Simon Burnton’s report from Multan has landed:

The contest between bat and ball has been captivating in this Test match, much more so than the run scorin’ record tumblin’ of the first game. It’ll all be over tomorrow either way, Pakistan will level the series with one to play or England will win it with a run chase for the ages. Again. Can both of those things be true? I’m not sure, but I am tired. Tired but happy. We’ll be back in the wee small hours to do it all over again.

Thanks for your company and comments and ta to Rob Smyth for doing the graveyard stint. I’ll leave on the below email from an OBO reader that put a shot in the arm and a smile on the face. Goodbye!

If ESPN’s ball by ball coverage is the New York Times of cricket then The Guardian’s OBO is the New Yorker with its *close* to real time, long form commentary on the beautiful game.

Love tuning into y’all’s coverage. For cricket literature, the OBO section of the Guardian is like TMS. Love your team’s work. It should never cease.”

Salman Agha was the man of the day with a counter-punching 63 runs that are worth at least 1.5 x more according to my patented OBO run converter machine.

He’s just spoken to Sky Sports:

It’s always nice to score runs for your team, I wanted to stay positive and play my shots. Lot of things happening out there, there will be one ball that gets you out. When you’re at the crease, you have to score runs. I enjoy batting with the tail at number 7. I used to complain but now it’s something I have to accept!”

A fascinating day of Test cricket. Both sides still in with a chance of victory but Pakistan the favourites by a decent stretch. We haven’t seen a Ben Stokes special in a while though have we?

NEWSFLASH: It will not be a draw

10th over: England 29-2 (Pope 18, Root 8) Pope clips for two and Root drives elegantly for a single. One over left, is there some last gasp drama to be wrung out of this captivating day of Test criggit?

9th over: England 26-2 (Pope 15, Root 8) A single each to Root and Pope. I can’t help but feel Zain Malik is after my job…

“A crumbling pitch. Flood lights on. The ball turning and drifting like a Toyota Supra. Spinners from both ends. A chase is on. The hunt is on. Pakistan need 8 wickets, England need 280. This has been the ultimate leveller of bat and ball. Who would’ve thought that “same pitch, same time” would mean such a different contest. Pakistan’s to lose from here. The spectacle of Test Cricket. A sight to behold indeed.”

Lovely stuff. Next over is yours, Zain?

Things have calmed down a little out there…

8th over: England 24-2 (Pope 14, Root 7) England seem to have one eye on the close now with just over five minutes remaining. Root glides a single past point and Pope is content to join the dots for the rest of the over.

7th over: England 23-2 (Pope 14, Root 6) Pope sweeps for four! Lofted over square leg, gets a decent piece of it and releases the tension just a smidge. Pakistan implore for an lbw off the final ball but it was heading down the leg side. No review plumped for by Masood and wisely so.

Mike Jakeman has got his stirring spoon out…

“Hi James, whatever the result of this match, the Pakistani selectors have played a blinder, haven’t they? Sajid has eight wickets and counting (as well as vital second-innings runs) and Kamran has made a century. Babar who?”

6th over: England 17-2 (Pope 9, Root 5) Root clips for two off his pads and then blocks out Noman Ali with a straight bat, on the front foot and smothering the spin with his bat, a tea towel on a chip pan fire.

5th over: England 15-2 (Pope 9, Root 3) Sajid Khan targets the stumps and pads with the new ball, driving it in and skidding it off the surface. Root and Pope collect singles.

Here’s the Crawley wicket. Flight and guile.

4th over: England 12-2 (Pope 8, Root 1) Root is off the mark with a cut to third. Just kidding, it was a sweep to leg. Sun dipping in Multan. About twenty minutes left in the day. England could effectively lose this game in that time.

3rd over: England 11-1 (Crawley 3, Pope 8) England go broom broom. More sweeps, reverse and regular. Solid defence too as Sajid Khan spears the ball into the surface.

2nd over: England 8-1 (Crawley 1, Pope 7) The left arm of Noman Ali is met by a host of Ollie Pope sweeps and a searing drive into the covers that is incredibly well stopped, goalkeeper style, Pakistan’s decibel count goes up another notch. This is enthralling.

1st over: England 6-1 (Crawley 1, Pope 5) Do not adjust your set. The chatter round the bat is optimal as Pope arrives at the crease. Sheeesh! A sweep for four second ball from the Surrey man. England won’t take a backward step and neither will Pakistan with a first win in seven matches in the offing.

A rootle through the OBO mailbag:

“200+ to chase in the 4th innings on this track is impossible! Only one team can chase that ...Oh!” says Krishnamoorthy.

“Lucky dog you to get the so-called graveyard shift. This game, and this session, is already riveting, and will only become more so.
Can I just say how great it is to see two tailenders knowing how to run between wickets, turnover the strike, irritate the field and generally provide such clever entertainment as well? Not always a stand-out feature of Pakistani batting, historically, but this effort is right up there.
Such a great game.” Very true, Gervase Greene.

