James Anderson gives England hope of winning first Test against Pakistan

 

England boosted their hopes of pulling of an unlikely victory in the first Test by reducing Pakistan to 35-2 at lunch on day five in Abu Dhabi.

James Anderson bowled Shan Masood (1) and then had first-innings double centurion Shoaib Malik (0) caught by Jonny Bairstow at short leg in the third over as the hosts sunk to 3-2.

Mohammad Hafeez (32no from 43 balls) and Younus Khan (2no from 20) steadied Pakistan but Misbah's side still trail their opponents by 40 at the interval, after England declared on 598-9 earlier in the session with a lead of 75.

Anderson (3no) was frustrated when Alastair Cook called time on England's innings, the No 11 batsman eager for runs after having a caught-behind decision against him overturned on review.

But the seamer, who left the field with Stuart Broad (17no) after Adil Rashid had been cleaned up through the gate by Imran Khan, perked up following two quick scalps.

The 33-year-old bowled Masood - castled off his grille in the first innings - off the toe of his bat, the left-handed opener unable to flick the ball away from his timbers in time.

Anderson then dismissed Malik with a devilish bouncer, the Pakistan No 3 lasting just the four deliveries compared to the 420 he amassed first time around en route to a career-best 245.

Younus edged Broad shy of the slip cordon an over later but battled his way to the end of an absorbing morning session, Hafeez - who clubbed Rashid's last ball before lunch for six having survived a caught-behind review a delivery earlier - the aggressor in the pair's unbroken stand of 32.