Pakistan vs England RECAP: How the third day of the final Test unfolded in Sharjah

Paul Newman: It took just one breathtaking delivery to turn the tide emphatically in Pakistan’s favour and emphasise the difference between these sides that now leaves England in danger of another series defeat here.

The ball from Yasir Shah pitched outside leg-stump and spat sharply past the bemused defence of Samit Patel to hit the top of off and ended England’s chances of building the emphatic lead that would have severely tested Pakistan.

Instead it was the symbolic moment in Pakistan recovering from an overnight position where England could have dreamed of a series-levelling victory to one where their fate will be determined by a second innings ordeal by spin.

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One over remains but the umpires are checking the light. Looks as though we'll continue and Moeen Ali will bowl it. 

No later drama I'm afraid as Rahat blocks it out with the exception of one ball that led to a big appeal. Job done for him, we'll resume tomorrow morning.

We are into the penultimate over and Pakistan are in effect 74-3. We stick with Rashid despite the obvious temptation to give Anderson one final blast. 

Pretty sure Hafeez will want to get those three runs needed for his century, rather than dwelling on it all night. Nearly caught out by the Rashid googly again. 

It's a maiden

Rahat Ali in as the nightwatchman with 2.2 overs left. He plays out that over.

Agony for Stuart Broad, who continues to steam in, as Younis flicks away off the pads fine for FOUR. Would have undoubtedly been lbw has he not got the feather touch. 

Then it looks like Broad has his reward... Yes! It jagged in and high on the front pad. Given out but reviewed by Younis. Hawkeye shows it was going on to graze the stumps - no shot offered and umpire's call. We'll take that....

Hafeez moves ever closer, garnering a single from a defensive stroke against Rashid. And he then moves to 97, simply finding the gap as he has done all day. 

Looks like Hafeez will reach his century in these five overs before the close. And he'll do it in some style as well, with another crisp, clean drive which is cut off for three. His placement had been perfect in this impressive innings.

Swing and a miss by Younis as Broad's ball flashes past the outside edge. Cook covers his face. Very close.

The light just beginning to fade, the floodlights at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium flickering into life just to ensure we again meet the full quota of overs.

Younis gets a flick into the leg side off Anderson's inswinger. No problem for Hafeez though, watched and watched the ball, timing it late and driving sublimely to get FOUR. 

A funny moment - Younis was making some adjustments and Anderson came steaming up and was about the release the ball! Then another false start as a security guard just walks into view and distracts the batsman. Third time lucky? Dot ball. 

How England would love to snare another wicket tonight. Broad doing his utmost, trying the inswinger to try and confuse Younis Khan. 

Then he arrows it the other way and Hafeez swings and misses. 

A flicker of a chance - Anderson's ball is edged by Younis but was always falling short of Cook in the slip cordon. They even scramble a run for their trouble. 

Hafeez motoring along nicely and he cuts through point to add another FOUR to the total. 

Any boundary a bonus now for Pakistan at this late stage in the day as they try and see it out with no more casualties. Hafeez threads one through third man and it runs clear for FOUR. 

Pace at both ends, then, as we enter the final 10 overs of this third day. England trying to turn the screw once again and get some late wickets to set up tomorrow nicely. 

Just a Hafeez single from that over.

Stuart Broad stepping forward again for a spell. The lead stands at 42, so more quick strikes here and Pakistan could well be in some bother.

Younis notches a single to get out of the line of fire, before Hafeez continues his progress towards a century with a single of his own. 

Anderson looking for more success but Hafeez manages to get a thick outside edge on it and the ball races through the gulley region to get FOUR.

Nice shot from Younis, taking a stately stride down the pitch to Rashid and driving nicely. Doesn't quite reach the boundary but two scored.

Then an uncontrolled shot down to third man for another two. Alastair Cook broke his sunglasses running after it - they flew off his head, smashed on the floor and the lens came out! 

