Azhar Ali shows resolute class but England remain in control after three days

Beginning the day on 24 for 3, the visiting captain gave nothing away in reaching his 17th Test century to give his side a fighting chance of saving the game at the Ageas Bowl

• Scorecard: England v Pakistan

Ageas Bowl (third day of five): England 583-8 v Pakistan 273

Azhar Ali batted through the third day of the final Test to score a magnificent hundred for Pakistan, but England remain in charge with two days left to play after they bowled out the tourists and enforced the follow-on, before bad light ended the evening's play.

Beginning the day on 24 for 3, the visiting captain gave nothing away in reaching his 17th Test century to give his side a fighting chance of saving the game at the Ageas Bowl.

He was well supported by Mohammad Rizwan, who made 53 before falling to the second of three terrific catches from Jos Buttler, after Asad Shafiq had edged James Anderson to slip early on in a morning session that was interrupted twice by rain delays.

At that stage, there seemed to be a real possibility of Anderson taking his 600th Test wicket in Pakistan's first innings.

Dom Bess then took his third wicket of the series with a fine delivery that Fawad Alam could only edge to Buttler, who held onto an excellent catch.

^{Jos Buttler had a fine day behind the stumps}

There followed a brave stand between Azhar and Rizwan; Jofra Archer bowled with real hostility, while England continued to target Azhar’s weakness against the full, straight delivery. He fought his way through to a well deserved hundred, continuing to dig in even after Chris Woakes had Rizwan taken down the legside.

Yasir Shah soon followed after an enterprising 20, edging Stuart Broad to Joe Root at slip. Buttler then took a third exceptional catch, flinging himself away to his left with one hand to give Broad his second.

Anderson, cutting a figure of frustration for the most part, then had his mood further exasperated: Rory Burns, Zak Crawley and Broad all dropped straightforward chances off the Lancashire seamer, before Dom Sibley finally put him out of his misery, handing Anderson a 29th five-wicket haul.

Despite a scruffy end to the day, however, England remain in charge. Whether the weather forecast for the next two days will allow the hosts to press home their advantage, only time will tell.

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