“Hi James. So England need 300. Pah, Brook got that many himself not long ago. Mind you, it wasn’t a Day 9 pitch. A hundred from any English batter in this chase would be as good as a triple…” Simon McMahon’s maths.

“Your reporting is VERY SLOW, you can improve A LOT” says Rosemary MALTUS Smith. Capitals authors own.

What a world.

58th over: Pakistan 221-9 (Khan 22, Mahmood 0) Wicket maiden for Carse, he’s suffering from the effort and a niggle in his left leg. he has 2-29 from his nine overs and looks like he’s just run nine marathons. In a row. “England’s effort has been unstinting” says Mike Atherton on the commentary.

57th over: Pakistan 221-8 (Salman 63, Khan 22) Potts keeps chugging in, just two off the over but Pakistan’s lead has stretched to 296. The dropped catches, overturned edges and phantom nicks have all conspired to sap Stokes’ side under the afternoon sun. Do they have anything left they can pull out of the well to help get themselves off the park?

57th over: Pakistan 219-8 (Salman 62, Khan 21) Now then, Ben Stokes is told by the umpires that there’s a glitch with the DRS technology so for the time being we’re going old skool – the umpires decision is final. Would you believe it! Carse slides one past Sajid Khan and England are certain they heard an edge… a huge appeal but given NOT OUT by umpire Dharmasena on the field. That’s the end of that too as the machines have gone dicky.

56th over: Pakistan 214-8 (Salman 62, Khan 16) “Bashir has to buy a ticket there” says Ian Ward as the young spinner failed to put a dive in and attempt to catch a Khan hoick into the deep on the leg side. I’m not sure if he didn’t pick it up or if it was a tired effort/preservation of those spinning fingers. Salt, meet wound. Potts keeps the ball full and is absolutely hammered through cover for four by Salman Agha. Time for a drink, England need one. Nurse, the electrolytes!

Your runs are burning holes through me…

Potts slams a full bunger into Sajid Khan’s front pad and bellows himself hoarse with the appeal! After an age Umpire Dharmasena raises the finger! Potts has got the breakthrough Hang on, Khan reviews and there is a spike on the snicko. NOT OUT! England look utterly crestfallen.

55th over: Pakistan 208-8 (Salman 57, Khan 15) Well fielded! Ben Duckett saves five runs by catching and then juggling a big hit from Sajid Khan down to long on. Replays show Duckett managed to get rid of the ball before his foot made contact with the boundary sponge. Every little helps. Might be time for some pace? Pakistan looking extremely comfortable against spin at the moment.

54th over: Pakistan 206-8 (Salman 56, Khan 14) Leach is taken for three runs as the pain continues for England.

53rd over: Pakistan 203-8 (Salman 55, Khan 12) 200 up for Pakistan as Bashir is milked for seven off the over. England, of course, will believe that they can chase whatever is set but the last half an hour has been a bruising one for them. Batting will get a little harder with each over they remain in the field.

52nd over: Pakistan 196-8 (Salman 55, Khan 8) The partnership stretches to 40 runs and the lead to 271. Gulp.

Fifty for Salman Agha! He dances down the track and lofts Leach back over his head for SIX! Crucial innings for his side, dropped twice early on and he’s making England pay.

Get on your dancing shoes, you sexy little swine consummate professional!

51st over: Pakistan 189-8 (Salman 49, Khan 7) Stokes sticks with Bashir. What an experience this is for the young spinner. Test match on the line, batters looking to smear him every ball, each run crucial. Absorbing stuff. Bashir does well, mixes up his pace, challenges the edge and concedes just four runs.

50th over: Pakistan 185-8 (Salman 46, Khan 6) Leach gets some big turn and bounce, oooh err. Pakistan’s many spinners licking their lips at the sight of that. Imagine Mick Jagger chowing down on a juicy peach. Or don’t. 260 runs suddenly looks a long way away…

49th over: Pakistan 181-8 (Salman 45, Khan 5) Bashir has a leg slip in place, almost acting as a fielder to stop the tickle off the legs. Sure enough he goes back a few paces and stops a certain four. Sigh of relief from England who have been under the cosh since they took that last wicket. Test match cricket at its finest. Three runs off the over.

48th over: Pakistan 178-8 (Salman 43, Khan 4) Leach once more and Salman Agha hits back for Pakistan! A slog sweep brings four over square… and again! Salman plunders 15 off the over which really hurts England. This partnership is suddenly 22 runs off 11 balls and Pakistan lead by 253. It was Salman that was dropped twice by the way, on 4 and 6 by Smith and Root. He’s now the man inflicting the damage on England, potentially taking the game out of their reach.