Perhaps that blast from Hafeez into the stands has proved the downfall of his team-mates. The ball came back with a little smudge of concrete or something on it and it's been reverse swinging since!

Anderson has ramped up his speed too, with Younis Khan the new man in.

Yes! It's another wicket for England. You sensed if England snaffled one, they'd get another. And it has come to pass. Reverse swing from Jimmy Anderson has the new man Malik beaten all ends up. The bat nowhere near it, absolutely pinned.

More entertainment as Hafeez smacks a brilliant shot for FOUR. Just no stopping that one and the only blemish on that otherwise tidy Rashid over. 

From the sublime to the ridiculous here! Absolute calamity and Azhar Ali has been run out. They thought the run was on, but there was hesitancy. They tried to get through and despite a poor initial throw, there was ample time for Rashidl to take the bails off.

Ben Stokes is fast asleep in the England dressing room. The painkillers have kicked in again I would imagine. 

Blimey! Hafeez has done something a lot of batsmen haven't. He's whacked Jimmy Anderson's off-cutter into the stands for SIX. Marvellous shot and they're even having trouble finding the ball! Oh there it is, on the roof of the scorer's hut! 

Hang on, is it the right ball? Alastair Cook and Jimmy Anderson give it a close examination. Eventually they are satisfied. Great stuff. Then Hafeez finishes off the over with FOUR.

A loud shout from behind the stumps as Rashid beats the outside edge of Azhar's bat. No connection nor a stumping but an encouraging ball for the spinner.

Azhar then loops the ball up and away square but it drops into a gap despite cries of 'catch it'.

Anyone want a drink?

Jimmy Anderson just looking a bit disheartened - not finding any pace in this lifeless pitch. 

Azhar works the ball square, quite a way towards the rope, but some good fielding restricts them to just the one. 

Good from Rashid, sending down the googly and almost breaking Hafeez's concentration . The batsman just did enough to steer it away towards the slips at the last moment. 

Four off the over, all from singles.

Azhar really has been patience - 100 balls for his 29 - and that could well prove the backbone if Pakistan go on to build a good lead here. He sees out another Anderson over with comfort and skill.

Very nicely-executed slice by Hafeez on the off-side collects two and takes Hafeez to 48.

Ian Bell at short leg then stretching full length to stop the ball under his foot and shy at the stumps. Safely home.

Then a beautiful way for Hafeez to bring up his half-century, a clip to a short and wide ball, not too much power, just good positioning and FOUR. 

England throw James Anderson back into the mix as they try to stem the run rate a bit. And it has the desired effect - maiden over.

A bit more pressure exerted by Patel, just one from that 31st over, worked away with ease into the leg side.

An impromptu drinks break before the latest Broad over. I swear they just take them whenever they fancy it. 

Hafeez is four runs from his half-century but Broad won't let him get there. A maiden and a touch of reverse swing final ball to keep the batsmen on their toes.

The scores are level and what a lovely way for Mohammad Hafeez to take us there. Picked up Patel's ball with aplomb and drove fluently for FOUR.

Then a sweep gains three and Pakistan are in the lead.

Jonny Bairstow is certainly alert - each and every time he thinks a foot has been raised inside the crease and the bails are off. Stuart Broad getting the first hint of some reverse swing there in a maiden over.

Clever batting by these two Pakistan players - adroitly reading each ball and picking off the singles when the chance arrives. Simple but effective. A run apiece for the batsmen. 

Can England get their first wicket before they lose their lead? Broad, with a determined gait, hoping so. Pakistan see out the over with little alarm despite Broad's perfect line and a Hafeez single is the only score.

Azhar takes the Pakistan deficit into single figures by scoring a couple of runs with a late cut, then a couple of singles but Patel did locate a little bit of encouraging turn.

Broad's first burst earlier was three economical overs - continuing his excellent form from the first two days - and he has just come back.

Joe Root in the slips just putting on a helmet - looks like he'll be moving close in any moment.

