Summary

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:53 British Summer Time 17 October

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    SalmanImage source, Getty Images

    Chasing that lead is going to require some serious hard-headedness, England will have all the time in the world but every ball will feel like a roll of the dice!

    Tom, Belfast

  2. Postpublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 17 October

    Unquestionably yes.

    A Test can go five days and be good. It doesn't have to.

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 17 October

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Is a five-day match where each innings is a run-fest more exciting than a four-day match with a great contest between bat and ball that goes down to the wire?

    George, Peterborough

  4. Pak 181-8published at 49 overs

    Lead by 256

    England are being given the run around by this pair as a reverse sweep this time takes the partnership to 25. They have only been together for 17 balls.

  5. Postpublished at 11:48 British Summer Time 17 October

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent BBC 5 Sports Extra

    LeachImage source, Getty Images

    England are going to have to play mighty well to get this win. They got to have at least one massive centurion because others are going to fail, you feel. It's that sort of a pitch.

  6. Pak 178-8published at 48 overs

    Lead by 253

    Four more to Salman Ali Agha to make Jamie Smith and Joe Root's hearts sink. He was on four and six when that pair dropped him in quick succession.

    And another boundary smashed by a sweep shot! These are painful, painful runs.

  7. Postpublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 17 October

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    This is going to be an important passage of play for both sides. England will want to bowl Pakistan out before they get to that lead of 250, if they can.

    The hosts have been playing a few more shots than they were to get there as soon as possible.

  8. Pak 166-8published at 47.2 overs

    Sajid Khan, rested after his seven-wicket haul completed this morning, is the new batter and has come out looking to score quickly.

    Amid the sweeps and slashes a direct hit might have run out Salman but again he survives.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:43 British Summer Time 17 October

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    John Petrie: The runs Salman has scored since being dropped twice could be crucial. This is a much better match than the record run-fest last week.

  10. Pak 163-8published at 47 overs

    Lead by 238

    Salman Ali Agha drills Bashir through the covers with some force to nudge Pakistan's lead on by four more.

    Harry Brook wasn't too far away with a diving attempt to catch that. If anyone was going to take it...

  11. Postpublished at 11:38 British Summer Time 17 October

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket writer in Multan

    If England are to win this, they will have to pull off their highest runchase in a Test in Asia. 209-5 to beat Pakistan in Lahore in 1961 is their current best. Four of England's best six overseas chases have come in Melbourne.

  12. Postpublished at 11:38 British Summer Time 17 October

    England are up to 46% on WinViz but, as I write that, here comes Stephan Shemilt to ruin your mood.

    He does that a lot...

  13. Postpublished at 11:37 British Summer Time 17 October

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    That was good captaincy from Ben Stokes. He's got a big smile on his face as he hugs Shoaib Bashir. It's lovely when a plan comes off.

  14. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 46.1 overs

    Noman c Stokes b Bashir 1 (Pak 156-8)

    Ben Stokes is a very good captain...

    Jack Leach has just taken a wicket but Stokes is alert to the fact that left-hander Noman Ali is on strike. He brings Shoaib Bashir back and the off-spinner produces the perfect delivery to have Noman caught by Stokes at slip.

  15. Pak 156-7published at 46 overs

    Argh. That wasn't the plan.

    Ben Stokes fires the last ball of his over down the leg side in an attempt to stop Salman Ali Agha getting a single to keep the strike but Jamie Smith fails to take it as the ball bobbles through the dirt.

    Four byes take the lead to 231.

  16. Postpublished at 11:33 British Summer Time 17 October

    "Jack, can I borrow your sweaty forehead please?"

    LeachImage source, Getty Images
  17. Pak 151-7published at 45.2 overs

    Lead by 226

    That WinViz still feels generous to me.

    Noman Ali gets off the mark first ball as Stokes continues. It might be time for Shoaib Bashir to the left-hander.

  18. Postpublished at 11:31 British Summer Time 17 October

    England back in with a sniff?

    WinvizImage source, Cricviz
  19. Postpublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 17 October

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Aamer Jamal was looking to force that through the off side off the back foot. Because balls had turned and bounced earlier in that over, Jamal thought it was safe to play that shot. But this one from Jack Leach didn't.

  20. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 45 overs

    Jamal b Leach 1 (Pak 150-7)

    There's another for Jack Leach!

    Aamer Jamal was almost caught at short extra cover earlier in the over and this time he goes back to a ball that keeps low from Leach.

    When Jamal misses, it clatters into his off stump.