47th over: Pakistan 163-8 (Salman 29, Khan 3) All happening now in Multan, England looking to polish off Pakistan and the home side trying to eke as many runs as possible. “England really need to switch on here” says Nasser Hussain as Salman looks to open his shoulders. Thirty of forty runs here put the game well into Pakistan’s hands, at the minute the game is in the balance - Pakistan lead by 337.

46th over: Pakistan 156-7 (Salman 25, Noman Ali 1) A loud groan from Stokes as four byes evade Jamie Smith behind the stumps and run away for four. It was a leg side spear from Stokes but every run is vital now.

45th over: Pakistan 150-7 (Salman 22, Noman Ali 0) The tunes are blaring out in Multan. You won’t wanna miss a thing.

44th over: Pakistan 147-6 (Salman 22, Jamal 0) Stokes keeps things tight, just a single off his latest.

“Loving this!” says Dan on email “But hardly able to keep a side eye on it thanks to you-know-what. Excuse for later on, after my company-administered flu jab, will be, “need to put my feet up for an hour, that needle’s sapped all my vim away...”

Isn’t that a Neil Young lyric, Dan?

43rd over: Pakistan 146-6 (Salman 21, Jamal 0) Aamer Jamal joins Salman in the middle. Door creaking open for England. They need four more wickets to finish Pakistan off. The lead is 222 runs. A knife’s edge you say?

Phil Withnall is hooked up to the beautiful poison down in New Zealand":

“Evening Jim, it’s late here in Queensland, I’ve been up since 4 this morning and will need to do so again tomorrow. I’m tired. However there are two hypnotically fascinating Test’s playing out and I feel obligated to cram in a few more overs before retiring. I apologise to anyone that has contact with me in the morning...”

Props to you and your eyebags, Phil.

42nd over: Pakistan 145-5 (Saud 31, Salman 21) Ben Stokes rubs the ball up and down Brydon Carse’s sweaty flanks to get the ball shined up. DH Lawrence esque scenes in Multan. Stokes played by Oliver Reed, obviously. Shot! Salman pulls a short ball away to the leg side boundary, more pain for England. Two more worked behind square, the ball will need to be polished up once more… Oh Brydon!

41st over: Pakistan 139-5 (Saud 31, Salman 15) Five runs off the first over back after the tea interval. Jack Leach is paddled and swept, flicked and fetched.

“An absolutely vital couple of hours in front of us” says Mike Atherton on the tv commentary, a man not known for his hyperbole. There’s a lot of things at stake in this final session.

England’s players will be taking some much needed fluid on board ahead of a huge final session on day three. Remember, Pakistan have lost their last six Test matches, after a trot like that you can almost forget how to get over the line. The home side are well on top but a flurry of wickets after tea and a target of less than 250 brings England right back into it. England’s run chase will then of course be box office viewing… either way.

Meanwhile, don’t worry, that’s err totally normal?

Do yourself a favour why don’t you? Brew yourself a cup of something strong and settle in to watch this. That’s exactly what I’m doing. Majestic.

39th over: Pakistan 132-5 (Saud 29, Salman 11) A couple of overs to go before tea. England looking a bit ragged, plenty of players looking in need of a splosh of Earl Grey or a plunge in an ice bath. Stokes stitches together a maiden.

38th over: Pakistan 132-5 (Saud 29, Salman 11) Gargantuan effort from Carse who also seems to be struggling with his left boot, or has he picked up an injury? He could just be completely spent but we’ll keep an eye on him. A no ball off the final delivery doesn’t help him and Zak Crawley trots over from mid-off to give him a pat on the back. HashtagTeamSpirit. Pakistan keep working the singles and each run is now smarting that little bit more for England.

37th over: Pakistan 128-5 (Saud 28, Salman 9) Ben Stokes does what he does in times of need and decides that the time has come for him to bring himself on. He turns away in something verging on disgust as a quick single is pinched off his second ball. Those drops and the burgeoning target are weighing heavy, Pakistan lead by 200 now. Brydon Carse looks out on his feet but is coming back for another over. Test cricket is brutal.

36th over: Pakistan 124-5 (Saud 27, Salman 6) My oh my what an over! Brydon Carse sees TWO CATCHES DROPPED off his over. Stokes shows a very rare sign of frustration and screams towards the skies as the second chance hits the dirt. Carse can’t believe it either. Jamie Smith got the cymbals out for the first regulation edge from Salman and two balls later Joe Root spilled a slightly harder but still eminently graspable opportunity at first slip. Huge over in the course of the match as the Pakistan lead creeps towards 200. Ben Stokes’ plans worked with the reversing ball but his fielders have failed to see them through.

35th over: Pakistan 120-5 (Saud 26, Salman 4) Potts probes away hitting a handkerchief sized spot outside off stump. Just a Salman single off the over.