Hafeez decides to take Broad on and drives nicely for a couple of runs through cover point. 

An intriguing evening session gets underway with Samit Patel bowling and Hafeez pushes him to mid-off for a single. They then move that fielder in to apply pressure to Azhar and he can't find the gap.

We are back underway and I see Liam Plunkett has come on for Chris Jordan as the substitute fielder for the crocked Ben Stokes.

Lawrence Booth: England emerged from the lunch with their noses in front, but returned for tea looking over their shoulder. After their last three wickets – including the injured, faintly heroic Ben Stokes – added just 21, limiting their lead to 72, Pakistan’s openers saw off the new ball, before milking the spinners.

With seven sessions of this game to go, Pakistan are effectively minus 14 without loss, and must now fancy their chances of setting England something stiff on a pitch taking turn.

That was much obvious while Shoaib Malik, no more than a moderate off-spinner, was winkling out England’s last three, with both Jimmy Anderson and Stokes bowled as they tried to defend.

It left Alastair Cook’s team needing a breakthrough with the new ball to feel comfortable, and they thought they had it when umpire Oxenford upheld Jimmy Anderson’s appeal for caught behind against Mohammad Hafeez on two. But Hafeez reviewed instantly, and the decision was overturned.

Once Anderson and Broad had got through eight overs between them for just six runs, life got a whole lot easier for Pakistan.

The simple truth of the matter is that the hosts’ spinners are better than England’s, even if Moeen Ali did find Hafeez’s edge on 11; it thudded into Jonny Bairstow’s pads.

Otherwise, there was too much width on offer. Samit Patel’s first four overs cost 17 and Ali’s five leaked 25, including a pair of straight sixes by Hafeez. Cook was in danger of losing control. After the heights of 228 for four this morning, England are back in a dogfight.

Satisfying 'clip' sound as Azhar pulls the ball away for yet another single. All very comfortable for these two batsmen at present. 

Bairstow has taken the bails off - he thinks Hafeez had his boot raised. The front foot was on the line, the back maybe slightly raised. They go upstairs and it's Not Out. Correct decision.

And that is tea - Pakistan's session. 

20 overs in and this couldn't be going better for Pakistan. Some of England's momentum draining away as their spinners struggle to maintain control. 

Samit Patel returns and Hafeez plays off the inside edge to get another run, before Azhar drives and picks up one. 

At this rate, Pakistan will be in the lead when we break for tea in about seven or eight minutes. 

Rashid tosses one up and is driven away for a single through the covers, then an appeal from a Rashid ripper that spins past the bat. Close. 

Hafeez casually drives Moeen for six over the mid-off boundary for six to bring up Pakistan's 50 without loss, then steals a single off the last ball.

Much tidier from Adil Rashid today and very few scoring opportunities presented to Azhar. None in fact.

Ali to Ali. Moeen to Azhar. Single played to long-on, then Hafeez to the same area and the deficit is under 30. 

Adil Rashid has come into the attack. He was expensive in the first innings but not too bad first up here - three off the over

Paul Newman: I'm afraid the pressure has eased on Pakistan since England's spinners came on. They are just not able to exert the same amount of control.And with Ben Stokes injured there is more onus on the spinners to do the job for England in this second innings. This Test is beginning to slip away from England I fear. Unless Adil Rashid can do anything about it….

Now we have Hafeez trying to sweep Moeen a long way - but good reading of the bounce by Bairstow for a nice take. Bairstow hasn't put a foot wrong behind the wicket.

Plenty of space to exploit and, after gaining a couple with a push towards extra cover, Hafeez sends a short, wide and generally poor delivery to the fence for FOUR. 

Patel offering a bit of width to Azhar and he seizes it to score two more down to third man. A well-run single is added.

Pakistan have reduced their deficit down to beneath 50 now and these openers continue to chip away at it. Five taken from the over and England have just lost that little bit of control the seamers had earlier. 

