Southampton: England's premier pacer James Anderson is just one wicket away from becoming country's first bowler to take 600 wickets in Test cricket. The right-hand pacer has put The Three Lions on top in the third and final Test of the series against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl on Monday. Pakistan reached 100/2 following on at stumps.
Anderson trapped Abid Ali (42) in front to snare his 599th wicket before bad light forced skipper Joe Root to resort to spin, as off-spinner Dom Bess and the England captain bowled the last few overs before play was abandoned.
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🏃♂️ 🏃♂️ #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/iG5d55ICiF
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">🏃♂️ 🏃♂️ #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/iG5d55ICiF
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020🏃♂️ 🏃♂️ #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/iG5d55ICiF
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020
Only spin legends Muttiah Muralitharan (800) of Sri Lanka, Australia's Shane Warne (708) and India's Anil Kumble (619) have more wickets than Anderson in the game's longest format.
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Jimmy Anderson ➡️ Inspiration
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
England coach Chris Silverwood had high praise for Anderson as he closes in on his 600th Test wicket.#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/xHITBL2srf
">Jimmy Anderson ➡️ Inspiration
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020
England coach Chris Silverwood had high praise for Anderson as he closes in on his 600th Test wicket.#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/xHITBL2srfJimmy Anderson ➡️ Inspiration
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020
England coach Chris Silverwood had high praise for Anderson as he closes in on his 600th Test wicket.#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/xHITBL2srf
England asked Pakistan to follow on after the tourists managed 273 in reply to hosts' mammoth 583/8d in the first essay, riding on a maiden double century by Zak Crawley and a brilliant hundred by Jos Buttler.
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Synchronised appealing 🙌 🙌 🙌 #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/c5ZRxxSH3o
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Synchronised appealing 🙌 🙌 🙌 #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/c5ZRxxSH3o
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020Synchronised appealing 🙌 🙌 🙌 #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/c5ZRxxSH3o
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020
At the close of play on Day 4, skipper Azhar Ali, who scored a gritty 141 in the first innings, and Babar Azam were at the crease on 29 and 4, respectively.
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So close to the fifty partnership!#ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/T4pW9dbv2v
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">So close to the fifty partnership!#ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/T4pW9dbv2v
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020So close to the fifty partnership!#ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/T4pW9dbv2v
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020
Openers Abid Ali and Shan Masood shared a 49-run stand before Masood was trapped in front by Stuart Broad. Anderson then sent Ali back as Pakistan remained 210 runs in arrears.
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Play is set to resume in 30 minutes 🙌 #ENGvPAK SCORECARD ▶️ https://t.co/ZFClksEjKM pic.twitter.com/4h1L1FOhYF
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Play is set to resume in 30 minutes 🙌 #ENGvPAK SCORECARD ▶️ https://t.co/ZFClksEjKM pic.twitter.com/4h1L1FOhYF
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020Play is set to resume in 30 minutes 🙌 #ENGvPAK SCORECARD ▶️ https://t.co/ZFClksEjKM pic.twitter.com/4h1L1FOhYF
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020
Anderson, who returned figures of 5/56 in the first innings, and could have had at least three more wickets had catches not been dropped off his bowling on Day 3, saw wicketkeeper Jos Buttler drop yet another catch off his bowling in the first session on Monday.
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There's been plenty of this from Stuart Broad 💥 #ENGvPAK SCORECARD ▶️ https://t.co/ZFClksEjKM pic.twitter.com/OmjgYwK8XT
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">There's been plenty of this from Stuart Broad 💥 #ENGvPAK SCORECARD ▶️ https://t.co/ZFClksEjKM pic.twitter.com/OmjgYwK8XT
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020There's been plenty of this from Stuart Broad 💥 #ENGvPAK SCORECARD ▶️ https://t.co/ZFClksEjKM pic.twitter.com/OmjgYwK8XT
— ICC (@ICC) August 24, 2020
Brief scores: England 583/8d vs Pakistan 273 & 100/2 (Azhar Ali 29 batting, Babar Azam 4 batting; James Anderson 1/18, Stuart Broad 1/23)