(MENAFN- Gulf Times) 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 yesterday.
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 (nought) 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 Mohamed 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.
MISCUED
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, who survived a confident caught-behind appeal off Broad on 21, became Anderson's 422nd wicket in his 110th Test.
Anderson is now eighth on the all-time leading Test wicket takers, leaving South African paceman Shaun Pollock (421 wickets) behind.
Broad put pressure on the Pakistan batting, getting Malik caught behind, while Asad Shafiq was dismissed for just five by Samit Patel who finished with 2-85.
Spinner Ali took 2-49.
Broad said bowlers did a good job to put England on a strong footing.
"I think it's actually quite a good wicket to bowl dot balls if you hold your length and the mindset was very much to put pressure on Pakistan," said Broad.
Pakistan had mixed fortunes in the first session. Pakistan lost opener Ali, who missed the first Test with a foot injury and the second due to the death of his mother-in-law, in the third over when he edged Anderson to Bairstow without scoring.
Mohamed Hafeez swept Ali's first delivery to the boundary but miscued a pull shot and was caught in the deep by Broad for 27.
Pakistan made two changes from the side which won the second Test in Dubai for a 1-0 lead, bringing in Ali and paceman Rahat Ali for Shan Masood and injured Imran Khan.
England were also forced to make two changes, resting seamer Mark Wood (ankle problem) and dropping out of form Jost Butler to include James Taylor and Patel-both playing their first Test since 2012.
Youngsters are Pakistan's future, says coach Waqar
Sharjah: Pakistan's head coach Waqar Younis yesterday stressed young players are key to his team's building for the future, with the Champions Trophy 2017 and World 2019 as prime targets.
Pakistan are lying ninth in the one-day rankings and barely managed to qualify for the Champions Trophy as they look to build for the next World Cup - both events to be held in England.
And Waqar told AFP: "Youngsters are our future."
"If we continue to give young players chances then it will have a better impact as we look to build the side for the two main events, Champions Trophy and the World Cup."
Pakistan will play England in four
one-day internationals after the
ongoing third and final Test ends in Sharjah.
The squad for the one-day series is expected to be announced later this week.
Waqar, in his second stint as coach, added: "One-day cricket has changed a lot, now a 300 plus total is very common so we need to adopt this change and I am happy that the mindset of the young players has changed which is very good."
He led Pakistan to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2011 before leaving the job that same year.
Waqar rejoined Pakistan in June last year on a two-year contract.
Under him Pakistan lost five one-day series in a row before winning in Sri Lanka this year and beating Zimbabwe twice-home and away.
Waqar said the one-day team was taking shape with a number of talented youngsters.
"We have a number of talented youngsters like Mohamed Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Babar Azam and Anwar Ali around whom we can build the team for the future.
"It will take time to build but we are in the right direction and we need to give confidence to our young players as they learn fast and are eager to do well in all forms of the game."
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.