England v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Day 4 – Rain, Azhar, Babar deny Anderson 600th Test wicket on day 4

3% of the 92 balls that Azhar Ali faced today consisted of a rash shot, which spoke of the volumes of progress the Pakistan captain has made in terms of resilience in his batting over the course of this Test match, as he and Babar Azam took Pakistan through to day 5 of the 3^rd Test match, with some help from openers Shan Masood and Abid Ali.

It almost seemed like the perfect day for England to wrap up the series, and for Anderson to get to the much-awaited 600^th Test wickets landmark. Unfortunately, just like it happened throughout the summer, the English weather significantly restricted the action of the day’s play, with just 56 overs of play being held.

Even though Azhar Ali did walk out to open yesterday evening after England enforced the follow-on, the fact that Law 25.2 of the MCC rulebook stated that the innings of a batsman on the resumption of play after a call of Time commences only at the call of Play from the umpires helped him put up his feet for a while, as Pakistan’s regular openers Shan Masood and Abid Ali strode out to commence the innings.

Despite starting in a slightly wayward manner, Anderson, along with his long-time opening bowling partner Stuart Broad started to find their rhythm, line and length. Plays and misses aplenty followed, there were edges that were not carrying to the slips, but the two openers stuck to their task, focusing on saving their wicket.

ALSO READ: England v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Day 3 – Azhar Ali’s ton not enough as England enforce follow-on

Anderson could have had wicket number 599 in the 5^th over itself, when he got one to swing away from Masood, who, uncharacteristically, almost in a Saeed Anwar-like manner went for the drive without moving his feet at all. That resulted in the ball taking the edge and fly towards the left of Buttler, who was not alert enough to the task. Anderson ruefully beamed at his poor luck, having had 4 catches dropped off his bowling in the match until then.

Anderson and Broad subsequently gave way to Woakes and Archer, but the duo kept grinding and grinding, surviving the outside edges and leg-before appeals, until the sky turned a dark shade of grey, and the umpires, unsatisfied with the light, called for an early lunch for the second time in two days.

The lunch break was inevitably extended after the heavens opened up emphatically, pushing the time of resumption in play to 15:45 local time. Anderson and Broad were re-instated into the attack to break the opening partnership, which was nearing 50 for the first time in this series for Pakistan.

The most frightful image for any Cricket enthusiast, taken moments before lunch was announced today

It was Broad who finally got the first breakthrough. Pitching the ball on a length just around off-stump, he got it to seam back in, much to the dismay of Shan Masood, who did not offer a shot thinking that it will carry through to the keeper, and was subsequently rapped on the pads. The umpire decided to adjudge him out, and a review did not save Masood either, showing that the ball would have marginally clipped the off-stump.

Azhar Ali joined his namesake and saw off the spells from Broad and Anderson. Jofra Archer came steaming in, but his pace did not have much impact. The alteration in Azhar Ali’s technique ensured that he was no longer vulnerable to the incoming delivery, as was evident when he simply timed an in-ducker from Woakes past mid-on for four, beating a diving Archer on the way.

Broad came back into the attack, but this time his approach was completely different. A barrage of short balls followed from the seamer, one of which almost had Azhar caught behind, replays indicating that it brushed his shirt on the way to Buttler’s mitts.

ALSO READ: There is a lot of excitement and hunger among us to play Cricket again: Azhar Ali

The reason behind the short ball theory was unveiled soon afterwards, when James Anderson, brought back for his 3^rd spell in place of Broad after the drinks break, had Azhar Ali all at sea in his first over with hints of reverse swing, something Broad also generated at the end of his previous spell.

Anderson finally got his 599^th, trapping Abid Ali in front with a delivery that angled in and straightened after pitching. Once again, the umpire’s call turned out to be vital, as replays showed that the ball would have clipped the top of leg stump, and the DRS did not help Pakistan’s case this time either.

The fading daylight meant that Anderson and Jofra Archer were prohibited from continuing their spells, with the umpires giving England captain Joe Root the option of either carrying on with the play by operating spin from both ends or them calling off the day. Root opted for the first option, bowling Dom Bess and himself for two overs each before the light worsened, and it started pelting down shortly afterwards, leaving the umpires with no choice but to announce the end of day 4.

Brief Scores:

Close of play, day 4

England 1^st Innings 583/8dec (154.4 Overs)

Crawley 267, Buttler 152, Fawad Alam 2/46

Pakistan 1^st Innings 273 all out (93 Overs)

Azhar Ali 141*, Rizwan 53, Anderson 5/56

Pakistan 2^nd Innings (f/o) 100/2 (56 Overs)

Abid Ali 42, Azhar Ali 29*, Anderson 1/18

Pakistan trail by 210 runs.