Kenneth Surin is tuned in:

“I’m in my late 70s, hearing not the best. When he delivers the ball Potts seems to yell a 4-letter expletive beginning with F? If so, isn’t this unsportsmanlike conduct?”

I think it is a grunt, Kenneth, of the sort a tennis player emits during a rally. He seems to do it every ball, not just when bowling the effort ball. Though every ball is an effort in these conditions and I’m sure the odd expletive slips out!

Hark at this! The Black Caps running amok against India in Bengalaru:

34th over: Pakistan 119-5 (Saud 26, Salman 3) The Durham pace pincer movement continues as Carse bustles in. Dust, heat and frosted tips. More signs of a reversing ball as a length delivery scuds back into Salman’s pads. The new batter then rides the bounce on a back of a length ball, fending it behind square for a couple of runs. The next ball pitches and dies a thousand deaths into the surface, spluttering to a long barrier unfurling Jamie Smith behind the sticks. This is Day Eight after all…

Thanks Rob, hello all. Phew. It’s getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes actually remain garmented but strap in for what is shaping up to be a enthralling few hours of Test cricket.

Pakistan lead by 190 runs with five wickets left in the sheds as Matthew Potts gets the ball to reverse swing and scythes new batter Salman in two. Don’t go anywhere will you?

33rd over: Pakistan 115-5 (Saud 25, Salman 0)

32nd over: Pakistan 114-5 (Saud 24, Salman 0) Right, that’s all from me – Jim is here for the rest of this pulsating day’s play.

31st over: Pakistan 112-4 (Saud 24, Rizwan 21) A third bowling change in as many overs. Matthew Potts comes on and zips his first ball past Rizwan’s outside edge.

To hell with orthodoxy, decides Rizwan. He charges Potts to flat bat a boundary over mid-off, then goes again to slug four more through midwicket. Ben Stokes applauds after both deliveries, believing that a wicket is in the post. England certainly need one because this is getting away from them.

In their different ways, Pakistan’s middle order of Kamran, Saud and Rizwan have batted superbly.

30th over: Pakistan 103-4 (Saud 24, Rizwan 12) Brydon Carse is coming on after drinks. This feels like England’s penultimate roll of the dice.

Rizwan greets him with a wild hack across the line. Where did that come from? He missed it completely but could easily have dragged on.

After a couple of solid defensive strokes, Rizwan plays tip and run to mid-off. Shakeel digs out a yorker and then hits short mid-on with a crisp clip off the pads.

28th over: Pakistan 96-4 (Saud 19, Rizwan 10) There’s still plenty of turn for England, but maybe it’s getting slower as the ball ages. Pakistan look as comfortable at any stage in this innings, and Rizwan cuts Bashir for a couple to move into double figures.

27th over: Pakistan 94-4 (Saud 19, Rizwan 8) So far Rizwan has been busy rather than aggressive, looking for singles at every opportunity. At the other end Shakeel is handling the spinners with impressive ease. It might be time for Big Brydon, although there’s risk in that because the quicker bowlers are more hittable on this pitch.

“One of the hilariously incongruent aspects of David Gower commentating alongside his erstwhile Sky colleagues is that (unlike them) he is required by the host broadcaster employing him to peddle the various ‘seamless’ drop-in sponsor messages such as for solar energy, bank accounts, tea and washing machines,” says Brian Withington. “Well it keeps me amused.”

Gower makes the best of a bad job with his playfulness, doesn’t he? Imagine if Beefy was asked to do something similar back in the day. Or Fred Trueman.

26th over: Pakistan 91-4 (Saud 18, Rizwan 6) England enquire for LBW when Rizwan is beaten on the inside by an excellent delivery from round the wicket. Rizwan was a long way forward and there were doubts on both height and line.

This has been Pakistan’s session so far: 11 overs, 48 runs, one wicket.

“Hi Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “While we’re talking about Sugababes and cover versions, this effort by Scottish folk rockers Skipinnish is up there with the most unusual. England maybe wish they could bring yesterday evening back around …”

25th over: Pakistan 89-4 (Saud 17, Rizwan 5) Pakistan’s run rate in this innings is around 3.5 per over, which is good going on such a tricky pitch. Saud charges Leach and chips nicely for a single; I think Leach saw him coming but Saud’s hands got him out of any trouble.

Rizwan also comes down the pitch to drive a more comfortable single, then Shakeel sweeps a third. Pakistan lead by 164.

24th over: Pakistan 86-4 (Saud 15, Rizwan 4) “This Test is one of those rare examples of the sequel being better than the original,” says Mike Jakeman. “For all the plaudits given to Brook and Root for their endurance and concentration in Multan 1, as a spectacle this is so much better.”

