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Summary
England 233 & 6-1 M. Prior 84 not out; Wahab Riaz 5-63 Pakistan 308 (Mohammad Yousuf 56, Azhar Ali 92) Azhar Ali's Test-best 92 put Pakistan in a strong position against England at the close of the second day of the third Test at The Oval here on Thursday.And before stumps there was still time for Pakistan to dismiss England captain Andrew Strauss (four), caught at second slip by Yasir Hameed off left-arm quick Mohammad Aamer.England closed on six for one in their second innings, 69 runs behind, with struggling opener Alastair Cook nought not out and nightwatchman James Anderson unbeaten on two.Ali's innings was the cornerstone of Pakistan's 308, which gave them a first innings lead of 75.Pakistan's poor catching had been a key factor in their falling 2-0 behind in this four-match series.But on Thursday it was England who paid the price for missing a routine chance when Strauss, at first slip, put down Mohammad Asif when the No 11 was on four and Ali on 66.Pakistan were then 278 for nine but, with Ali seizing on anything either over-pitched or short from Stuart Broad, the last-wicket pair added 38 runs.The 25-year-old Ali's second fifty in five matches at this level, after he made 51 in Pakistan's three-wicket win over Australia at Headingley last month, was not a lone hand.Veteran batsman and former captain Mohammad Yousuf marked his return to international cricket with a well-made 56 before he became Graeme Swann's 100th Test wicket, having put on 69 with Ali.Former captain Yousuf was playing his first Test since January following the overturning of an indefinite ban imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board after he led the side on their winless tour of Australia.But shortly before tea he drove too early at a Swann delivery and was caught and bowled to end a 108-ball stay featuring eight boundaries.It meant Swann had taken his 100th wicket in 23 Tests.
