After a washout on Saturday, just 62 balls were possible on Sunday before the rain arrived. It was persistent, rather than heavy, and never quite went away.
The first 32 balls saw Pakistan bat, adding 13 runs before losing their final wicket to be bowled out for 236 – a very serviceable score in tough conditions that might have been useful in this game had the weather allowed them to take less than four days to make it.
Mohammad Rizwan was the last man out for a terrific 72, spooning a leading edge to cover to become Stuart Broad’s 26th victim in seven innings. Rizwan struck a couple of handy boundaries this morning to frustrate England’s bowlers.
The next 30 balls, though, were far more thrilling as England’s top order faced up to some terrific bowling with the clouds lowering by the minute. Rory Burns edged the first ball of the innings short of first slip, and three balls later a thicker edge nestled in the hands of second. It was a beautiful ball from Shaheen Shah Afridi, angling in again then shaping away late. There was not a great deal Burns could have done.
Zak Crawley survived a review for lbw first ball, on account of getting bat on a ball that also appeared destined to miss leg-stump. He and Dom Sibley survived 26 balls between them and will have been grateful for the relief brought when rain and bad light forced them from the field.
By then, they were seven for one, 229 behind, and with every drop of rain the hope of a positive result – and Pakistan’s chance of winning the series – slipped further away.
