BIRMINGHAM\/United Kingdom: Joe Root praised a “brilliant” batting display by Jonny Bairstow as England took charge of the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston on Saturday.
\nThe two Yorkshiremen made contrasting fifties in an England second-innings total of 414 for five come stumps on the fourth day. Bairstow was 82 not out and Moeen Ali 60 not out, with England leading by 311 runs.
\nThe highest fourth-innings score to win a Test at Edgbaston is South Africa s 283 for five in 2008.
\nEngland captain Alastair Cook refused to enforce the follow-on despite a first-innings lead of 391 in the second Test at Old Trafford.
\nHe was eventually vindicated by a 330-run win as England drew level at 1-1 after Pakistan s 75-run victory in the series opener at Lord s.
\nWhether Cook will declare on England s overnight score, with the fourth and final Test of the series at The Oval starting on Thursday, remains to be seen.
\nBut that England are in a position to press for a 2-1 lead at all owed much to Bairstow s latest counter-attacking knock since his return to Test duty at Edgbaston during last year s Ashes triumph.
\nEngland started Saturday on 120 for none but soon lost openers Cook (66) and Alex Hales (54).
\nRoot (62) and James Vince (42) kept Pakistan at bay with a stand of 95 before Bairstow and Ali cashed in against a tiring four-man attack.
\n“The way we applied ourselves throughout this whole innings has been a magnificent effort,” said Root.
\n“It started off last night really, with the way Halesy and Cooky took the initiative and built that platform.
\n“It would have been very easy, if we d lost a couple of wickets then, to feel under pressure going into today.
\n“We had to absorb a little bit of pressure this morning, me and Vincey — to get through that was really important…With any four-man attack, that s what you look to do — take it deep.”
\n“Then the way Jonny and Moeen played tonight was fantastic.”
\nAs for Bairstow s recent England form, Root said: “I think the way he has applied himself to Test cricket over the last 18 months has been great.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BIRMINGHAM\/United Kingdom: Joe Root praised a “brilliant” batting display by Jonny Bairstow as England took charge of the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston on Saturday. The two Yorkshiremen made contrasting fifties in an England second-innings total of 414 for five come stumps on the fourth day. Bairstow was 82 not out and Moeen Ali […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n