Five-wicket Abbas has Lord's landmark as Pakistan set 389 to win second Test / Photo: © AFP
Five-wicket Abbas has Lord's landmark as Pakistan set 389 to win second Test
Mohammad Abbas finally achieved a coveted place on the Lord's honours boards with a five-wicket haul on Sunday, but Pakistan were still set a daunting 389 to win the second Test against England.
The veteran seamer took 5-57 in 22 overs as England were dismissed for 208 in their second innings on the fourth morning as they looked to go an unassailable 2-0 up in this three-match series.
Pakistan will have to set a record if they are to achieve an improbable win. The highest fourth-innings total to win a Test at Lord's is the West Indies's 344-1 in 1984 that featured an unbeaten double century from Gordon Greenidge.
The omens are not promising. Pakistan were dismissed for 171 and 135 in an innings and 103-run thrashing by England during last week's first Test at Headingley.
They then slumped to 110 all out in their first innings at Lord's, although injured opener Imam-ul-Haq was unable to bat.
Cricketers who take at least five wickets in an innings or 10 in a match or score a century in a Test at Lord's have their achievements recorded on one of the honours boards in the home and away dressing rooms at the 'Home of Cricket'.
Abbas, 36, had come close before with a trio of four-wicket hauls, including a return of 4-73 during England's first-innings 290 in this match.
But having ended a third day cut short by rain and bad light with 3-48, he wasted little time in reaching the landmark after England resumed on 177-7 under sunny skies.
Dan Lawrence was exactly 50 not out to follow his comeback 51 in Leeds.
He had added just four runs to his overnight score when he was bowled by a superb seaming delivery from Abbas.
England's 186-8 became 187-9 when a typically skilful 79 mph (127 kmh) ball darted back into Robinson, with wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan -- stood up to the stumps -- holding a sharp catch off the outside edge, before an elated Abbas was mobbed by his team-mates.
England No 11 Josh Tongue, following his Test-best 30 not out in the first innings, struck two successive boundaries off Mohammad Ali.
But the innings ended in unexpected fashion when Pakistan captain Babar Azam, belying the tourists' reputation as a poor fielding side, ran out the sluggish Tongue by a distance with a direct hit from the covers.
V.Bennett--TNT
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