Live Updates

  • 3:25 PM IST

    Update 1050 local (0950 GMT) – The conditions are very wet and it is still raining. It is unlikely that any play will be possible at least till Lunch. Stay with us.

  • 3:06 PM IST

    We have been greeted with some bad news! It is currently raining in Southampton and is unlikely that the action will start on time. Let’s hope that it clears soon. Stay tuned for further updates.

  • 2:50 PM IST

    Welcome all! Pakistan had a good Day 4, losing only 2 wickets and now they have a realistic chance of saving this Test match. They were helped by rain as well and with the weather forecast not great for Day 5, they would hope that they are able to achieve a draw. England, on the other hand, were poor with the ball. They looked tired and they still need 8 wickets for a victory. Anderson is still short of 600 Test wickets and he would want to get it today as England will not play their next Test for a long time. Will England be able to achieve a victory or will Pakistan manage a draw?

  • 2:50 PM IST

    … Day 5, Session 1 …

  • 11:23 PM IST

    So that is it from Day 4 from Southampton. Pakistan will be the happier of the two sides at the end of the day’s play as they now have a realistic chance to rescue this Test match. Anderson will have to sleep 1 shy of 600 Test wickets. The predicted weather forecast is not a pleasing one for all neutral and England fans but let’s hope that rain stays away. Join us on Tuesday, 25th August, 2020 at 1100 local (1000 GMT) for the all-important 5th and final day of this Test and the series. Until then, cheers and take care.

  • 11:21 PM IST

    A tough day for the English bowlers. The pitch did offer a little bit of movement early on in the day but after that there were hardly any demons on it. Anderson’s hard luck continued as Buttler early in the day denied him his 599th scalp. Broad did manage to break the opening stand later on. With the ball getting softer and the pitch getting easier to bat on, the hosts’ bowling struggled to get the breakthroughs. The 38-year old though finally managed to get to 599 wickets later on in the day but his wait for victim number 600 goes on. Tough day for all the bowlers in a nutshell as the pace has gone off the pitch.

  • 11:20 PM IST

    STUMPS ON DAY 4! A very strong fight from Pakistan and with a very strong support from rain, the hosts have given themselves a very good chance of stealing a draw from this lost cause. They have lost just 2 wickets and will enter the final day with 8 wickets in hand. Shan Masood and Abid Ali started the day with a fighting stand of 49. The former was given a lifeline early in the innings by Jos Buttler who dropped a sitter. Though Masood did not score much, he did eat away 66 balls. Abid was then joined by his skipper and the pair fought on, playing some classical Test match cricket. Abid though became Anderson’s 599th Test victim. The Pakistan Test skipper, Azhar Ali and the T20I skipper, Babar Azam then ensured there was no further damage before dark clouds and bad light came to the tourists’ rescue.

  • 11:15 PM IST

    Update 1840 local (1740 GMT) – And to add to the misery, it has started to rain as well and that might as well be the final nail in the coffin for Day 4. We are still waiting for the official confirmation though.

  • 11:05 PM IST

    Update 1832 local (1732 GMT) – The umpires get together and they check for the light. They have decided that it has gone too dark and off go the players. That will probably be Stumps. Still no confirmation yet. Stay tuned.

  • 11:03 PM IST

    55.6 Joe Root to Azhar Ali, 1 run, On middle and leg, Ali flicks it through mid-wicket for a run.

  • 11:02 PM IST

    55.5 Joe Root to Azhar Ali, no run, Loopy delivery on middle, Azhar keeps it out.

  • 11:02 PM IST

    55.4 Joe Root to Azhar Ali, no run, On middle, Ali flicks it to mid-wicket.

  • 11:02 PM IST

    55.3 Joe Root to Babar Azam, 1 run, Full toss on middle and leg, Azam flicks it through square leg for a single.

  • 11:01 PM IST

    55.2 Joe Root to Babar Azam, no run, Tossed up delivery on leg, Azam flicks it to square leg.

  • 11:01 PM IST

    55.1 Joe Root to Babar Azam, no run, Flighted delivery on middle, Azam flicks it towards the leg side.

  • 11:00 PM IST

    54.6 Dom Bess to Babar Azam, 1 run, On middle, Azam flicks it towards square leg for a run.

  • 11:00 PM IST

    54.5 Dom Bess to Azhar Ali, 3 runs, Floated delivery on off, Azhar guides it towards third man. The fielder chases it and does well to stop it. The batsmen get three runs.

