Common sense suggested an attempt simply to see out the last 11 overs before stumps and regroup overnight, to protect wickets and with them hope. England lost both openers in the first four overs for a combined three runs. This is a team that defines itself by thumbing its nose at convention, with often intoxicating results, but sometimes the situation demands sobriety.
Ben Duckett, the first-innings centurion, lasted only two balls before swinging for the first time into his trademark sweep and top-edging high into the dimming sky, Mohammad Rizwan running a few paces to his right from behind the stumps to take the catch. Zak Crawley advanced to Noman Ali but was stumped both by the flight of the ball and - in due course - by Rizwan. From 11 for two Ollie Pope and Joe Root held out until the close as England ended on 36 for two, still 261 behind.
England will feel that an achievable target was within their grasp, but it slipped through their fingers along with the two straightforward catches that would have sent Salman Agha back to the dressing room for a singlefigure score. Salman accepted those acts of charity and showed none of his own as he took the game away on his way to 63, while at the other end Sajid Khan continued his journey from entertainer to executioner.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin October 18, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin October 18, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
London to host first finals of rugby's Nations Championship
Exclusive
Waiting game Tuchel not expected to attend matches in England until 2025
Thomas Tuchel is not expected to attend Premier League matches to scout players before he begins his role as England's head coach on 1 January.
Tuchel's club record does not mean he will shine in internationals
German's success stands out but many big-name managers have proved unable to replicate domestic triumphs in World Cups and Euros
Dyche queries FA pathway for developing English talent
Sean Dyche has questioned whether the Football Association remains committed to giving English coaches a pathway to the top after the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as men's national team manager.
Paquetá tells lawyers to complain to FA over 'leaks'
West Ham's Lucas Paquetá has instructed his lawyers to complain to the Football Association over \"false and misleading\" leaks relating to the investigation into his alleged breaches of betting regulations.
Salman puts hosts in control after wasteful England miss chances
For all the chaos that preceded this game Pakistan find themselves in control. It is not yet over but it has started to feel decided: England have never successfully chased more than 209 to win a Test in Asia and their target here is 297, the pursuit of which started in the final halfhour of the third day in the worst imaginable style.
Winless but still far from hopeless Assessing the Premier League's bottom four
Struggling quartet have not tasted victory seven matches in but have reasons to cling to optimism for the rest of the season
‘Even today, Liverpool fans I meet still show me love'
Now banished to Bremen's under-23s, the former Reds midfielder discusses injuries, Klopp and World Cup dreams
Hamano's audacious lob puts Chelsea in charge on Dutch soil
Goals from young forwards Aggie Beever-Jones and Maika Hamano showed just how bright Chelsea's future is as they continued their winning start to the season under new manager Sonia Bompastor with a 3-1 defeat of FC Twente.
Ainslie revels in underdog role as Ineos Britannia plot fightback
Twenty-four hours can be a long time on the water. When the sea state off Barcelona changed on Tuesday, the balance of the 37th America's Cup shifted with it. All of a sudden, Ineos Britannia, who were trailing Emirates Team New Zealand 4-0 in the best-of-13 series, were swept back into contention. The America's Cup is a competition for sailboat builders as well as sailors, and the subtle design differences between the two AC75 yachts gave the British team an advantage in the heavier weather. Soon enough, they had pulled the score back to 4-2.