Cricket: Azhar defies England before Woakes strikes

Azhar Ali's century helped keep England at bay before he was out to the final ball of the second day of the third Test at Edgbaston today.
Azhar's more than six-hour 139, his 10th Test century but first outside Asia, ended when all-rounder Chris Woakes, on his Warwickshire home ground, struck with the new ball to have him edging to England captain Alastair Cook at first slip.
That left Pakistan 257 for three at stumps, 40 runs behind England's first innings 297.
Number three Azhar had come in just five balls into today's play after Mohammad Hafeez had fallen for a duck to leave Pakistan none for one.

Azhar punished England for dropping him twice with his 10th century in 48 Tests.
Together with recalled opener Sami Aslam, who made 82, he put on 181 for the second wicket.

Aslam, a 20-year-old left-handed opener, was in sight of a well-deserved maiden Test hundred when he was run out responding to Azhar's poor call.
Younis Khan was 21 not out, having helped Azhar add 76 for the third wicket.
England's tough day in the field was made worse when James Anderson was twice warned officially in one over by Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford for running on the pitch.
One more such warning and Anderson, England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker, would be barred from bowling again in the innings.

Hafeez fell for a duck after lazily guiding a short Anderson delivery to Gary Ballance at point.
Pakistan had seen Sohail Khan, one of their two changes from the side beaten by 330 runs in the second Test at Old Trafford as England levelled the four-match series at 1-1, take a Test-best five for 96 yesterday.
Now all eyes were on Aslam, also playing just his third Test, after he had replaced struggling fellow left-handed opener Shan Masood.
Aslam's only prior innings this tour was his 17 against Worcestershire during last week's two-day warm-up match.
Yet the well-organised opener played with a composure belying his years.

Azhar showed his class by turning Anderson off his legs for four.
Pakistan were still on their lunch score of 72 for one, with Azhar on his interval total of 38 not out, when the right-hander's flashing drive off Anderson was dropped by Joe Root at second slip.
Azhar's cover-driven three off fast bowler Steven Finn saw him to a 129-ball fifty, including six fours.
Azhar's ungainly pulled four off paceman Stuart Broad saw him to his second Test century against England in 209 balls.
In what has become a familiar sight this series, the 31-year-old Azhar celebrated with several press-ups -- a tribute to the Pakistan Army staff who helped the squad get fit during a pre-tour 'boot camp'.

England made a rapid start after Azhar won the toss on a
green-tinged pitch and under overcast, swing-friendly, skies.
Hales struck Amir, recalled in place of the injured Mohammad Irfan, for three successive fours in as many balls.
But Amir, switching to around the wicket, had his revenge two balls later when Hales (23) chipped a deliberately slower delivery to Malik at mid-on.
The lively Hasan then dismissed Joe Root for a mere nine when the batsman inside-edged an attempted drive on to his stumps.
England were 92 for three after Wasim struck third ball when England captain Eoin Morgan (10) tamely chipped a full toss straight back to the left-arm spinner.

Wasim, a rare shining light for Pakistan throughout the series, finished with fine figures of one for 33 in his maximum 10 overs.
In sight of what would have been his fourth ODI century, Roy top-edged a pull off Amir's clever slower-ball bouncer to Hasan at deep square leg.
Roy faced 89 balls, including eight fours and two sixes.
There was no century either for left-handed batsman Stokes, who was out when he flicked Hasan to Umar Gul at short fine-leg.