Paceman James Anderson led England’s efforts to level the series against Pakistan with four wickets on the opening day of the third and final cricket Test here on Sunday.
Seeking to level the three-match series after losing the second Test in Dubai, England was kept in the hunt by Anderson, who took four for 17 to dismiss Pakistan for 234 on a re-laid pitch. At close, England openers Alastair Cook (0) and Moeen Ali (four) had survived two overs to finish on four without loss.
Anderson’s new-ball partner Stuart Broad kept the pressure on from the other end, bowling eight maidens in his 13 overs and finishing with two for 13.
Pakistan, which elected to bat, was indebted to skipper Misbah-ul-Haq who was ninth out after scoring a fighting 71 for his 32nd half-century.
Misbah added 80 for the sixth wicket with Sarfraz Ahmed (39) but all the other batsmen, including Younis Khan (31), Shoaib Malik (38) and Mohammad Hafeez (27), failed to capitalise on good starts.
England took the second new ball with the score on 222 for seven with Anderson dismissing Misbah caught in the slips before wrapping up the innings with the wicket of Rahat Ali for four.
Misbah hit seven fours and two sixes during his 160-ball knock but could not stop the slide as Pakistan lost its last five wickets for just 38 runs.
Miscued
Younis, who made a brilliant hundred in the second Test, looked good before he fell leg-before as he missed an incoming full toss from Anderson and unsuccessfully challenged the umpire’s decision. — AFP
  • Anderson is now eighth on the all-time leading Test wicket-takers list with 422 victims from 110 Tests