England found ways to take wickets despite hundreds from three Pakistani players on the third day of the first Test in Rawalpindi on Saturday and took a good lead.
Agha Salman (10) and Zahid Mahmood (yet to score) at stumps at the crease, Pakistan were 499-7 – still 158 runs behind England’s mammoth 657 in the first innings, with three wickets in hand.
On a see-saw day, Pakistan were lifted by centuries from captain Babar Azam (136), and openers Imam-ul-Haq (121) and Abdullah Shafiq (114).
But England took three wickets in the first session, none in the second and three again close to put themselves in a better position.
Even if the tourists can get a 100-plus lead and score like in the first innings, they can still win on the Rawalpindi Stadium pitch, which has given little help to the bowlers.
Spinners Will Jacks (3-132) and Jack Leach (2-160) shared the early spoils, while the pace duo of James Anderson and Ollie Robinson took a wicket each.
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Saturday’s final session belonged to home captain Azam, who hit 19 fours and a six on his way to his maiden Test century against England.
He hit a four to cover off opposition captain Ben Stokes to reach his eighth Test century of his career, which came off 126 balls and contained 13 fours.
Jack mis-drived Azam and had him caught at point, and in the next over, Mohammad Rizwan was caught straight to mid-wicket by Anderson.
Debutant Saud Shakeel, who added 123 runs for the fourth wicket with Azam, was caught behind by Robinson soon after tea.
Earlier, Azam carried the momentum in the second session after Pakistan lost Shafiq (114), Haque (121) and Azhar Ali (27) before lunch.
Centuries by Shafiq and Haque meant that for the first time in 146 years of Test cricket, openers from both teams reached three figures in the first innings.
Their 225-run opening stand – a Pakistan record against England – was also the first time in Test history that two 200-plus opening partnerships were put up, followed by Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett’s 233-run partnership for the visitors.
Pakistan started the day on 181 without loss and Shafiq, on 89 overnight, was first in three figures with a quick single off Joe Root.
Haque, who started the 90s season, hit the same bowler for a four to bring up his century.
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After reaching three figures against Australia in March this year, the duo now have three Test hundreds and consecutive hundreds at the venue.
Crawley (122), Duckett (107), Ollie Pope (108) and Harry Brook (153) scored centuries for England in their first innings.
The remaining Tests are in Multan (9-13 December) and Karachi (17-21 December).
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