Loud shouts but Azhar was so far down the track it couldn't possibly be going on to strike the stumps. And that's the conclusion drawn by the umpire. Ah, well Hawkeye suggests it was hitting, but the impact was 3m down so that goes down as umpire's call. Odd rule.

Three scored by Azhar, playing through the covers, and good fielding too to cut it off near the boundary rope.

Moeen Ali is introduced at the other end - what kind of tactics will Pakistan employ against him? 

Azhar plays a shot to point for a single, then something of a let-off as the edge is found, it loops up and hits Bairstow on the thigh. Wasn't likely to take the catch but I guess it counts as a chance. 

Bosh! That's gone a very long way. Pakistan have been very happy with going after England's spinners and Hafeez just smashes one into the grandstand. Effortless shot and something Pakistan needed.

Hafeez happy to block out Anderson, who conjures up a third maiden of his spell from five overs bowled. 

It's time for a bit of spin as Samit Patel enters the fray. This was the time that the Pakistan batsmen went on the offensive in the first innings, so can England learn some lessons? 

Azhar steps purposefully down the track and grabs a quick single. Confident enough to take on the throwing arm of Chris Jordan and home in good time.  

There's just no let up - Pakistan already bogged down here, the pressure created by Anderson and Broad. 

Hafeez - finally - manages to get his bat behind the ball and they gain a couple of runs.

Paul Newman: Just seen there that my colleague Mr Shergold has said TV evidence showed that edge definitely missed the bat. I stand corrected if it was clear on TV. You might have the advantage of better television replays at home than we have here to be honest but from what I saw i couldn't tell whether there was enough to overturn.

This is another excellent start with the new ball and now it's Broad beating the outside edge by very, very little. He smiles to himself. Plenty to work with here. 

Beauty from Anderson, did it catch the edge? The umpire thinks so! Out! Immediately reviewed. 

And it's a poor decision - it's clearly missed the bat. We don't have snicko to settle this one but even with just the replays the decision by Bruce Oxenford is overturned. 

Excellent over from Anderson - his reward should come soon. 

Paul Newman: That has to be guesswork doesn't it? Remember, we have no HotSpot nor Real Time Snicko here yet TV umpire Paul Reiffel has decided there was conclusive evince to overturn Bruce Oxenford's view that Mohammad Hafeez edged that ball from Jimmy Anderson. The TV official has audio but could he really be sure there? I don't know. Either use the thing properly or don't bother. England still striving for the breakthrough.

Just the one available off Broad, though Hafeez was giving it a very good go. A clip to midwicket is the only run. 

Bang on the money by Jimmy Anderson. Two consecutive deliveries that fizz past the off stump - the second merits a big appeal for leg before but the umpire isn't bothered. 

Just excellent bowling from Anderson and it's a maiden. 

Marvellous start by Stuart Broad, finding the angle and seeing the ball narrowly miss the inside edge of Hafeez's bat. A whisker away. 

Broad continues to probe and Hafeez isn't willing to go after his on target deliveries. 

England will be keen to eke out this 72 run lead for as long as possible - it's possibly a whole session's worth there. Chris Jordan has replaced Ben Stokes in the field - that's not a bad replacement given his superb catching skills.

Hafeez wastes little time getting off the mark with a scrambled single and Azhar also gets a couple on the board with a nice-looking drive.

Quick changeover and out come the Pakistan openers Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali, alongside the England bowlers and fielders. James Anderson is the first to bowl, can he have the same effect as in the first innings?

A bit of confusion between Stokes and Broad - not getting the impression there's a plan here. They were running a single off a Broad shot and almost stopped half-way to discuss whether or not it was a good idea! 

Doesn't matter - Stokes has been bowled by a fine Shoaib Malik ball and England's innings is over.

Paul Newman: And that's the end of the England innings after a brave little contribution from Ben Stokes which has added 10 more crucial runs for the last wicket to the England total. So they lead by 72.

