Younis Khan and Yasir Shah leave England in disarray

Pakistan took a major step towards drawing the series with England after leaving the hosts in disarray after day three of the fourth Test at The Oval. Alastair Cook's side trail by 126 runs with just six second innings wickets remaining after Younis Khan's double century secured the tourists a healthy advantage.

The evergreen Younis piled on the misery with a stunning 218 which included four sixes, while cameos from Sarfraz Ahmed (44) and Mohammad Amir (39 not out) secured a lead of 214 after being bowled out for 542. For the second time in as many matches England faced having to overturned a huge first innings defect, but they were unable to repeat the heroics of Edgbaston.

After Cook was dismissed for just seven, it was left to Yasir Shah to dismantle the England top order as Alex Hales [12], James Vince [0] and Joe Root [39] all succumbed to the world's number one wrist spinner. The collapse leaves England's hopes of once again surging to the top of the ICC Test rankings in tatters as they stare down the barrel of a defeat inside four days.

Gary Balance [4] and Jonny Bairstow [14] provided some much-needed resistance to help restrict the damage, but nevertheless Pakistan are in the box seat as they attempt to level a series which continues to violently waver from one direction to the other.