England crush Pakistan resolve as third Test dominance continues

Double centurion Zak Crawley and Jos Buttler put on a record partnership before late wickets for James Anderson leaves the tourists hanging on in the series

Ageas Bowl (second day of five): England 583-8d, Pakistan 24-3

Scorecard

England have a vice-like grip on the third Test against Pakistan after Zak Crawley and Jos Buttler compiled a record-partnership before late wickets for James Anderson underlined a perfect second day at The Ageas Bowl.

Joe Root's side lead 1-0 in the series and while victory is far from secure they have all-but snuffed out any hope of the tourists' prevailing on the south coast.

Crawley (267) continued on his merry way and went to his double century, becoming the third-youngest Englishman to reach the landmark after Len Hutton and David Gower.

Buttler (152) also cashed in, securing his highest Test score and a second hundred in this form of the game with an innings which will silence many of the doubters.

The pair put on 359 during their partnership, the highest fifth-wicket stand in England's Test history and the fifth-biggest for any nation.

Pakistan toiled in the field for long periods without reward and then suffered the ignominy of being sent-in late into the evening.

Naturally, their opening batsmen were easy pickings and Anderson dismissed them both. First, Shan Masood (4) was trapped lbw before Abid Ali (1) edged to Dom Sibley in the slip cordon.

Babar Azam (4) then followed from another Anderson delivery which nipped back sharply.

Captain Azhar Ali was left not out at the close but he will need to be at his herculean best to prevent his team from avoiding the follow-on, not least from denying England securing a 2-0 series win.

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