LIVE: England v Pakistan – the action on day four of the second Test in Abu Dhabi
Stay up to date with all the action on
day four of the second Test between England and Pakistan with
Sportsmail's unrivalled team. We'll deliver over-by-over coverage as the
action unfolds at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi while our brilliant team of writers
will update with their insights from the ground. Email your thoughts to joe.ridge@dailymail.co.uk or tweet @joeridge87
England v Pakistan – the essentials
England:
Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian
Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Jimmy
Anderson, Monty Panesar.
1st innings: 327
Pakistan:
Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq,
Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid
Khan.
1st innings: 257
Umpires: Bruce Oxenford and Steve Davis
Click here for the latest scorecard
67th over: Pakistan 130-4 (Azhar 51, Shafiq 35)
Broad continues his spell…
66th over: Pakistan 130-4 (Azhar 51, Shafiq 35)
Panesar comes into the attack… he was outstanding yesterday. In other news, Jonathan Trott is off the field feeling ill and Steven Finn is on in place of him. Azhar works a single to midwicket. Close! Beautiful bowling from Panesar who beats Shafiq's outside edge, one from the over.
65th over: Pakistan 129-4 (Azhar 50, Shafiq 35)
Broad into his second over of the day. Shafiq dangerously mistimes a drive on the up but it falls short of Pietersen at short extra cover. Tight bowling from Broad who has conceded just 17 runs from his 13 overs. Maiden.
64th over: Pakistan 129-4 (Azhar 50, Shafiq 35)
Lots of turn for Swann but Azhar is able to work him to square leg for two to bring up his 50. Half a chance for Cook at short leg as Azhar hits it against his shin.
63rd over: Pakistan 127-4 (Azhar 48, Shafiq 35)
Stuart Broad is given the ball by Strauss. No wickets yet for him in this innings but he was very economical on day three… Shafiq is 26 by the way in case you were wondering, his partner in the middle is the same age and these two are seen as the future of Pakistani batting… they need to be the present here today though. It's very foggy out there, no movement for Broad though. One from the over.
62nd over: Pakistan 126-4 (Azhar 47, Shafiq 35)
England open up with the spin of Swann and Azhar works him to leg for a single off the day's first ball. Birthday boy Shafiq rather uncomfortably sees off the rest of the over.
Packed house: Day three was the busiest of the series so far
5.58am: The players are out in the middle, it's very overcast out in Abu Dhabi… here we go.
5.54am: Excitement building now… All the talk is that there is a bit of moisture around and it's a fine morning to bowl. Let's hope that's true and Anderson and Broad can get some joy, there was nothing in this wicket for them yesterday with the spinners claiming all of the wickets so far.
5.45am: So, Pakistan lead by 55 runs as it stands with six second inning wickets left. What lead do you think England need to restrict the hosts to to ensure that they level the series Email or tweet your thoughts…
5.35am: Before play gets underway at 6.00am GMT why not read the insights from our team of writers out in the UAE… Chief cricket correspondent Paul Newman – who will be sending his views from the Sheikh Zayed stadium throughout today's proceedings – writes his report on day three here. Martin Samuel writes from what was a rare full house in the UAE yesterday here. Nasser Hussain states the case for Stuart Broad being England's main man here. And David Lloyd gives his alternative views on another day in the desert here.
5.30am: Good morning all and welcome to our live coverage of the fourth day of this fascinating Test between England and Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. The match has ebbed and flowed over the last three days but it is the tourists who currently find themselves in the driving seat. That being said, Pakistan youngsters Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have put on an impressive 50 partnership to leave the outcome of the match far from a certainty. England will be hoping to break that partnership and clear up the Pakistani tail as quickly as possible today to leave themselves a gettable run chase on what has proved to be a brilliant Test match wicket.
Jumping for joy: Monty Panesar picked up three wickets on day three