Wahab inspires Pakistan towards famous win

Tea Pakistan 542 (Younis 218, Shafiq 109) and 16 for 0 (Azhar 9*, Aslam 7*) need another 24 runs to beat England 328 and 253 (Bairstow 81, Yasir 5-71) Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

A typically erratic burst of brilliance from Wahab Riaz cracked England’s resistance on the fourth afternoon at the Kia Oval, as Pakistan swarmed towards a famous series-levelling victory in the fourth and final Test against England.

Set 40 for victory, largely thanks to England’s tenth-wicket pair of Steven Finn and James Anderson, who thumped 32 runs in seven overs to delay the inevitable, Pakistan had recouped 16 of those in their own seven-over spell before tea, ensuring that the finale of a fascinating Test would be a formality.

England had resumed the contest with four wickets already squandered, and a stiff deficit of 126 runs still to be overcome, but they summoned the last vestiges of their intent and determination, largely thanks to Jonny Bairstow’s 81 from 127 balls, to stave off an innings defeat and extend the contest into the day’s final session.

However, after Pakistan had chiselled out two vital wickets in a nervy morning’s work, the return of Wahab’s fierce pace in the first hour after lunch was the moment at which all hope for England was blown away.

Wahab’s impact in his first spell had been tempered by the attentions of umpire Bruce Oxenford, who handed him his second warning for following through on the pitch. Given how futile his efforts have been to combat a series-long no-ball problem, Wahab’s expulsion from the attack was only ever a matter of time. And sure enough, his day’s work was brought to a premature end two balls into his 12th over when Oxenford handed him his third and final strike.

By then, however, the only two balls of his spell that really mattered had already come and gone. Charging in for his first over of the afternoon session with the sort of startling impact that only bowlers of genuine pace can create, Wahab got rid of each of England’s last two recognised batsmen, Bairstow and Chris Woakes, in consecutive deliveries to reduce England to 209 for 8, still five runs shy of making Pakistan bat again.

First to fall was Woakes for 4, sold a dummy at the non-striker’s end as Bairstow hopped …

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