That's not nearly as many as they would have hoped when they started out this morning to be honest and it leaves the match just about tilted in pakistan's favour i would say.

England will be a bowler short now in Stokes and they really will not fancy chasing anything more than 150 to level this series. Still all to play for. How about that ball from Yasir Shah to bowl Samit Patel. That was an absolute belter. This boy Yasir is the real deal alright….

Wahab Riaz has been introduced to test out Ben Stokes. He is able to fends off the first couple of deliveries quite low and with comfort. Surely a shorter ball is coming? 

There it is - Stokes simply chests it away. A grimace. Wahab has to test him out of course and Misbah now having a word reminding him of that fact.

Gets bat on ball on the last delivery, declines the single. 

Calm as you like, Broad paddles the ball away for two more. Trying his best to retain the strike and keep Stokes out of the firing line. 

Then a similar shot, finer contact, and it rolls down to the boundary for FOUR. The field comes in for the final ball, and Broad drives away to gain two following a misfield.

That does put Stokes back on strike though so running that second may backfire. 

In other news, the 300 is up for England. 

Right then, we do have Ben Stokes coming out for a bat. A round of applause from the England fans but a few anxious faces on the balcony. 

It's fair to say everyone who saw that horrific dive and landing on his shoulder the other day would not have expected him to be here, especially with a collar bone injury.

He'll defend so the emphasis is on Broad to play some shots. He wallops the short leg fielder with a sweep shot. Bet that stung. 

Stokes is now on strike - the silly point is brought in. He blocks.

England, with a lead in the 50s already, might as well go for it and Anderson subscribes to that with a classic sweep shot that any batsman would have been pleased with. FOUR.

But it doesn't last - Malik has clipped his off stump and Anderson's fleeting cameo is over.

James Anderson is the final man in for England and he gets himself underway with a couple of singles, while Broad also scores one. 

Another breakthrough for Pakistan and it's a peach of a delivery from Yasir Shah! Just done him all ends up. He pushed the ball out the front of the hand, found the angle and into the stumps. 

Welcome back. Stuart Broad is the next batsman for England.

Interestingly, Ben Stokes was just testing out his shoulder in the outfield during the lunch break. Holding a bat and doing a few loose exercises. Surely not? 

Lawrence Booth: Bit by bit, England are chiselling out a first-innings lead that, while not yet decisive, is inching into the territory marked ‘handy’. And they will be thrilled that the innings of the morning came from another old newcomer.

If yesterday belonged to James Taylor, playing his first Test for over three years, then the first session of the third day was mainly about Samit Patel, who himself has not tasted Test cricket since December 2012. And how England needed him.

Taylor fell early, having added only two to his overnight 74 before fending at a ball from left-arm seamer Rahat Ali that he will know he ought to have left well alone.

And Jonny Bairstow did not hang around long either, moving from 37 to 43, at which point he went back to cut Zulfiqar Babar and was comprehensively done for pace. That left England 245 for 6 – which was effectively 245 for 7 because of the injury to Ben Stokes, despite suggestions that he may yet bat in this game.

With the lead a perilous 11, England needed more, and Patel set about trying to get them. He played himself in for 13 balls, then got off the mark with a commanding hook for four off Rahat, whom he soon back-cut for four more.

Yasir Shah’s leg-spin was slapped through extra cover, Zulfiqur cut for another boundary, then – the shot of the morning – Yasir eased over extra with the kind of timing previously thought impossible on this pitch. Patel then pulled Wahab Riaz for his sixth boundary.

At the other end, Adil Rashid – the almost-hero from Dubai – was content to allow Patel to make the running, though one whip through midwicket off a Yasir full-toss suggested he still had an eye for a chance.

Then, on the stroke of lunch, he tickled Shoaib Malik’s off-spin to short backward square, leaving England on 285 for 7 and Patel needing to squeeze every last drop out of this innings.

