Summary

  • England declare, setting Pakistan 343 to win

  • Babar caught behind off Stokes

  • Robinson removes Shafique, then forces Azhar to retire hurt with damaged finger

  • Tourists smash 264-7 off 35.5 overs to set up victory bid

  • Brooks clobbers brilliant 87 off 65 balls

  • Crawley hits 47-ball 50 before gloving behind; Root adds enterprising 73 off 69

  • Pakistan bowled out for 579 - England lead by 78 runs on first innings

  • Jacks picks up six-wicket haul on Test debut

  1. England set up first Test to set up grandstand finishpublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    They certainly have. All results are still possible on what could be a thrilling final day.

    To read more on what happened on a captivating day four read our colleague Stephan Shemilt's match report.

    You can also scroll down for all of the analysis and reaction.

    Our live coverage will resume from 04:30 GMT on Monday.

    England celebratate Babar Azam's wicketImage source, Getty Images
  2. Postpublished at 12:19 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Paul Collingwood on Sky Sports: "In the dressing room we've got two very strong leaders in Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, aggressive leaders who are willing to risk losing a Test match to dangle a carrot. In the bigger picture they want to make Test cricket more exciting and there is no better way to do it than on a fifth day,.

    "It's a good pitch as we've said before. We're not doing things conventionally. Chasing down targets on the last day generally in Test history isn't easy - the scoreboard pressure is always looking over your shoulder. If we get an early wicket tomorrow it puts it straight back onto them.

    "Once we bowled them out we were never going to take a conservative route. It's not in the blood in the dressing room. There's been some fantastic batting. Brooky, Rooty himself always taking the positive option. Great to watch the boys show their skills and get us to a target that isn't going to be easy on the last day.

    "You want players to come out of the nets and go in the middle and have no consequences - not thinking about if you get out. In the days we played we were scared of making mistakes, what people were going to say. We want these guys to go out there and show how good they are.

    "People would normally say you cannot make mistakes. We're not scared of losing Test matches if you do give yourself the best chance to win. If you play the right way usually you get well looked after. Hopefully Mother Cricket will look after us tomorrow."

  3. How's stat?!published at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Andy Zaltzman
    Cricket statistician on Test Match Special

    If Pakistan chase this it will be the second highest-scoring Test in history. The only one higher was a timeless Test in 1939.

  4. Postpublished at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Vic Marks
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    I was impressed with Jacks. He has done incredibly well. He has many assets - he spins the ball and loops it. He will have to do a lot of bowling tomorrow in a very tight situation. The thing about this England set-up is do they bother about losing? Possibly not.

  5. Postpublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Some quote from Atherton there, saying Ben Stokes will go down as "one of the most significant captains England have had"

  6. Postpublished at 12:14 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Former England captain Michael Atherton on Sky Sports: "That was a fantastic declaration from Ben Stokes.

    "When I saw Ben Stokes last night he said to me they are prepared to lose.

    "It's a completely different England team and that is solely down to Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum who are both of exactly the same mind when it comes to playing cricket.

    "I can tell you there were three England captains watching on here live in the studio there and none of us would have declared when Ben Stokes declared today at tea. Still a tough ask to score 340 in the fourth innings. But on this pitch I don't think any of us would have been declaring so early.

    "Captains generally err on the side of caution. Only 13 captains have declared in the third innings in the history of the game and lost, so generally and particularly in the first Test of a series they err to caution. Stokes is not having a bar of that. He's going to go down as one of the most significant England captains we've had, I think."

    "Of course he will hate losing, but he is prepared to lose to win and great credit to him for that. Everything we've seen in this short period of time is that he is prepared to tear up the conventions on the game to play attractive cricket."

  7. Postpublished at 12:13 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    England began bowling almost exclusively short - and it brought early rewards.

    Abdullah Shafique pulled straight to Harry Brook on the boundary and Ben Stokes got the huge wicket of Babar Azam caught behind.

    Azhar Ali was forced to retire hurt a few balls later, leaving Pakistan effectively 25-3.

    Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel have steadied the ship however, adding 55 to leave Pakistan 80-2 at close, needing another 263 to win.

  8. Postpublished at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Vic Marks
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Pakistan don't have to take undue risks and on this track if you don't, I don't see how spinners take wickets. The thing that might help England is simply the pressure of getting close to what would be a historic victory.

    It is very 21st Century. It was very 2022 because England didn't play like this a year ago but I am still unhappy about a declaration that makes the recipients favourites to win the game.

    It is still so much preferable to the dull draw we all expected. We are going to have a spinetingling match.

  9. Postpublished at 12:08 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    And that is why we are in for a brilliant day tomorrow. Even the TMS pundits cannot agree on who is favourites for the win!

  10. Postpublished at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Vic Marks
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Imam ul HaqImage source, Getty Images

    I would say Pakistan are favourites. The great thing is we have a great finale.

  11. Postpublished at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    I think England are favourites. They are so supremely confident. They think at the moment they can do anything.

  12. Postpublished at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    It feels a while ago now but Pakistan added 80 to their overnight score the loss of their final three wickets to be dismissed for 579 in their first innings, with Will Jacks claiming 6-161.

    That was a deficit of 78 and England set about building a defendable total at lighting speed, crashing 264-7 from only 35.5 overs before declaring at tea to set a victory target of 343.

    Harry Brook was the pick of the batters with 87 from 65 balls, with Joe Root, who even batted left handed at one point, hitting 73 from 69.

  13. Postpublished at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Vic Marks
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    I think we will get a win for one side or the other which is remarkable. We will have a cracking day tomorrow. When we learned of the declaration, and it may be a generational thing, we thought it was too soon. As it stands there is no carrot to dangle. If you just bat you will score fast enough. There will be pressure, though.

    It was a brave, brave decision.

  14. Postpublished at 12:00 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    No two teams have ever scored faster across two innings than England in this match.

  15. Postpublished at 11:59 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Waqar Younis
    Former Pakistan pace bowler on TMS

    If you asked me at tea I would have said Pakistan were big favourites. It was a brave declaration. Tomorrow morning the first session will be very crucial. If Azhar Ali is fit then it is 50-50.

  16. Postpublished at 11:58 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Well, if you want to revive the excitement around Test cricket this is exactly how to do it.

    This is a dull, lifeless pitch that looked to produce a nailed-on draw.

    But the speed at which England scored in both innings and then declared at tea today has teed things up wonderfully.

  17. Postpublished at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    England team after close of playImage source, Getty Images

    Against all of the odds we should have an intriguing finale tomorrow.

  18. Postpublished at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Waqar Younis
    Former Pakistan pace bowler on TMS

    What a day England had. Outstanding day. Pakistan have shown some glimpses.

  19. Close of play - Pak 80-2published at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022

    Pakistan need 263 runs to win

    That indeed is it. The umpires call time on what turned into a thrilling day of Test cricket.

    Pakistan will be relieved to get off just two wickets down, albeit with another retired hurt.

    Things are now wonderfully poised for day five, with all three results possible.

  20. Pak 80-2published at 20 overs

    England are surrounding the bat, desperately seeking a wicket almost through sheer force of will.

    Pakistan fend off another Joe Root over, just the one run off it.

    The umpires come together for a chat. This could be it.