Lunch Pakistan 366 and 43 for 3 (Ghulam 5*) lead England 291 (Duckett 114, Sajid 7-111) for 118 runs

The state of the surface in Multan can be summed up by Ben Stokes’ approach after his side was bowled out within the first hour on day three. Jack Leach and Bashir opened the bowling and Joe Root also got a few overs while Pakistan briefly had two left-handed batters in the middle.

Bashir hasn’t had much success on tour so far, but has shown signs that he could be up to the challenge. His third over brought the breakthrough, with Abdullah Shafique adjudged to have taken a catch behind the leg side – although the third umpire, Sharfuddoula, took some long deliberation after England went to DRS.

Shafique’s dismissal ended Pakistan’s opening stand at 9 – the ninth time in ten innings that he and Saim Ayub failed to reach double figures together.

Shan Masood didn’t last long, although he tried to transfer the attack to Bashir, and was denied by a player who ripped off a length to hit the splice and sharply catch Ollie Pope, who was just under the helmet at second slip was. The England spinner had plenty of twists and bounces and with the last shot before half-time, Bashir edged out Ayub, who leaned forward to give Pope an easier chance.

It was anything but the first Test at this ground when just 13 wickets fell in the first three days. After seven training sessions on the converted pitch, the number was already 23.

Sajid, whose four wickets during the evening session on the second day had knocked England off course, took three of the last four, with only a last-wicket stand of 29 – the fourth-highest in an innings – threatening to limit Pakistan’s lead. Noman Ali was the other bowler to make his contribution, taking his 50th Test wicket as England’s last recognized batsman, Jamie Smith, tried to bat off the tail.

It didn’t take long for Sajid to start causing a stir in England’s lower leagues. Brydon Carse tried to sweep and drive with little success, and after seeing an inside edge fall in front of short leg, he tried to fly out of the air – only to hit Sajid in the long-on’s throat. Carse’s Durham teammate Matthew Potts fell in the offspinner’s next over and became tangled as he went over his stumps to be bowled through his legs.

With Leach for company, Smith decided it was time to switch gears; However, their partnership only lasted eight balls as Smith was safely kept at distance and tried to bowl Noman out of the ground.