23rd over: Pakistan 82-4 (Saud 13, Rizwan 2) Stokes must be slightly tempted to go back to Carse, who has harassed Rizwan in this series, but two spinners feels like the right approach for now.

Saud reverse sweeps adroitly for a single, then Rizwan saunters down the pitch to drive the fourth and final run of Leach’s over.

“Surviving these early morning shifts, my beamish boy?” whispers Robert Smith. There is only love in my generous heart but I’m gonna have to gainsay this: ‘I’ve never batted on a 12th-day pitch but I can’t imagine it’s much fun.’ This sent me immediately down a much-loved imaginative path – Apocalyptic Cricket. Cricket defiantly played while the world ends around it – Wisden’s Last Hurrah as the meteor makes landfall or the nukes finally sweep us off the tablecloth of the planet (I ranted about it in this first para in these hallowed pages some years ago.

“Not sure why but it has always seemed to me that actual Armageddon would almost certainly be accompanied by a bunch of truculent cricket tragics somewhere giving it their last. It might need a sporting declaration or a bit of a slog but there’s be something fitting about it, a valedictory touch.

“A 12th-day pitch would be invidious, flagrant and a risk to life and limb but it would also definitely be fun.”

You’ve now got me imagining Armageddon in the Long Room at Lord’s. There isn’t enough gin in the world.

22nd over: Pakistan 78-4 (Saud 11, Rizwan 0) Bashir enquires for LBW and/or a catch at slip when Rizwan is beaten by a fine delivery from round the wicket. I don’t think there was an inside edge and it was too high for the LBW. Lovely bowling though.

Rizwan is a key man because he plays spin really well and he won’t just hang around. If he bats for an hour, Pakistan probably win.

21st over: Pakistan 77-4 (Saud 10, Rizwan 0) That was a precious cameo from Kamran, 26 from 39 balls with five fours. It also showed his team-mates that you can play shots on this pitch, and you’d expect the relentlessly positive Mohammad Rizwan to follow his lead.

20th over: Pakistan 67-3 (Kamran 18, Saud 9) Saud edges Bashir just – and I mean just – short of Pope at gully. When he takes a single, Kamran slog-sweeps high over midwicket for another boundary. This is terrific batting, intelligent, skilful and courageous. He’s always scanning the field, working out the safest scoring options.

“If they started playing entire Test series on the same pitch, which has its merits in terms of sustainability etc, can you just imagine the state of the Hollies Stand by day 25 of the Ashes?” says Phil Russell.

Hang on, are we playing all five Tests back to back as well? It’s one way to solve the scheduling problem I suppose.

19th over: Pakistan 60-3 (Kamran 14, Saud 8) Stokes continues to tinker, bringing Leach back in place of Bashir. The impressive Kamran, who looks like he’s batting on a different pitch, sweeps firmly for four. Pakistan lead by 135.

“That’s an excellent tune for Duckett,” says Ollie Glick. “Wondered if you knew (as I found out this year) that Freak Like Me is a direct cover of the Adina Howard song of 1995? Who knew!”

So you watch those old Top of the Pops repeats on BBC Four as well? I’m the same as you, I had no idea till I saw it on there.

18th over: Pakistan 56-3 (Kamran 10, Saud 8) Carse continues. Nasser Hussain reckons it’s because of the arrival of Shakeel, who is much more comfortable against spin.

The tactic so nearly works when Shakeel edges through Root at first slip for four runs. He top-edged a cut stroke that flashed past Root’s left shoulder before he could react. An almost impossible chance.

“One of the great things about England cricket at the moment is that the powers-that-be have decided that the team permits players to not have perfect hours as long as they can provide instances of brilliance,” says Mark Slater. “For far too long fast bowlers were dropped in favour of medium pacers who kept it straight and just short of a length – now you have ones who can go at five or six an over a spell and just concentrate on getting a snorter defended to gully. Should be the same for spinners. I think Shoaib Bashir will get to be an economic bowler, if he persists, because batsmen will become wary of that wicket-taking delivery that can happen any moment. Personally, I would love it if he is the bowler to rip through the Pakistani batsmen today.”

In 20 years’ time Rob Key will be recognised as one of the important people in English cricket history, discuss.

17th over: Pakistan 50-3 (Kamran 10, Saud 2) Bashir resumes after taking the first three wickets before lunch. It looks Pakistan are going to be positive, which has to be the best approach on a dodgy pitch, and they take three singles from the over. The last ball is a beauty which spits at Kamran from well wide of off stump. He does well to drop it short of the man at short leg.

“They really pressed fast forward at tea yesterday, eh,” says Guy Hornsby. “It doesn’t seem totally out of the question that this game could be over by the close. I guess even a runway turns on day 8, Rob. Still, it’s been great to see Bashir adjust his line after watching the Pakistan bowlers. With his height he’s going to create real problems. And he’s still ridiculously young. But I can’t see England chasing more than about 190. But my god it’ll be exhilarating, like a slap in the face at 4am (when we’re 106 all out).”