  • 10:59 PM IST

    54.4 Dom Bess to Azhar Ali, no run, Loopy delivery on middle, Ali defends it out.

  • 10:59 PM IST

    54.3 Dom Bess to Azhar Ali, no run, Full delivery on off, Azhar looks to drive but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

  • 10:58 PM IST

    54.2 Dom Bess to Azhar Ali, no run, Flighted delivery on middle, Ali blocks it off the front foot.

  • 10:58 PM IST

    54.1 Dom Bess to Babar Azam, 1 run, Tossed up delivery on off, Azam pushes it towards point for a run.

  • 10:57 PM IST

    53.6 Joe Root to Azhar Ali, no run, On middle, Azhar blocks it off the back foot.

  • 10:56 PM IST

    53.5 Joe Root to Azhar Ali, no run, Floated delivery on off, Azhar offers no shot and gets hit on the thigh pad.

  • 10:56 PM IST

    53.4 Joe Root to Azhar Ali, no run, Loopy delivery on off, Azhar defends it off the front foot.

  • 10:56 PM IST

    53.3 Joe Root to Babar Azam, 1 run, On middle, Azam flicks it through square leg for a run.

  • 10:55 PM IST

    53.2 Joe Root to Babar Azam, no run, Tossed up delivery on middle, Azam blocks it off the front foot.

  • 10:55 PM IST

    53.1 Joe Root to Babar Azam, no run, Flighted delivery on off, Azam keeps it out.

  • 10:54 PM IST

    Joe Root brings himself into the attack.

  • 10:53 PM IST

    52.6 Dom Bess to Azhar Ali, no run, On off, Azhar blocks it off the back foot.

  • 10:53 PM IST

    52.5 Dom Bess to Azhar Ali, no run, Floated delivery on middle, Ali defends it off the front foot.

England vs Pakistan 2020, 3rd Test, Day 4, Southampton, Highlights: James Anderson’s Wait To Reach 600-Wicket Mark Continues
Can England secure the series 2-0? (AFP)

Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s live coverage of Day 4 of the third and final Test between England and Pakistan, at The Rose Bowl, Southampton.

WHAT HAPPENED ON DAY 3?

England forced Pakistan to follow on despite a brilliant century by visiting skipper Azhar Ali.

Pakistan were bowled out for 273, still 310 behind. Azhar remained unbeaten on 141.

Bad light delayed Pakistan’s second innings until Day 4.

Struggling at 75/5 in response to England’s 583/8d, Pakistan’s innings was revived by Azhar and Mohammad Rizwan as the duo added 138 for the sixth wicket, using up almost 40 overs before the latter fell for 53. Stuart Broad (2/40) then removed Yasir Shah and Shaheen Afridi, while James Anderson had No. 11 Naseem Shah caught at third slip to end with figures of 5/56. He moved to 598 Test wickets.

Earlier, Anderson had Asad Shafiq caught at slip by Joe Root during a rain-curtailed morning session.

Fawad Alam (21) and Azhar then put together a 45-run partnership before off-spinner Dom Bess got the better of the left-handed batsman.

Azhar and Rizwan then joined hands to steady the ship. Chris Woakes broke the stand as he dismissed the Pakistan No. 7.

Soon after Broad’s double-strike, Anderson saw three catches dropped off his bowling in less than 12 balls but finally claimed his 29th fifer to wrap up Pakistan’s innings.

Here’s what Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, had to say after the day’s play:

“Pakistan, when they lost the early wicket this morning, many of us thought they would fall in a heap, but then Azhar Ali came out.

“He played some glorious shots, and in Mohammad Rizwan they have found a fighter, a character. That partnership was special.

I just hope James Anderson can grab a couple more and go home with some positivity of thought in his mind.”