James Anderson, Stuart Broad rattle Pakistan
Younis became Anderson’s 422nd wicket in his 110th Test
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-11-02 01:57 GMT
Sharjah: 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 Test in Sharjah on Sunday.
Seeking to level the three-match series after losing the second Test in Dubai, England were kept in the hunt by Anderson who took 4-17 to dismiss Pakistan for a paltry 234 on a relaid Sharjah stadium pitch.
At the close, England openers Alastair Cook and Moeen Ali (four) had survived two overs to finish on four without loss as England trail by 230 runs. Anderson’s new-ball partner Stuart Broad kept the pressure on from the other end, bowling eight of his 13 overs maiden and finishing with 2-13.
Pakistan, who won the toss and batted, were indebted to skipper Misbah-ul-Haq who was ninth out after scoring a fighting 71 for his 32nd half-century. Misbah added a fighting 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 222-7 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 their last five wickets for just 38 runs. Younis, who made a brilliant hundred in the second Test in Dubai, looked in good shape before falling leg-before as he missed an incoming full toss from Anderson and unsuccessfully challenged umpire’s decision.
Younis became Anderson’s 422nd wicket in his 110th Test. Anderson is now eighth on the all-time leading Test wicket takers, leaving former South African paceman and captain Shaun Pollock (421 wickets) behind.
England Allrounder Stokes set to undergo scan on injured shoulder
England allrounder Ben Stokes will only know whether he can take any further part in the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah after scans on Monday on a suspected dislocated shoulder.
Stokes, 24, fell on his shoulder while trying to take a difficult catch off Pakistani batsman Sarfraz Ahmed in the last session of the opening day at Sharjah stadium on Sunday, and walked off the field in great discomfort. England team physiotherapist Craig de Weymarn inspected the injury before escorting the all-rounder off the field.
England and Wales Cricket Board spokesperson confirmed Stokes will have a scan on his right shoulder on Monday. Stokes is not part of the England one-day squad for the four-match series against Pakistan which follows the Tests and it will remain to be seen whether he can recover in time for the tour of South Africa next month.
SCOREBOARD
Pakistan (1st innings): M. Hafeez c Broad b Ali 27, A. Ali c Bairstow b Anderson 0, S. Malik c Bairstow b Broad 38, Younis Khan lbw b Anderson 31, Misbah-ul-Haq c Root b Anderson 71, A. Shafiq c Bairstow b Patel 5, S. Ahmed c Root b Ali 39, W. Riaz b Patel 0, Y. Shah c Patel b Broad 7, Z. Babar (not out) 6, R. Ali c Ali b Anderson 4. Extras: (b-1, lb-5) 6. Total (in 85.1 overs) 234.
FoW: 1-5, 2-49, 3-88, 4-103, 5-116, 6-196, 7-196, 8-224, 9-224.
Bowling: Anderson 15.1-7-17-4, Broad 13-8-13-2, Stokes 11-4-23-0, Patel 23-3-85-2, Ali 13-3-49-2, Rashid 10-1-41-0
England (Ist innings): A. Cook (batting) 0, M. Ali (batting) 4. Total (for no loss in two overs) 4.
Bowling: Rahat 1-1-0-0, Shah 1-0-4-0.