Zak Crawley was on the verge of posting his first test century as England reached tea on 184/4 on the opening day of the third and final Test against Pakistan at the Rose Bowl on Friday. (More Cricket News)
Crawley was on a career-best Test score of 97 and sharing an unbeaten 57-run partnership with Jos Buttler (24) after England lost captain Joe Root (29) and Ollie Pope (3) after lunch.
Root edged a beautiful delivery from paceman Naseem Shah that seamed away, with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan taking a flying catch to his right.
Pope lasted 15 balls before he was bowled by Yasir Shah trying to play the legspinner off the back foot, leaving England 127-4.
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Playing his eighth Test match, Crawley's previous best score was 76 against the West Indies at the same ground in Southampton last month. He has hit 11 fours in a 165-ball knock.
Buttler is also seeing the ball well, striking four boundaries.
Yasir has 2-60 off 19 overs after coming into the attack early.
England lead 1-0 and is looking to clinch a first series victory over Pakistan in 10 years, as well as a second of the summer after beating the West Indies 2-1.
Fast bowler Jofra Archer was recalled by England in place of Sam Curran in the only change from the drawn second Test on the same ground in Southampton.
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Pakistan selected an unchanged team.
(AP).
