England face mammoth task after brilliant knocks of Ali and Khan

Dubai: England face the mammoth task of having to chase 324 runs for a victory in the third Test match against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. With two full days of action still left, the task is really cut out for Strauss & co.

England's most successful chase to date is their 332 for 7 against Australia in Melbourne during the 1928-29 series. At close of play on the third day, England were 36 for no loss, still needing 288 runs for victory.

England ended Pakistan's spirited batting show in the second innings 30 minutes after tea. Azhar Ali stole the limelight with a dazzling knock of 157 runs. His 442 ball innings and 533 minutes stay at the wicket which will sparkle as the embodiment of his patience contained 10 boundaries and a six.

England spinner Monty Panesar produced his second successive five-wicket spell to save his country from having to chase a bigger total. He returned with figures of 5 for 124 for his 10th five-wicket haul in Test cricket backed by Graeme Swann, who took three wickets for 101. Together they pulled down Pakistan from a commanding 331 for 3 to 365 all out.

Though England skipper Andrew Strauss might be delighted with the performance of his spinners he would be worried with the turn that they generated from the wicket.

Turning wicket

England would have lost an early wicket immediately after they commenced their chase had Taufeeq Umar at third slip not dropped Alastair Cook on four off Umar Gul. Sensing that the wicket is a turner, Pakistan introduced spin after giving their pacers just five overs.

England's second innings will not only be a test of their batsmen's patience but also a test of their batting skills to handle the guiles of Pakistan spinners.

It was an eventful third day. Younus Khan added another 12 runs to his overnight score before his 221 ball innings ended, trapped leg before by Stuart Broad for 127 runs after 45 minutes into the morning action. It also ended his marathon 216-run partnership with Azhar Ali.

Anderson could have picked the wicket of Ali on 84 had Swann at slip not missed a catch. He went on to notch his second Test century. Incidentally, Ali's hit his career's first Test century too at this venue against Sri Lanka last October.

Misbah-ul-Haq, who joined Ali, added another 87 runs for the fourth wicket. Panesar produced a delivery that drifted and beat Haq to hit him on the pad for a leg before verdict despite being referred. Panesar also got Asad Shafiq, the top scorer of Pakistan's first innings, leg before.

Panesar went on to produce a beauty to clean bowl Adnan Akmal for a duck. It dipped and turned to hit the stumps.

Anderson at slip took a fine catch offered by Abdur Rahman to give Swann his first wicket who went on to dismiss Saeed Ajmal and also ended Ali's brilliant knock.

Ali literally pushed the ball into the hands of Cook at short leg.

Panesar completed his five-wicket haul trapping Umar Gul for his fourth leg-before victim.

Scoreboard

Pakistan first innings: 99 all out
England first innings: 141 all out

Pakistan second innings: (overnight 222-2)

England second innings: