Amazes me how someone with a back lift as high as Hales' can get it down so quickly to block a speedy low one from Yasir. Almost a yorker length. However, Hales looked fully comfortable with the back foot cut for four next ball. This time the high bat helps him get on top.

I'm a bit scared looking at that picture from Mark. Hope you weren't climbing that rock face and taking a picture at the same time. Although if you were, might be worth contacting Team GB about trials for the next Olympics.

Steve, my elder brother is in California. Give him a wave for me please! Although he may not see it given he's based somewhere near that place with all the computers and shiny phone companies. But try anyway, cheers.

Rahat meanwhile is trying his hardest to get Hales playing forward, but the right-hander responds by guiding a wide and rising delivery through slips and gully. That is a genuine shot, he watched that all the way.

Image source, Getty Images

Right, now that the risk of the mockers has passed from me to Michael Vaughan, I can relax a bit. Yasir Shah seems to have come in with one plan, that is to run in over the wicket, and hit the foot marks in front of the batsman. Hales is up for the challenge though, and strides forward to one that is full of drift, and calmly strokes it away for four through the covers.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

England are still in a lot of trouble. It's been a good start but a couple of wickets and everything changes.

The crowd as a whole wakes up a bit more as England plod along to 50. Cook tucks Rahat to square leg for a single to bring that up. Hales has had his moments in this partnership, but a steady start nonetheless.

Jinx monster, I'm watching you like a hawk.

Image source, Getty Images

Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

England have been good for this fifty - they've been watchful, determined and batting has been relatively straightforward.

Steven, guess who would love to have a bowl on that crack-infested pitch? Yasir Shah, of course. Time for a bit of leg-spin. Bit earlier than the first innings, when he came on in the 24th over. Today it's in the 14th. A maiden to start with, as he builds his way from a shorter length to one a bit fuller. Hales blocks away.

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Alastair Cook's strike-rate in this series is 74.5.

Mike Tiley: Is it just me or has Cook scored quicker this summer than what we are used to? He is often the aggressor in this pair.

Sohail back on, from the opposite end, though that won't help if you keep bowling wide of off stump to Cook. Another perfectly positioned cut from the captain for four. Misbah needs to have a strokey-beard meeting about this bowling approach soon. Clear that throat, use his best commander voice, and speak his mind.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

This is great cricket, it has been all three days. There's an opportunity for England to have wiped off the deficit tonight. Can they get through without losing any wickets?

The awwww factor rises in this live text. I know, I know. I'm always partial to baby stories and all that. Congratulations Nick! You're in for an amazing ride. Hope you're not too fussed about sleep in the next six months.

England get another boundary, as Hales rocks back on the crease to get on top of a Rahat delivery and drive it through point, helped along by a misfield from Aslam.

I don't know why the crowd are chanting "who are ya, who are ya", but Mohammad Amir looks fired up. He sends a bumper to Hales which had a fair bit of pace to it. Hales moves to pull it, but then tried to duck out at the last second and got a top edge which looped over for four. Hales looked a bit surprised, so we'll say Amir probably had the moral victory on that one.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

The good thing so far about Cook and Hales is that they've left the drive alone outside off stump. If Hales flashes and gets out, England lose the match.

Bowling change, and it's left-handed Rahat Ali to replace right-handed Sohail Khan. Rahat immediately gets the ball talking a bit and finds Cook's edge. It falls short of Azhar Ali at slip, cannons off his hand and runs away to third man for four.

Pulling shapes by the pool to TMS? I like it. Also, is it six if the ball lands on a lilo? And out if you dive in and catch it before it reaches the bottom of said pool?