England set record total to draw series as Pakistan dominate in Sharjah

Pakistan and England's three-match Test series faces a fascinating conclusion after the tourists were set a record 284 to leave the United Arab Emirates with a credible draw. Shoaib Malik took the wickets of Moeen Ali (22) and Ian Bell (0) to puts the hosts in control, after a combination of Mohammad Hafeez's (151) ninth Test match century and lacklustre England fielding helped Pakistan set their opponents a daunting fourth innings total to claim victory.

Hafeez helped Pakistan extend their lead with a well-paced score, while contributions from Asad Shafiq (46), Misbah-ul-Haq (38) and Sarfraz Ahmed (36) frustrated a wasteful England – whose spin trio were again ineffectual – and left them requiring their highest ever total to win a match in Asia. Stuart Broad and James Anderson took five wickets between them as Adil Rashid, Ali and Samit Patel finish with combined figures of 3 for 248.

England began their chase with renewed impetuous having seen their advantage washed away, but they were soon left struggling to save the game, not to mention win it. Ali was trapped lbw by the Malik before the spinner struck again in his next over with a beauty to bowl Bell for a duck. The Pakistan all-rounder will likely play a pivotal role on the final day of his Test career alongside Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar, who used up both of his side's reviews in the evening session.

Captain Alastair Cook (17 not out) and Joe Root (6 not out) hold the key to England completing an unlikely win after guiding the visitors to 46 for 2 at the close, still 238 runs adrift of victory, particularly with Ben Stokes's restrictive shoulder injury effectively leaving them a man short in the batting order. The manner of the closing stages, which saw 12 runs come from the last 11 overs, following the dismissals of Ali and Bell however means the innings may quickly become a rear-guard to restrict the damage rather than a chase to square the series.