ENGLAND’s daring declaration set up the potential for a thrilling final day of the first Test in Rawalpindi, with Pakistan requiring 263 more runs to win with eight wickets remaining.

England dangled the carrot and set Pakistan 343 runs to win on a very flat deck, having scored 264 runs in just 35.5 overs in their second innings at a run rate of more than 7.5. At the close, Pakistan were 2-80.

England had stressed their desire to entertain and force a result before the start of the series and this was in evidence in the afternoon session on day four, as they used all the tricks to pile on runs as quickly as possible to give themselves the best chance to secure what would be only a third Test victory in Pakistan.

The declaration has slightly reduced the potential for a draw on the run-heavy surface, with Ben Stokes continuing to be a bold captain in his approach to batting, fielding and decision-making.

The visitors’ attacking form carried on into the field, where they persevered with a short-ball approach, and claimed two wickets for their efforts, despite Stokes being hit for successive fours in his first deliveries of the innings.

England made two early inroads, with Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam falling victim to the short ball, although the home side continued to score quickly.

For the first wicket, Ollie Robinson successfully tempted Abdullah into a pull shot, only to pick out Harry Brook on the deep square leg boundary.

Azhar Ali was then forced to return to the dressing from after retiring hurt following a blow to the top of his right index finger, and it remains to be seen whether the batter will recover in time to bat on the final day.

Despite scoring a masterful century in the first innings, Babar made just four runs before getting out caught behind off Stokes to an under-edge as he attempted to play a short ball.

Stokes’ side almost had a third wicket in one of the final overs of the day, but Saud Shakeel was dropped by Keaton Jennings at short leg when he was on 22, and he finished day four on 24 not out, well supported by Imam-ul-Haq who followed up a first-innings century with an unbeaten 43.

England’s unconventional batting approach was epitomised by Joe Root, who briefly switched to batting left-handed for two balls during his innings in an attempt to disrupt the bowler – but was almost caught at conventional point-turned-square-leg before reverting to his usual stance.

Brook then brought up his second half century of the game, and briefly threatened to break Gilbert Jessop’s 120-year-old record for the fastest-ever century – 76 balls – by an England player in Test matches.

The Yorkshireman was on 87 from 65 when he was bowled trying to score yet another boundary by Naseem Shah, who was the pick of the Pakistan bowling attack.

Zak Crawley also scored his second half-century of the match, and Will Jacks added a useful quickfire 24 from 12 deliveries before being caught at mid-off trying to score a third successive six.

In the morning session, debutant Jacks claimed a maiden Test five-for, finishing with six wickets for 161, becoming the first England spin bowler to take a five-for in the first innings of his debut since Peter Such in 1993.

Pakistan started the day on 7-499 and were also free-scoring – but England took the remaining three wickets in the first hour and a half of play at a cost of 80 runs. (PA)

ENGLAND 1st 657
Pakistan 1st innings o/n 499 for 7
Abdullah Shafique c Ollie Pope b Will Jacks 114
Imam ul-Haq c Ollie Robinson b Jack Leach 121
Azhar Ali lbw Jack Leach 27
Babar Azam c Jack Leach b Will Jacks 136
Saud Shakeel c Ollie Pope b Ollie Robinson 37
Mohammad Rizwan c Ben Stokes b James Anderson 29
Agha Salman c Zak Crawley b Will Jacks 53
Naseem Shah c Jack Leach b Will Jacks 15
Zahid Mehmood st Ollie Pope b Will Jacks 17
Haris Rauf c Joe Root b Will Jacks 12
Mohammad Ali Not Out 0
Extras 15b 0lb 3nb 0pen 0w 18
Total (155.3 overs) 579 all out
Fall of Wickets : 1-225 Shafique, 2-245 ul-Haq, 3-290 Ali, 4-413 Shakeel, 5-473 Azam, 6-475 Rizwan, 7-497 Shah, 8-554 Salman, 9-576 Mehmood, 10-579 Rauf
Bowling: James Anderson 22 – 4 – 52 – 1, Ollie Robinson 21 – 2 – 72 – 1 –(3nb)
Jack Leach 49 – 7 – 190 – 2, Will Jacks 40.3 5 161 6, Joe Root 16 3 54 0,
Ben Stokes 7 – 0 35 – 0 .

……………………………………………………
ENGLAND 2nd innings
Zak Crawley c Mohammad Rizwan b Mohammad Ali 50
Ben Duckett c Agha Salman b Naseem Shah 0
Ollie Pope c Naseem Shah b Mohammad Ali 15
Joe Root c Imam ul-Haq b Zahid Mehmood 73
Harry Brook b Naseem Shah 87
Ben Stokes c Saud Shakeel b Zahid Mehmood 0
Will Jacks c Imam ul-Haq b Agha Salman 24
Liam Livingstone Not Out 7
Extras 0b 3lb 5nb 0pen 0w 8
Total (35.5 overs) 264 decl
Fall of Wickets : 1-1 Duckett, 2-36 Pope, 3-96 Crawley, 4-192 Root, 5-192 Stokes, 6-248 Jacks, 7-264 Brook
Did Not Bat : Leach, Robinson, Anderson
Bowling : Naseem Shah 9.5 – 0 – 66 – 2 (1nb),
Mohammad Ali 10- 0 – 64 – 2 (3nb), Zahid Mehmood 11 – 1 – 84 – 2 . Agha Salman 5 0 47 1 9.40 1nb

……………………………………………….
PAKISTAN 2nd innings
Abdullah Shafique c Harry Brook b Ollie Robinson 6
Imam ul-Haq Not Out 43
Azhar Ali Retired Hurt 0
Babar Azam c Ollie Pope b Ben Stokes 4
Saud Shakeel Not Out 24
Extras 0b 0lb 3nb 0pen 0w 3
Total (20.0 overs) 80-2
Fall of Wickets : 1-20 Shafique, 2-25 Azam
To Bat : Rizwan, Salman, Rauf, Shah, Ali, Mehmood

Bowling :
Ollie Robinson 5 – 0 – 22 – 1 ( 3nb), Ben Stokes 4 – 0 – 20 – 1,
James Anderson 2 – 1- 4 – 0, Jack Leach 5 – 1- 19 – 0.