In 12.2 overs.

16th over: Pakistan 47-3 (Kamran 9, Saud 0) Carse hits the pitch really hard, which would make a nightmare to face on an uneven pitch, so you can understand why Stokes has had a look. But it might also be a chance for Pakistan to counter-attack.

Kamran drives in the air and just short of cover, where the diving Stokes does well to save at least two runs. There’s nothing anyone can do when Kamran pulls smoothly behind square for four. Carse may not be given a second over; he didn’t do much wrong but nor did the pitch.

“Game nicely poised with Pakistan ahead on points, I’d say,” writes Dave Clark. “The second Test is a more even contest between bat and ball. A third Test on the same strip would be one for the bowlers, which begs the question, why not play an entire series on the same strip? Just toss up once before the first Test, then alternate. I can see no downside.”

Four days of lost revenue? I’ve never batted on an 12th-day pitch but I can’t imagine it’s much fun.

The first over of the afternoon session will be bowled by… Brydon Carse. Interesting.

“I was leaning towards a Pakistan win,” says Phil Withall. “However, having just checked the India-New Zealand score (India 46 for 9) I feel anything is possible and nothing makes sense anymore. Long live Test cricket!”

India won the toss as well. I suppose they had to bat first after picking three spinners and only two quicks, although Bumrah and Shami might have routed New Zealand on their own. Very Old Trafford 1999.

“The Ciderabad Duo of Leach and Bashir looking very much at home on this ‘Taultan’ surface,” says Brian Withington. “Nasser seems to be genuinely loving the spectacle, too. For my part I can’t wait to see how England might tackle a chase of say 250 or so - I suspect Duckett’s inside edge could use a brush attachment for all the sweeping he’s likely to be attempting.”

If Duckett sweeps an improbable matchwinning hundred, he should release a Sugababes cover.

Let me lay it on the line
I got a little sweepiness inside
And you know Pakistan
Has gotta deal with it
I don’t care what they say
I’m not about to play nobody’s way
Cause it’s all about the slog in me
Mm-hmm

I wanna sweep in the morning
Sweep in the evening…

Anyone? No?

“Could this runchase be made for Bazball?” wonders David Howell. “The clear indication from this session is that the pitch has made it to the point of unavoidable wickets being basically a given...” says And, by implication, perhaps the logic in even the least time-constrained chase is to hit out before you get out. It’s like how Tyson Fury beat Deontay Wilder twice; instead of spending the whole contest dodging the devastating blow, try and land it yourself.

“If that is the logic Stokes et al. bring to the fourth innings, it’s going to be one heck of a ride.”

I agree; they’ll absolutely love this challenge. England certainly won’t die wondering. They might die sweeping but that will be the key shot. Ben Duckett’s innings feels really important because he could scramble Pakistan’s brains very quickly.

What do we think? I’d have it maybe 70/30 in Pakistan’s favour at the moment.

Something to read during the lunch break

14th over: Pakistan 37-2 (Saim 17, Kamran 4) Leach changes ends to replace Bashir (6-0-21-2), and his first ball is a stunning delivery that bets Kamran all ends up. It curved onto middle stump before snapping past the outside edge.

“Absolutely unplayable” says Mike Atherton on Sky. Kamran smiles at the inherent futility of existence impossibility of playing a ball like that.

Leach beats Kamran again with the last ball of an excellent maiden.

13th over: Pakistan 37-2 (Saim 17, Kamran 4) Nope, Root is going to continue. He goes around the wicket to the right-handed Kamran with two men at short midwicket. A leg-bye and three single from the over.

It’s been hard work but Pakistan have increased their lead to 112. England won’t want to chase anything more than 113 200.

12th over: Pakistan 33-2 (Saim 15, Kamran 3) Bashir turns another terrific delivery past Saim’s outside edge. His control is far from perfect but when he lands it right he looks such a threat.

The first-innings centurion Kamran Ghulam gets off the mark with a really good reverse sweep for three. That’s good batting, in both intent and execution.

11th over: Pakistan 28-2 (Saim 13, Kamran 0) Saim skids back to back cut Root for three, his best attacking shot to date. Root was probably brought on because there were two left-handers at the crease, and though he looks threatening it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Leach back on for an over before lunch.

10th over: Pakistan 25-2 (Saim 10, Kamran 0)

9th over: Pakistan 22-1 (Saim 9, Shan 9) Twenty minutes to lunch. England would love to take another wicket or two before then.

Joe Root, who can be lethal on dodgy pitches, replaces Jack Leach and beats the groping Saim with a quicker, wider delivery. Then he gets some extravagant turn and bounce from back of a length to Shan, who offers no stroke.

