 4) Saud Shakeel looks like a very good player. It’s only his second test, but he has a striking first-class average of 53.

“Sorry to hear you’re not feeling too good, but congratulations on always taking the reins of the OBO in the early hours,” says Brian Withington. “Hope you’ll be entertained by cricket if not compos mentis!”

I feel like Tony Sopranos at the start of Funhouse, although I have to point out that I’m not about to kill my best friend, and I can’t blame the shells on Artie.

67th: Pakistan 201-4 (Shakeel 57, Ashraf 3) Ashraf lands a nice punch that is lined up nicely to his right by bowler Anderson; then he defends a good one which remains a little low. It was a cautious start.

66th: Pakistan 200-4 (Shakeel 56, Ashraf 3) It’s Joe Root on the other side. There is a bit of a turn, but it’s very slow, and Shakeel has plenty of time to wave a square behind on the left side.

“In this test, we had a bespectacled bowler bowling with an equally handsome batsman in Leach to Imam-ul-Haq,” says Tom Peach. “When was the last time this happened? Vettori in Sehwag?

Did Sehwag wear glasses? It completely overwhelmed me. Guess I was distracted by the ball being slammed through the point for four.

65th: Pakistan 199-4 (Shakeel 55, Ashraf 3) We start early to make up for lost time. Jimmy Anderson starts with no slips, two men on the drive and another on the midwicket court. Everything is set up to invite the reader, but Shakeel and Ashraf politely decline for now. One from above.

If Pakistan wins, it will be their second highest run in the Tests, behind a fourth inning at Pallekele in 2015. The last time England failed to defend a target of this size was on an emotional day in Mumbai in 2008.

Some news from Australiawhere Pat Cummins and his friends will go all out with the South African frontrunners in Brisbane this weekend.

preemptive excuses

In the past 24 hours, I’ve caught something not quite pleasant, and I’m not sure what day it is. So please accept my apologies for what you are about to read over the next few hours until Daniel takes over.

Ali Martin Day Three Report

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the fourth and final day of the second test between Pakistan and England. It’s a simple run to the finish line: Pakistan need 157 runs to make the cut, England need six wickets to win it with one game to spare. Are we going to crack?