Misbah wicket takes England closer

Tea Pakistan 198 and 161 for 5 (Shafiq 35*, Sarfraz 5*) need 404 more runs to beat England 589 for 8 dec and 173 for 1 dec (Cook 76*, Root 71*)Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

England continued to nibble away at Pakistan’s second innings on the fourth afternoon at Old Trafford as they pressed expectantly for a win that would tie the series at 1-1 with two to play. By tea, Pakistan were five down, encouraged only by reports of a few showers in Liverpool.

The greatest cloud on England’s horizon, though, was a calf injury suffered by Ben Stokes. Only just back from a knee operation, Stokes broke down in the middle of his sixth over and will play no further part in the match; he might play no further part in the summer. A strong, raw-boned man, his injuries are piling up with disturbing regularity.

When Misbah-ul-Haq became Pakistan’s fifth wicket to fall 15 minutes before tea – out for 35 as he jabbed a wide yorker from Chris Woakes on to his stumps – England’s prospects of a four-day win substantially increased, the fact they were a bowler short unlikely to overly affect them. Asad Shafiq provided neat resistance up the interval.

Misbah is playing his first Test series in England at the age of 42, a time when it should be almost impossible to adapt to the intricacies of batting in such alien conditions, but since the beginning of the series, his good sense – both in his batting and as a figurehead for his team – has been commendable. He will face a huge task to rally Pakistan now, though, after what looks certain to be a thumping defeat.

He bore his responsibilities gravely, resisting the pace bowlers and sweeping Moeen Ali with confidence. Moeen evinces little threat but somehow the wickets tot up. He took the …

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