Azhar stretches Pakistan lead

Azhar Ali

Published: 8:38am, 5th February 2012
Updated: 10:29am, 5th February 2012

England managed just one wicket on the third morning of the final Test as Azhar Ali completed a painstaking century in Pakistan's second-innings 295 for three.

Stuart Broad ended Azhar's stand of 216 with Younus Khan (127) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. But there was to be no further respite for England, who face an increasingly improbable escape route to avoid defeat here - and therefore a 3-0 series whitewash.

Pakistan moved into a lunchtime lead of 253, on a pitch belying the clatter of 22 wickets in the first four sessions yet offering some help for the spinners.

Azhar (115no) was in absolutely no hurry over his second Test hundred, having previously reached exactly three figures on this same ground against Sri Lanka last year.

But he eventually reached the milestone from the 319th ball he faced, with one of the most memorable shots of his long innings - a cut off Monty Panesar for his fifth four.

Azhar might have gone before his third-wicket partner, for 84, but escaped when Graeme Swann was just unable to hang on to a tough chance at second slip, very low to his left off the bowling of James Anderson.

Instead England's only success came when Broad had Younus lbw on the front foot - DRS indicated the ball would have clipped the very top of middle-stump - after a five-hour stay which had helped to shut England out for 82 overs.

Younus was replaced by captain Misbah-ul-Haq, another batsman content to make the most of the ample time still available in this well-progressed match.

Meanwhile, Tim Bresnan was due to arrive in Abu Dhabi this morning, having undergone fitness tests in Yorkshire on the elbow injury which ruled him out of the Test series.

England hope the seamer will be available for four one-day internationals and three Twenty20s against Pakistan, starting on February 13.