England vs Pakistan, 3rd Investec Test at Birmingham, Aug 03 2016 - Ball by Ball Commentary

5.25 pm After a nervous hour when Pakistan's tail frustrated them, after giving up a lead of over 100 runs in the first innings, England have come back to win by 141 runs in front of a wild crowd at Edgbaston. The players hug each other, they raise their hands to the crowd and then shake them with the opposition. Fine day of Test cricket, fine Test match all around.

Rahat Ali and Sohail Khan batted bravely for Pakistan when it would have been easy to give up the ghost. That only two of their specialist batsmen faced more balls than the Nos 10 and 11 tells you how the innings turned out. Reverse swing from the quicks and a fine spell from Moeen Ali in the second session robbed them. They had won more sessions in this Test, but England took the final session of the fourth day and the second session on this day with such authority that they have surged to a 2-1 lead with one more to play at the Oval

Ayush: "What's with teams gaining ground against England and then completely losing the plot? India did it, Australia did it, Pakistan are following suit. England seem to be really good at winning crucial battles in long Test series!"

Amaan: "Moeen Ali has been the star of the Show , the player who place in the side was in jeopardy"

Tom Williams: "So -- who does Stokes replace? Finn? Woakes? Vince??"

Presentations coming up. Misbah-ul-Haq "Overall it was going well until the third day when the game changed. We lost a couple of wickets, I was a bit unlucky, and Younis down the leg side, then the way the England openers played we didn't bowl very well and that hurt us. Full credit to England today, they really bowled well in that session. It changed the whole game. We have to send someone to England to learn how they reverse swing the ball [said with a smile]. Azhar's wicket was a confidence-boosted, if you are two down with a set batsman it could be mentally tough for them. They kept coming hard at us. We were really competitive, but a couple of bad sessions. Yesterday, the way Bairstow and Moeen played but us under pressure. Not having an allrounder has been a problem for a long time. It's way we've got. We've performed well with these bowlers. We will look at the next game to see how we can get the balance of the team right. Our bowlers need to score some runs - after Sohail and Rahat played like that maybe we can play another bowler. Sami and Azhar played really well, it was tough. Impressed with Sami's temperament, his discipline. It's good news for Pakistan."

Alastair Cook "It's right up there. We were behind, hanging in there, for most of the game. We fought really. At the end of day two it was look a bit ropey. We batted really well in the third innings. I thought we'd get a couple more chances [against Sohail and Rahat] but it was getting a bit tight. It just reversed enough. Once bowlers get that with the skills they have it's very hard. After lunch, the way Moeen bowled, he tested their technique and bowled fantastically well after being under pressure. We are lucky that a couple of our bowlers bat. The guys can run in for five-six overs spells. I thought the way we bowled on a flat wicket on day two we kept ourselves in the game. We kept hammering away, then to wipe out the deficit was massive for us. Pakistan bowled really well day four, but we earned the right. We've managed to combat Yasir, nice to see him get two or three wickets rather than 11."

Man of the match is Moeen Ali "This could have done to a number of guys. I just tried to play the situation, didn't think about it too much. I feel like I prepared well before the game. Pakistan bowled really well yesterday, then it just kind of happened that I played so freely. I was embarrassed after Lord's so happy with the way I'm playing. The breeze was very nice today, to get that wicket was nice. I'm lucky I have four brilliant seamers with me."

Well, what a Test match. England lead 2-1 going to the final game at The Oval. They can't lose the series, but Pakistan can level things up. We'll be back to bring you all the action from Thursday but, for now, from Andrew McGlashan, Andrew Miller and Alagappan Muthu it's goodbye and thanks for joining us.

Moeen continues.

Ghulam Murtaza: "If only the middle order had shown some resistance...Sigh!"

Three slips, gully, leg gully and short leg watching on. No long stop now

Cook runs up to his bowler from the slips for a little chat

simon: "do not say I did not tell you! Shantyiesc! "

Long stop remains for Finn

And that brings drinks onto the field. Pakistan's final two are doing quite a job here. Final hour on the final day with Rahat and Sohail batting with great determination. They've withstood the short ball, and the temptation to hit spin in the air. Back we go!

Slip, gully, short leg, leg gully... Joe Root is right in the face of the batsman

FAHAD: "Less than 100 deliveries left ! Cmon guys ! You can do it! "

They have a man straight behind the wicketkeeper for the top-edged hook! Moeen Ali!