All told, that’s a pretty threatening first over.

8th over: Pakistan 21-1 (Saim 8, Shan 9) Shan cracks Bashir through extra cover for a couple, a nice shot and a sign that he is going to bat runs rather than time.

Yes, that’s a fair assumption: he charges the next ball and wallops it over mid-on for the first boundary of the innings.

Bashir responds with a snorter that beats the outside edge. England go up confidently for caught behind but then don’t review. Replays show it missed the bat by a distance and probably brushed the thigh.

7th over: Pakistan 15-1 (Saim 8, Shan 3) Saim gloves a sweep over the head of Smith for a couple of runs. That’s twice he’s done that already.

In other news, India are 34 for 6 (S-I-X) in the first Test aginst New Zealand. They chose to bat in helpful bowling conditions and have been picked apart by Matt Henry and William O’Rourke.

6th over: Pakistan 10-1 (Saim 5, Shan 1) Pakistan have had the third-innings blues so often that, even though they are objectively well on top in this game, they must be starting to fear another fiasco.

It’ll be interesting to see whether Shan Masood, who has been very positive against Bashir in particular, tries to counter-attack or just survive until lunch.

England review for caught behind Shafique pushes at a big-spinning delivery from Bashir, with Jamie Smith taking the ball superbly down the leg side. Did he glove it?

5th over: Pakistan 9-0 (Shafique 4, Saim 5) A full toss from Leach is clipped nicely for three by Shafique, then Saim looks suspiciously at the pitch after defending on the back foot. There’s still plenty happening for the spinners.

4th over: Pakistan 6-0 (Shafique 1, Saim 5) Bashir’s radar is slightly awry. When he gets it right he’s a huge threat, as demonstrated when Saim misses a violent slog-sweep at a delivery that bursts from the surface. A pair of singles take Pakistan’s lead to 81.

3rd over: Pakistan 4-0 (Shafique 0, Saim 4) Shafique pushes nervously at a lovely delivery from Leach that beats the edge and turns towards first slip. He’s beaten again later in the over. Leach, who is very experienced at bowling on bunsens, has started with back-to-back maidens.

2nd over: Pakistan 4-0 (Shafique 0, Saim 4) Shoaib Bashir shares the new ball, so you can forget my hunch. His first turns extravagantly, albeit from well wide of the left-handed Saim’s off stump. Saim top-edges a sweep over the head of Smith for two, then waves a couple more through the covers.

1st over: Pakistan 0-0 (Shafique 0, Saim 0) Leach starts with a maiden to Shafique, including one beauty past the edge and another that draws a thick inside edge.

So, who takes the new ball? I have a hunch it might be Root and Leach, with Bashir to follow. We’re about to find out.

“Noman Ali has quietly hit the 50-wicket mark in Tests, and you wouldn’t even know it, he’s been slipping them into his pocket like loose change,” says Zain Malik. “A genuine workhorse, he’s been grinding through the overs with zero fuss, like he’s just running errands. Off the field, though, Noman’s personality is anything but low key. He’s the guy who probably believes he could bowl a marathon and then knock out a fifty before tea, always reminding folks that he’s an all-rounder, at least in his own mind.”

He’s the Ernie Wise to Sajid’s Eric Morecambe, isn’t he? The three wickets he took – Crawley, Stokes, Smith – were all proper batters and all came at key times. Stokes felt particularly important. That was the moment a drama turned into a crisis for England.

65th over: England 290-9 (Leach 24, Bashir 9) Leach spoons Noman just over the head of midwicket and scampers back for a second. There’s a run-out referral but he’s fine.

This is now England’;s highest partnership since the collapse started with the wicket of Joe Root last night: 28 from six overs.

65th over: England 287-9 (Leach 21, Bashir 9) Bashir gets down to sweep Sajid firmly for his first boundary. Cricket is a ridiculous game: last week Harry Brook scored a triple century, this week he’s no better with the bat than Shoaib Bashir.

“Might one say that that England have let Noman (and Sajid) put asunder?” says Tom Hopkins. “They’re exposed, sitting ducks.”

65th over: England 281-9 (Leach 20, Bashir 4) Leach is batting really well here. He slog-sweeps Noman for four more, with the man in the deep not picking the ball up, then charges down to hack a single behind square.

This pair have added 18 useful runs. It’s too early to stick a Union Jack flag in the window but they’ve given England a snifter of hope.

64th over: England 274-9 (Leach 14, Bashir 3) Bashir just about survives another over from Sajid. Spare a thought for Zahid Mahmood, the third spinner, who has bowled only six overs and has had to watch Sajid and Noman clean up. He must feel like Tony McCarroll.

