Summary

  • Pakistan close day three on 198-4, still needing 157 runs to win

  • Leach takes crucial wicket of Imam for 60 late on

  • Anderson, Robinson and Wood produce magic deliveries to take first three wickets

  • Imam & Shakeel respond with superb stand

  • England dismissed for 275 after Brook's fine ton

  1. Goodbyepublished at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    That's all from us for today. Another engrossing day of Test cricket and both sides will be eyeing victory on day four.

    Stephan Shemilt is our man out in Multan and you can read his report on day three here.

    We'll be back from 04:30 GMT tomorrow to see whether Pakistan can get the 157 runs they need to level the series or if England can take six wickets to clinch the series win. Join us then!

  2. 'Three beauties'published at 12:15 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    More from Marcus Trescothick on the first three Pakistan wickets: "They were three beauties with the ball getting slightly older and getting the deviation off the pitch. All three bowlers warranted a pat on the back.

    "Jimmy has been brilliant the way he is leading the group and encouraging them to go about their plans.

    "We are only another 15-16 overs away from the new ball. Jack Leach has got more spin with the new ball so things might be different when we get to that."

  3. 'We are happy where we are'published at 12:14 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    England coach Marcus Trescothick, speaking to Sky Sports: "A few of the guys are struggling with a few niggles and illness, but we are still in a good position. A few more wickets would have been great, but we are happy where we are.

    "Tomorrow is another great chance to get another win. Five wickets to go, 157 needed, it is going to be a massive day's play.

    "We have seen most wickets fall in the first session so hopefully we can get a few quick ones tomorrow."

    On England's batting this morning: "The style of cricket we play we want to be aggressive. It has not been as easy in the second innings as it was in the first Test but that is still the mantra of what we are trying to do, to put pressure on the opposition. We would have liked a few more partnerships but it wasn't to be."

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:13 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    #bbccricket

    Dave: If Pakistan chase down 350-odd on this pitch, against this attack, after what happened last week you just have to say well done and move on, surely? Not everything needs an inquest.

  5. 'It was a masterclass'published at 12:11 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    More from Mohammad Rizwan on his dismissal by James Anderson:“It was a masterclass, I love him. I had no answer to his question. If you get this ball in these conditions, when I saw him he said he bowled it like a Dukes ball in England."

    On the match situation: “We are down four wickets but everyone has hope because the pitch is slow and we have good depth in our batting and I hope we can chase these runs.”

  6. 'Similar to first Test'published at 12:08 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    Vic Marks
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    This is a very similar setup to the one in the last game except that we're not heading into the last day. I thought Pakistan had a great chance of winning in the last game when England came out and dominated.

  7. 'We are in a good position'published at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, speaking to Sky Sports: “If you look at the scoreboard we have a chance to win the match.

    “The day before we were thinking that if we bowled well and take the remaining England wickets at around 350, 360, then we have a chance on this track.

    “We managed to do that and if you look at the game we are in a good position.”

    On when he found out he was to open the batting:“I found out this morning when we came here, Iman felt his hamstring. I said I was ready and the skipper said ‘I believe in you’ so I was happy with that.

    “Early on the ball came onto the bat, which is good for me. I am always looking for runs. It is difficult sometimes with seam and swing, but I’m happy.

    “Me and Abdullah Shafique decided we did not want too many dots, especially from Leach. We attacked him because if you give him too many dot balls he puts you under pressure."

  8. 'We've got a fantastic game'published at 12:02 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    Vic Marks
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    There was a point about 40 minutes after the start of play where I thought England might make themselves unassailable, just before Stokes got out. I thought they might come out and bat a bit sensibly. But to the exasperation of some, they lost five for 19. They tossed away a position of absolute dominance.

    A target of 355 is stiff but ever more frequently attained. Also the surface hasn't got any worse than it was on the first day.

    We've got a fantastic game, I can't quibble too much. Stokes will start with the seamers tomorrow and try to put pressure.

    England suddenly reverted from having a lot of men around the bat to having a bizarre field of men floating around the ground for Leach's last over. I reckon the earlier fields didn't help Leach, the defensive field encouraged him to toss it up and that's how he got Imam out.

    The Pakistani batters were quite amazed when they were dismissed because they got very good deliveries. They would've felt like they couldn't have done much more.

  9. Postpublished at 11:59 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    Mohammad Rizwan has just given a brilliant interview on the TV, we'll bring you the full quotes shortly but "I love him" was his response to being asked about the magic ball from Jimmy Anderson that dismissed him.

    England's James Anderson (L) celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan (C) during the third day of the second cricket Test match between Pakistan and England at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on December 11, 2022Image source, Getty Images
  10. Postpublished at 11:56 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    I think England enjoyed that wicket of Imam-ul-Haq about 15 minutes before the close. It could prove to be a big one in this match and in the series.

    Joe Root and England celebrate wicket of Imam-ul-Haq in second Pakistan v England Test in MultanImage source, Getty Images
  11. Bowling figurespublished at 11:52 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    Ollie Robinson: 1-14 from 10 overs

    Jack Leach: 1-88 from 20 overs

    Joe Root: 0-36 from 13 overs

    Mark Wood: 1-35 from 11 overs

    James Anderson: 1-8 from six overs

    Will Jacks: 0-15 from four overs

  12. Postpublished at 11:50 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    I thought they might stay out there a little bit longer I must say.

  13. Close of play - Pak 198-4published at 64 overs

    Target 355

    Faheem tucks the last ball of Root's over through square leg and comes back for two - and that is the last action of day three.

    The umpire have the light metre out and don't need long to determine it is too dark to continue.

    That late wicket is a real boost for England, they will feel they're ahead in the game but Pakistan are still right in contention, needing another 157 runs with six wickets remaining.

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:47 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

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

    Re anon 11:41 - as though pre-Bazball England were immune to collapses? 30-5 would have been a successful session at various points over the last few years.

    Rob

    Anon - you make pushing for a lead of 500 hundred sound easy. It’s Test cricket, sometimes wickets fall fast. Where do you think the England would be in this game in Root/Silverwood era? I think we may have already lost

    Barnabas

  15. Postpublished at 11:46 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    Andy Zaltzman
    Cricket statistician on Test Match Special

    Shakeel has by far faced the most deliveries for any batsman in this series and has scored at a strike-rate of about 60 against England's spinners while scoring at about 30 against the seamers.

  16. Pak 195-4published at 63 overs

    Target 355

    Three singles from Leach's over, including one for Shakeel from the last ball. That suggests it is a genuine promotion for Faheem Ashraf and he's not just there as a nightwatchman.

    How many more overs will they get in? It is looking pretty gloomy out there now.

  17. Postpublished at 11:42 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    I guess we'll see. The pitch hasn't broken up as England might have expected but if Stokes has got this one wrong then it'll be one of his first real mistakes as captain.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:41 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

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

    Whilst Bazball is very laudable, unfortunately it seems with the current state of the pitch England were a good 100 runs or so short of a winning total to set. They should have pressed for a lead of 500 or more. Stokes needs to look at the fact five wickets fell for about 30 runs at the end of our innings.

    Anon

  19. Postpublished at 11:39 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2022

    Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Theoretically we've got 13 overs left in the day but we're not going to get them.

  20. Pak 192-4published at 62 overs

    Target 355

    Double spin now for England as Joe Root comes on. I'm not sure whether that is a tactical decision from Stokes or due to the light.

    Either way, just a single from the over and Faheem is going very hard at it. Not a man who believes in soft hands, it seems.