SOUTHAMPTON (Reuters) – England bowler James Anderson moved one shy of 600 test wickets as he struck late on a frustrating and mainly forgettable fourth day of the third Test against Pakistan on Monday.

Pakistan, who followed on after being bowled out for 273 in reply to England’s first innings 583-8 declared, ended the day on 100-2, still requiring 210 runs to make England bat again.

England are looking to wrap up a 2-0 series win although today’s weather forecast is for heavy rain.

Pakistan began the day having not started their second innings and crept along to 41 without loss before rain forced the players off for an early lunch.

With England looking flat, both Pakistan openers looked comfortable although Anderson was denied a wicket in his third over of the day when Shan Masood edged behind but Jos Buttler failed to pouch what looked like a routine catch.

When play resumed some three hours later after groundstaff mopped up the pitch, it was Anderson’s partner in crime Stuart Broad who made the initial breakthrough, nipping one back to Masood who was out lbw for 18 not playing a shot.

Despite the lack of runs it was the longest opening stand against England since June 2016, spanning 23.4 overs.

Spinner Dom Bess whirled away without success in a soporific afternoon session as Ali edged towards a half century.

But with the old ball finally beginning to swing, Anderson then pinned him in front of his stumps and umpire Michael Gough raised his finger. Pakistan reviewed but the ball was shown to be just clipping leg stump.

Anderson only managed one more over, however, before bad light and rain ended the day’s play with Pakistan’s captain Azhar Ali, a centurion in the first innings, on 29.

Anderson will hope that the weather forecast for Tuesday improves so that he gets the chance to reach another milestone.

Already England’s leading Test wicket taker, Anderson is behind only spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (800) of Sri Lanka, Australia’s Shane Warne (708) and India’s Anil Kumble (619).

ENGLAND 1st innings 583 -8 decl
Pakistan 1st innings
Shan Masood lbw James Anderson 4
Abid Ali c Dominic Sibley b James Anderson 1
Azhar Ali Not Out 141
Babar Azam lbw James Anderson 11
Asad Shafiq c Joe Root b James Anderson 5
Fawad Alam c Jos Buttler b Dom Bess 21
Mohammad Rizwan c Jos Buttler b Chris Woakes 53
Yasir Shah c Joe Root b Stuart Broad 20
Shaheen Afridi c Jos Buttler b Stuart Broad 3
Mohammad Abbas Run Out Stuart Broad 1
Naseem Shah c Dominic Sibley b James Anderson 0
Extras 2b 7lb 2nb 0pen 2w 13
Total (93.0 overs) 273 all out
Fall of Wickets : 1-6 Khan, 2-11 Ali, 3-24 Azam, 4-30 Shafiq, 5-75 Alam, 6-213 Rizwan, 7-241 Shah, 8-247 Afridi, 9-261 Abbas, 10-273 Shah
Bowling : James Anderson 23 – 3 – 56 – 5, Stuart Broad 20 – 5- 40 – 2,
Jofra Archer 17 – 3 – 58 – 0 (1w), Chris Woakes 15 – 2 – 42 – 1 ( 2nb), Dom Bess 18 – 2 – 68 – 1.

PAKISTAN 2nd innings
Shan Masood lbw Stuart Broad 18
Abid Ali lbw James Anderson 42
Azhar Ali Not Out 29
Babar Azam Not Out 4
Extras 0b 7lb 0nb 0pen 0w 7
Total (56.0 overs) 100-2