The China Mail - Abbas strikes again but England build huge lead over Pakistan

After the morning session was washed out, veteran seamer Abbas had figures of 3-48 when a fresh downpour forced an early tea on the third day, as England looked to go an unassailable 2-0 up in a three-match series.

That gave Abbas seven wickets for the match following his 4-70 in England's first-innings 290.

But England, with Dan Lawrence 37 not out, reached 162-6 in their second innings -- a commanding advantage of 342 runs.

Pakistan were dismissed for 171 and 135 in an innings and 103-run thumping by England at Headingley last week before collapsing to a woeful 110 all out first time around at Lord's.

They have also never scored more than 234 in the fourth innings of any Test against England in England.

The hosts resumed Saturday on 81-3 in gloomy conditions, barely countered by the floodlights, and on a still green-tinged pitch that also promised to aid Pakistan's pacemen.

Under pressure opener Emilio Gay was 30 not out after a dogged 69-ball display on Friday, when he walked out to bat, averaging just 22.50 from his first eight Test innings.

But the left-hander had added just one run when he was plumb lbw to an Abbas delivery that hardly bounced before hitting him on the back leg.

Abbas might have had another wicket when a charging Lawrence edged a booming drive over the slips.

Harry Brook, seven not out overnight, jumped down the pitch and whipped medium-pacer Khurram Shahzad through wide mid-on for four.

Brook went down on one knee before edging a flamboyant drive off Shahzad that flew in the air through gully for another boundary.

But Brook, following another rain delay, fell for 34 to leave him still searching for his first Test century in over a year.

Brook was undone by an Abbas delivery that nipped off the pitch and bounced to graze the shoulder of the bat, with wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan holding an excellent catch standing up the stumps.

An undaunted Lawrence then carved Mohammad Ali for four and next ball drilled him high over cover for six.

Q.Yam--ThChM