“Just how important is body language in Test cricket,” says Zain Malik. “Coming into day eight, Rizwan chirping, Sajid strutting, ‘thaapis’ all round, Potts, who had given Salman quite the sending off being bowled through the legs. What a comeback from Pakistan. The purge seems to have paid off.”

63rd over: England 272-9 (Leach 13, Bashir 2) Leach slog-sweeps Noman brilliantly for a one-bounce four to move into double figures – and bring England’s deficit down into double figures. He does really well to not only keep out a grubber but also crack it through the covers for two more.

“Should Pakistan win this match, the strategy of playing two Test matches on the same pitch may become standard,” says Krishnamoorthy V. “Why not extend it to the third match and see how it turns out?”

62nd over: England 265-9 (Leach 6, Bashir 2) England have pulled off some astonishing come-from-behind victories in the Bazball era. If this win this it’ll be right up there because the pitch is only going to get worse.

“Sajid is going from strength to strength, his variations in speed totally outfoxing Carse,” says Colum Fordham. “I can’t believe he’s been overlooked for the last few years, despite taking eight wickets against Bangladesh three years ago. Add to that his joyous celebrations and wonderfully moustachioed look and Pakustan may have struck gold.”

In defence of the selection committee (see preamble), his record apart from that 12-for v Bangladesh hasn’t been great. But he looks a good bowler and clearly has the personality to thrive at this level. Like Shane Warne and a few others, he’s a fast bowler trapped in the body of a spinner.

61st over: England 262-9 (Leach 5, Bashir 0) This England collapse is one for the books: they were 211 for 2 yesterday evening. It’s vaguely reminscent of Headingley 1992, only without the reverse swing. And the eventual England victory.

60th over: England 256-8 (Smith 20, Leach 0) We see batters bowled behind their legs all the time, but rarely between them.

Leach plays and misses at his first two balls. The ball is starting to bite again and, difficult as it is, Jamie Smith surely has to go into Qiana Joseph mode now.

59th over: England 252-7 (Smith 20, Potts 2) A lot rests on Jamie Smith here now. Does he go into T20 mode now, or play normally while Potts – who is a decent batter – is at the crease? For now he’s content to work Noman off the pads for a single; then Potts hacks a drive past leg stump for another.

58th over: England 250-7 (Smith 19, Potts 1) Sajid celebrated his five-for by getting on all fours to kiss the pitch. He has an eight-for in Tests, against Bangladesh in Mirpur, but this is his first five-for on home soil.

“On behalf of the 66 musicians associated with The Fall I would like to record our collective displeasure about being referenced in your apology to the Pakistan Men’s National Selection Committee,” says Brian Withington. “We are a tight knit collective that does not deserve such association.

“In the words of the late great Mark E. Smith: ‘If it’s me and your granny on bongos, it’s The Fall’.”

If you see your granny, thank her for this.

57th over: England 248-6 (Smith 18, Carse 4) Still no big turn, no big shots either. Smith and Carse are proceeding with caution, which is understandable after the mayhem they experienced last night.

“Sajid is great isn’t he?” says Gary Naylor. “Exactly the attitude Pakistan needs. Rizwan also looks like he’s enjoying himself. I know it’s only vibes, but vibes matter.”

They sure do. Totally agree about Sajid’s personality; he has such expressive eyes too. I’m surprised his record is so modest as he looks a pretty good bowler who puts a lot on the ball.

56th over: England 246-6 (Smith 17, Carse 3)

Carse is not out As you were, outside the line. Not even umpire’s call.

Hang on, this is closer than I realised. I think it hit him on the backside, rather than the front pad, so this could well be out.

Pakistan review for LBW against Carse

Smith misses a sweep off Sajid, who goes up for LBW. Outside the line. Carse does likewise later in the over and again the umpire says not out. Pakistan are reviewing it but, although it was closer than the Smith appeal, it looked outside the line.

55th over: England 244-6 (Smith 16, Carse 3) Noman Ali starts with a maiden to Jamie Smith. England will be encouraged that there has been no extravagant turn in the first couple of overs.

54th over: England 244-6 (Smith 16, Carse 3) Brydon Carse is dropped! It was an extremely tough chance to the bowler Sajid, who threw his hands up in self-preservation when Carse smashed the ball back at him. All he could do was push it over his shoulder.

Smith works the ball around more serenely to score four of England’s five runs in the over.

Sajid Khan is going to open the bowling. England will hope the heavy roller dulls the pitch for an hour or two, which would allow them to get somewhere near Pakistan’s first-innings score.

The players are ready to go. Big first hour coming up!

The state of play

England will resume on 239 for 6, still 127 runs behind, after losing four wickets in an exhilarating final hour that changed the mood of the whole series.

That’s a big deficit on an crumbling pitch, especially as England have to bat last, so the morning session could be pivotal. It feels like England need to get to within 50 of Pakistan to have a realistic chance of victory.