England v Pakistan Test series

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Third Test, Ageas Bowl (day one of five)
England 332-4 (90 overs): Crawley 171*, Buttler 87*, Yasir 2-107
Pakistan: Yet to bat
Scorecard
Zak Crawley's sparkling maiden Test century put England in command of the third and final Test against Pakistan on day one at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.

The 22-year-old, playing in his eighth Test, oozed elegance for his 171 not out.

He shared an unbroken partnership of 205 with Jos Buttler, who continued his resurgence with the bat by making an unbeaten 87.

That guided England from the difficulty of 127-4 to 332-4, a position from which they are primed to win the series.

On a blustery day at the Ageas Bowl, Pakistan had to battle a fiercely strong wind that whistled down the ground for the entire day.

At the end of it, they were left facing a huge battle to avoid their first series defeat by England since 2010.

[lancsdes]

Never been a great fan of Buttler in proper cricket but he did play beautifully today

[Admin]

Third Test, Ageas Bowl (day two of five)
England 583-8 dec (154.4 overs): Crawley 267, Buttler 152
Pakistan 24-3 (10.5 overs): Anderson 3-13
Scorecard
Zak Crawley's superlative 267 and 152 from Jos Buttler led an England run-fest on the second day of the final Test against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl.

Crawley, 22, became the third-youngest England player to make a double century and posted their 10th highest score in history.

Buttler overturned being given out on 99 to complete his second Test ton and their fifth-wicket stand of 359 is England's best of all time as well as their joint-sixth best for any wicket.

Chris Woakes, Dom Bess and Stuart Broad had some fun to lift England to 583-8 declared, their highest total in four years.

They gave Pakistan just under an hour to bat, in which time James Anderson bowled beautifully to remove Shan Masood, Abid Ali and Babar Azam.

Pakistan closed on 24-3, while Anderson is only four short of becoming the first pace bowler to reach 600 Test wickets.

Even if Pakistan can rouse themselves to save this match, England - already leading 1-0 - are set to win the series.

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Third Test, Ageas Bowl, Southampton (day three of five)
England 583-8 dec (154.4 overs): Crawley 267, Buttler 152
Pakistan 273 all out (93 overs): Azhar 141*, Anderson 5-56
Scorecard
England forced Pakistan to follow on on day three of the final Test at the Ageas Bowl despite a defiant century by visiting captain Azhar Ali.

Azhar's controlled 141 not out dragged his side from 75-5 and the point of implosion in reply to England 583-8 declared.

He shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 138 with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, who battled to 53.

After Rizwan was removed by Chris Woakes, England could have run through the tail had it not been for an incredible passage of play that saw three catches dropped in the space of 10 James Anderson deliveries.

Anderson eventually had last man Naseem Shah caught at third slip to complete figures of 5-56 and move to 598 Test wickets.

With Pakistan 273 all out, 310 behind, they were given half an hour to bat again in the evening gloom, and Azhar returned to open the batting.

However, just as the players got to the middle for the start of the Pakistan second innings, the umpires decided the light was not good enough to resume.

With rain forecast for Tuesday, there may be added pressure on England to wrap up victory on day four in order to seal a 2-0 series win.



Anderson 3 catches dropped from his bowling in 10 balls less than impressed he was

[Admin]

Third Test, Ageas Bowl, Southampton (day four of five)
England 583-8 dec (154.4 overs): Crawley 267, Buttler 152
Pakistan 273 & 100-2: Abid 42, Anderson 1-18

England's push for victory and James Anderson's quest for a 600th Test wicket was obstructed by the weather and Pakistan's stubborn resistance on day four of the final Test at the Ageas Bowl.

Following-on, the tourists reached 100-2, still 210 behind, but with the opportunity to save the match if they can bat out the final day.

They could be aided by the rain that is forecast for Tuesday after more than three hours were lost on Monday afternoon and bad light forced an early close.

In the 56 overs that were possible, Stuart Broad had Shan Masood lbw and Anderson removed Abid Ali in similar fashion to move to 599 wickets.

Anderson's quest to reach 600 was again hampered by a dropped catch - wicketkeeper Jos Buttler missed Masood, the fourth chance the pace bowler has seen go down in the match.

Pakistan captain Azhar Ali remains on 29 not out, with Babar Azam unbeaten on four.

Azhar had come out to open on Sunday evening but, because the innings did not begin before the players were taken off for bad light, the Laws permitted the captain to return to his usual position of number three.

[Admin]

Jimmy now on 600 as the game drift towards a draw

[Admin]

Third Test, Ageas Bowl, Southampton (day five of five)
England 583-8 dec (154.4 overs): Crawley 267, Buttler 152
Pakistan 273 & 187-4: Babar 63*
Match drawn, England win series 1-0
Scorecard
England had to settle for a draw in the final Test against Pakistan on the day James Anderson became the first fast bowler to reach 600 Test wickets.

Torrential rain prevented any play until 16:15 BST at the Ageas Bowl, all but ensuring the draw that left England with a 1-0 series win.

There was still the opportunity for Anderson's moment of history, which came from his 14th delivery of the day when he had Azhar Ali caught by Joe Root at first slip.

Root himself also had Asad Shafiq held at short leg, Pakistan closing on 187-4 following-on in their second innings, 123 runs behind.

The players shook hands just after the last hour began, confirming the second successive weather-affected draw in Southampton.

England still record their first series victory over Pakistan in 10 years, but remain third in the World Test Championship behind India and Australia.

Even if that new competition overcomes the obstacles of the coronavirus pandemic, England face a huge battle to reach the final.

In the meantime, the bio-secure summer continues when an entirely different England squad takes on Pakistan in a three-match Twenty20 series in Manchester, beginning on Friday.

[apm51054]

First slog game abandoned apparently rains in Manchester

[Admin]

England won second game by 5 wickets

[apm51054]

Pakistan level series with 5 run win now for the sandpaper boys