Lunch immediately called by the umpires to save the next batsman the bother of coming out for just a few seconds. That late wicket could well change the complexion of the contest. 

That is agonising for England, but what an excellent low catch by Azhar Ali down to his right to snare Adil Rashid. He kind of prodded senselessly at a Shoaib Malik delivery and is out for eight. 

62 runs and two wickets so far in this session then and probably three overs to come. 

Some good intent from Rashid, who takes on Yasir with the drive and gets a single. England's running has usually been spot-on, but they were almost caught out there, scrambling back to safety. An overthrow, however, so they would have got away with it. 

Patel, off the pads, works the ball away square and picks up a single, before Rashid takes the England advantage to 50 with one of his own. It draws a round of applause from the Barmy Army.

Into the last 15 minutes before lunch and the game remains nicely in the balance. Half-an-hour ago, following the loss of Taylor and Bairstow in fairly quick succession, you'd have feared for England but these two have come in and steadied things very nicely.

Having said that, Yasir Shah causing consternation on his return to the attack by twice beating the bat of Rashid. 

England's lead creeping towards 50 and with such little life in the pitch this morning, they will want to double that - at least. 

Wahab Riaz continues with the short stuff to Patel and one aimed at his ribs is worked away to midwicket for a single. 

Admirable patience from Zulfiqar, now into his 37th over, and close to a maiden until Patel worked his last ball away square for a single. 

Paul Newman: This is good stuff from Samit Patel. He is making the most of this unexpected opportunity with the England team after his late call-up to this squad.

He was of course deemed too fat to play for England by Andy Flower and his body shape has not noticeably changed. But perhaps Trevor Bayliss has a different outlook on these things.

There is no doubt he is a good cricket and this could be the start of an unexpected renaissance for him with England.

Patel has made quick progress this morning and he is now on 36, just helping the ball into the covers for a couple.

Despite those two early blows, you feel Pakistan now have another partnership they need to smash with some urgency.

My goodness, that was very, very close. Sharp turn after pitching middle and off, could not have been closer to catching Rashid's bat. The highlight of a maiden from Zulfiqar

This partnership proving fruitful for England and Patel just guides the ball away fine to pick up FOUR. A nice considered and controlled shot. 

Wahab doesn't like that and sends down a slower bouncer that clunks Patel on the forearm. 

Now Misbah engaged in deep conversation with Wahab over something or other. The chat lasted about a minute in all. Perhaps an observation on the next ball to be bowled. 

It turns out to be a quick bouncer, Patel swings and luckily for him, misses.

The trap was certainly set there by Zulfiqar, who soldiers on. Tried to get Adil Rashid to come forward and attack, then bringing the spin into play. There's an appeal as it just evades the edge of the bat.

Three singles from the over - two for Patel, who is suddenly on 30 from 50 balls - and one for Rashid.

That spell by Yasir Shah is short-lived and for the first time this morning it is Wahab Riaz, who remains wicketless after bowing 15 overs yesterday.

Square leg in place trying to coax the top edge on a pull shot but Patel manages to keep his shot down and gain a single. 

It appears these two want to push on a bit - Patel lifts the ball smartly over the inner ring of fielders and it bounces a couple of times before rolling to the rope. Nice shot. 

News about Ben Stokes and his injury has been received by medium of ECB statement:  
Imaging confirms Stokes has a collar bone joint injury. It has already been decided he will be unable to bowl or field for the remainder of this Test match but if circumstances dictate he may bat. His injury will be reviewed in 7-10 days once it has had a chance to settle. A decision about his return to play will be taken at this time.

Yes, lovely shot. Looks as though Adil Rashid has a bit of batting in him as well, dispatching a poor Yasir Shah full toss through midwicket for FOUR.

Paul Newman: It appears Ben Stokes has a collar bone joint injury rather than a dislocated shoulder. That's good news I think. England won't know how long he will be out for for another week or so but he now has a good chance of being fit for South Africa next month.

