England vs Pakistan: Bravery now needed to seal victory as hosts open up 311 run lead at Edgbaston

A rapid 132-run partnership between Jonny Bairstow, poised on 82, and Moeen Ali on the fourth evening of this match has given England the chance to push for victory

Alex Hayles tips his bat to the crowd in Birmingham (Getty)

Whether or not England head to The Oval for next week’s series finale with a 2-1 lead will depend on the bravery of captain Alastair Cook and the ability of his bowlers to spread panic amongst Pakistan’s batsmen on the final day of this third Test.

A rapid 132-run partnership between Jonny Bairstow, poised on 82, and Moeen Ali on the fourth evening of this match has given England the chance to push for victory after they closed with a lead of 311 on 414 for five.

Given that the highest successful run chase on this ground is the 283-5 South Africa pursued to beat England here in 2008, the best result available for Pakistan in this match now appears a draw.

That in itself can bring its own pressure and so, with the series on the line, the calculation Cook must make is when to pull the plug on his side’s second innings. Surely Cook will do that either overnight or early in the morning.

When he does, he will be relying on a bowling attack shorn of confidence to produce something special on a pitch that has so far offered little assistance to anyone.

James Anderson and Chris Woakes might be able to pile the pressure on a Pakistan team who you suspect are never far away from a spectacular collapse. But Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Moeen, whose spin could be crucial on the final day, look down on confidence and will need to up their game to give their side a chance of what would be a sensational win.

Make no mistake, the draw is still the most likely result heading into the final day. However, England deserve huge credit for fighting their way back to a position of dominance given Pakistan chiselled out a 103-run first-innings lead.

England supporters enjoy the sunshine in the stands (Getty)

Woakes, speaking yesterday evening after Cook and Alex Hales had wiped off that deficit, said this match was “50-50” heading into the fourth day. England had eked out a 17-run lead thanks to a first century stand between their two openers the previous evening that had taken them to 120 without loss.

However, Pakistan tipped the odds back in their favour by removing both openers in the first half hour of day four. Cook, eyeing a 30th Test century when resuming his innings on 64, added just two more runs before he fell to Sohail Khan thanks to a stunning catch by Yasir Shah at point.

Hales, it emerged at the start of the day, had refunded one angry fan 10 per cent of his ticket price after just 81 overs were bowled on Friday. Alexis Fuller Tweeted nine England players asking for the money and an England spokesman confirmed the opener had transferred £4.10 to the disgruntled fan.

Yet Hales’ generous mood was not confined to this one act – the opener giving away his wicket when set on 54 after chasing a delivery from Mohammad Amir and edging to Younis Khan at second slip. England were now 126 for two – leading by just 23 – and relying on Joe Root and James Vince to prevent a collapse that could prove terminal to their chances of winning this match and the series.

Root received a let off on 25, when he was dropped by Mohammad Hafeez off Rahat Ali. Yet the pair ultimately put on 95 either side of lunch before Root was caught at short fine leg on 62 sweeping Yasir Shah, the leg-spinner prevailing after changing the angle of attack to around the wicket.

Alex Hayles deals with a difficult ball against Pakistan (Getty)

With England’s lead just 118, Vince, on 28 at the time, was facing a huge examination of his Test credentials. The Hampshire captain’s partnership with Root was crucial and he shared another 36-run stand with Gary Ballance before throwing away his wicket 20 minutes before tea when set on 42.

That equalled Vince’s highest Test score and even though he is still without a half-century, the 25-year-old has produced some important runs at important times for his side in this match. The mode of dismissal, caught at second slip off Mohammad Amir, was poor.

Yet in mitigation the second new ball was just two overs old. Vince’s departure still opened the door for Pakistan, with their opponents on 257 for four and leading by just 154. England were 282 for five – a lead of 179 – when Ballance fell to Yasir, caught at leg slip, early in the evening session.

That brought Moeen and Bairstow together and it was England’s wicketkeeper - man of the series against Sri Lanka earlier this summer - who led the charge during a profitable final session. This innings saw Bairstow beat the record for the most Test runs by an England keeper in a calendar year of 777 set by Matt Prior in 2012.

And his positive approach saw him bring up his half-century in 83 balls, a dab off Yasir getting him the two runs needed. England’s sixth-wicket pair increased their side’s advantage to 279 when they reached their hundred partnership in just 117 balls.

Moeen then brought up his sixth Test half-century – and second of the match - before the close to underline England’s remarkable recovery.