Pakistan off to steady start before rain interrupts play
As of an hour later after lunch, the play didn’t resume as it was absolutely pelting down in Southampton. Pakistan were 41 without loss. Shan Masood was unbeaten on 13, partnered by Abid Ali who was unbeaten on 22.
Pakistan openers Shan Masood and Abid Ali safely batted out 18 overs before insufficient light forced the players and umpires to go off and take an early lunch on day four of the third and final Test between England and Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
As of an hour later after lunch, the play didn't resume as it was absolutely pelting down in Southampton. Pakistan were 41 without loss. Shan Masood was unbeaten on 13, partnered by Abid Ali who was unbeaten on 22.
However, Masood got a reprieve as wicketkeeper Jos Buttler couldn't hold on to the catch that came off the outside edge of the left-hander's bat off James Anderson. With this, four catches were dropped off Anderson's bowling in this match. This hadn't happened before in the 38-year old's career before who is eyeing to become the first seamer to reach the milestone of 600 Test wickets.
Anderson finished off Pakistan's first innings in the evening session on day three on 273. The veteran claimed his 29th five-wicket haul in Tests. He now has jointly the second most number of five-wicket hauls in Tests as a fast bowler with Glenn McGrath, only behind Sir Richard Hadlee's tally of 36.
Pakistan captain Azhar Ali gritted it out with a dogged unbeaten 141, scoring more than half of the team total. He found an ally in Mohammad Rizwan, who ably supported him with a gritty 53. They put on 138 for the sixth wicket.
Pakistan were still 310 runs behind England after they were all-out and England captain Joe Root enforced the follow-on.
England are 1-0 up in the three-match series. The rain-disrupted second match was drawn.
Brief score
England 583-8 dec (Crawley 267, Buttler 152, Shaheen 2/121)
Pakistan 273 & 41-0 (f/o) (Abid 22*, Masood 13*)