Exactly, Paul, England need a hundred lead to give themselves a good chance. The advantage currently stands at 18... wait, make that 22 as Samit Patel, far from just a bowler of course, slaps it away to the boundary.

Pakistan shouldn't fool themselves that they're into England's tail here - it is a long batting line-up.

England having to grind it out at the moment and we will enter the drinks break off the back of a one-run over, Patel flicking to square leg. 

Paul Newman: First blood to Pakistan today with two huge wickets in the first hour. You have to say that has made them favourites again. It will be very hard chasing anything over 150 here so you feel England have to get a lead of a hundred to give them a chance. Tense stuff.

Nice stuff from Zulfiqar, buoyed by that wicket, and that's another maiden over.

It's fair to say Pakistan are a lot more chipper now! Smiles and jokes after two vital wickets.

Next man to the middle is Adil Rashid and he'll face a fellow leg spinner in Yasir Shah, who replaces Rahat Ali. 

Singles for both Patel and Rashid from that over, with the former then almost done by an excellent ball that almost catches the edge.

Patel responds by driving for FOUR. As if to prove a point. 

Bowled him! Zulfiqar has toiled and toiled, keeping the run rate down, keeping the pressure on but with no reward - until now.

It was a ball that slid on, Bairstow tries to chop it away and it strikes high on leg and middle stump. 

Big hugs all round for Zulfiqar.

Paul Newman: That's a disappointing end to both James Taylor's and now Jonny Bairstow's innings. That ball just wasn't there to cut. There is already more turn today than yesterday but Pakistan have struck two huge blows today and the lead is only 11. There is a rumour here that Ben Stoke may bat but for now here is Adil Rashid.

Ah, the England fan in the gorilla mask is back. I mentioned yesterday he might be feeling a little sweaty. Doesn't seem to be deterred. 

Another good ball from Rahat and another shout for lbw but nothing doing, then a loose wide one - and a no ball into the bargain - and Patel shuffled his feet and clips it away smoothly for FOUR.

England need to dig in a bit here and Bairstow doing exactly that as he waits for the fuller ball and works it away for a single off Zulfiqar. 

It's been cat and mouse stuff so far this morning - Pakistan putting the squeeze on England as they did at the beginning of the afternoon yesterday.

But Patel has managed to break free as he pulls away in front of square to get FOUR. Lovely shot and it brings the scores level at 234.

And they edge in front as Patel snatches another couple.

That's the 100th over of the England innings and Samit Patel sees it out without any dramas.

The deficit down to just five runs as the smattering of home supporters in the crowd at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium chirp up with some shouting.

Rahat Ali has been on top form this morning and he beats the bat of Bairstow with a little increase in pace at the back of a length. 

England can't be losing him as well. Maiden. 

Just the one Bairstow run from the 98th over and it takes him on to 40. It was pitched just a little short outside off stump and he chopped it away before coming through for the quick single.

Samit Patel is the next man in the middle for England and he is happy to watch as Rahat whistled the ball through. 

Patel has 22 first-class hundreds and 44 fifties, though his experience of England Test matches is limited of course. 

A wicket maiden.

That's exactly what Pakistan were looking for and precisely what England didn't need. 

An early breakthrough as James Taylor prods at a ball coming across him and nicks it to wicketkeeper Sarfraz, who gets down to make a superb low catch to his right. 

That Taylor 76 came from 161 balls and featured six 4s. 

The first appeal of the morning as Zulfiqar hits Bairstow but it appeared to come off his gloves a she attempted to sweep it away. The ball trickles past wicketkeeper Sarfraz for another single. 

Taylor then has a similar experience but the ball looked too wide and was certainly missing, the same conclusion of the umpire.

This partnership is now worth 85 but the suspicion remains that if Pakistan were to gain another wicket, England may find themselves in a spot of bother rather quickly.

