A third Test double hundred from Alastair Cook gave England a slender first innings lead over Pakistan at the end of day four.

The marathon effort, which lasted 836 minutes and was the longest Test innings by an Englishman, guided the tourists to 569-8 by the close, a lead of 46.

Beginning the day on 290-3, Cook and Joe Root found runs hard to come by early on as the Pakistan seamers bowled good lines in their search for crucial wickets.

However, both batsmen survived the testing opening hour and it wasn’t long before personal milestones once again became the focus point of the Test.

Cook’s 200 came up with a two off Wahab Riaz before Root, who had continued to score a good pace, went past 50, the pair reeling in Pakistan’s score run-by-run.

With Pakistan’s attack continuing to toil in the Abu Dhabi heat, they would have welcomed Root’s lack of concentration when on 85, the right hander flashing at a wide one and presenting Sarfraz Ahmed with a low catch off Rahat Ali.

It was then the turn of Wahab Riaz to produce an inspired spell, first trapping Jonny Bairstow in front for eight before causing early trouble for Ben Stokes as he showed his class in using reverse swing.

Stokes survived though and smashed a quickfire 57 before becoming the first wicket to fall to spin in the match, bowled by Shoaib Malik. 

Malik then took the prized wicket for the tourists, Cook top edging a sweep to short fine leg on 263, his innings coming to a close after 528 deliveries.

Jos Buttler came and went for 23, the victim of his own attacking instinct to Zulfiqar Babar after hitting the left arm spinner for a six and a four.

Adil Rashid (6*) and Stuart Broad, yet to score, saw England to the close with a lead of 46 and Root hopes to capitalise on the back Cook’s monumental innings.

"Alastair Cook is knackered, as you would expect him to be. He's played out his skin. It takes concentration and skill to bat for that long. We're thrilled for him and it's given us a chance of a result,” he said.

"It will be very hard, but we've given ourselves a chance. If we can get as close to 100 lead as possible, then you just don't know.

"Lots has been said about the pitch, but it can change quickly. Fingers crossed we can put them under pressure.

"I didn't feel in good form. It's not a fluent place to score and I felt scratchy. It was good to contribute and it meant we could get in some sort of a position to win the game.

"As the day went on you saw it turn more and more. Having a wrist-spinner in the side will help. We're still believing we can get a result out of this.

"There shouldn't be too much pressure on Adil, he should be able to go out there and show all his tricks.”

 

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