Ben Stokes is sat in front of the England dressing room and looks a lot happier than he did yesterday but, holding his arm up without a sling, he doesn't look like a man about to walk out and bat! 

Taylor swipes and doesn't connect. But he then works the ball away on the leg side off the pads for a couple of leg byes.

Zulfiqar has bowled 25 overs so far without any rewards for his efforts. His entire series seems to have been one of toil to be honest, bowled a lot of overs.

And there are the first runs of the morning as Bairstow nudges a single and Taylor sweeps as he did so often yesterday for the addition of another run.

It was a supreme performance by James Taylor on his return to the Test arena yesterday and he will fancy a big score in pretty favourable conditions. 

No addition to his overnight tally, however, as Rahat begins a pivotal day with a maiden.

Right then, here we go... the two teams have walked out to the middle at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on another blazingly hot desert day.

James Taylor will resume on 74 and Jonathan Bairstow on 37 - both are well set and hopefully they can kick on and give England a good lead.

Rahat Ali to open the bowling on this third day...

Lawrence Booth: Between lunch and tea on the second day of the third Test, Ian Bell batted as if his career depended on it. Perhaps, in his own mind, it did.

England's selectors will not necessarily make the decision for him: this remains an inexperienced batting line-up, and Bell has 22 of the team's 34 Test hundreds that have not been scored by Alastair Cook.

But, watching him knuckle down out here in the UAE, it has been hard to forget his own deliberations after the Ashes, when he considered calling it a day. It is hardly second-guessing him to suggest that, after 118 Tests and at the age of 33, the end is not far away.

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Confirmation that Ben Stokes is at the ground this morning having spent yesterday undergoing scans on that shoulder injury sustained on day one. 

Will he come out and bat? We'll have to wait and see

A very Good Morning to our cricket correspondent Paul Newman out in Sharjah...

Good morning from Sharjah where we have another of those absolutely vital first few hours!

It was on the third day in Dubai that England had a chance to take control of the second Test and they blew it by losing seven wickets for 36. They cannot allow a repeat today!

If James Taylor and Jonny Bairstow can extend their partnership of 83 beyond lunch then England, who are just 12 behind Pakistan's 234, really will be in business!

How good was Taylor yesterday? I'm so pleased for him. He is a really nice lad who has been a bit unlucky not to play more Test cricket before now.

There was a strong case for him to start this series - and I told the England coaches that at the time too!- But i could understand Trevor Bayliss's reluctance to drop any batsmen who hadn't done much wrong.

So taylor waited for his chance but he really took it yesterday in a high pressure situation. Now he has to bat on and on! Forgive me if I do not update much while he and Bairstow are batting. Don't want to tempt fate again!

David Lloyd: I will never forget this place because of what happened on December 8th 1997. We got invited to Sharjah to play in a Champions Trophy when I was England coach and it was an extraordinary experience that ended up with us winning the thing.

I had never seen so many people with mobile phones hanging around dressing rooms. Me being me, I didn’t think anything was up at the time…

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Paul Newman: James Taylor has waited a long time to add to the two Test appearances that ended with the jury curiously still out on whether he would ever have what it takes to prosper at the highest level.

On Monday he went some way towards making up for the three-and-a-half lost years since he was quietly discarded from the ultimate game by inching England towards a position from where they could level this most demanding of series.

The second day of the final Test here did little to discourage those who believe Test cricket is increasingly anachronistic in an impatient world where Twenty20 represents the sport’s present and future.

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Good Morning!

I hope all you early risers are feel refreshed and ready for the day. Let's hope the same can be said of England's batsmen, too, as they seek to build a match-winning lead over Pakistan.

They will resume in Sharjah in about 20 minutes time on 222-4, just 12 runs behind Pakistan's first innings total.

With batsmen James Taylor (74*) and Jonny Bairstow (37*) looking in good nick, England will be optimistic of setting a good lead by batting for the best part of this third day.

Welcome along - hope you enjoy the day's coverage