'Match is evenly poised now' - Shehzad

Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad has said that the ongoing Test would be "evenly poised" on the fourth day after a "tremendous effort" from his bowlers, and batsmen on the third day. Pakistan bounced back strongly and turned the tables once again to get into a position from where their chances of losing have decreased. They may still find it very tough to win, but will take a draw as a virtual win from here.

"The way this Test match had started it wasn't pleasing for us," Shehzad said, after contributing with a fifty in the second innings. "But it was a tremendous bowling effort from our spinners and Junaid Khan as Wahab Riaz is out [due to injury].  The way we worked hard and had to push hard to get things in control it was really some effort. In batting, the way Azhar Ali batted it's a great team effort at the end.

"This Test match is evenly-poised now and tomorrow the morning session will be important for both teams. I am sure we will discuss it tonight and come up with a plan and those who are playing know exactly how important this will be for us. It's not like we can't lose from here, it's Test cricket anything can happen in any session but we really have to come hard to further strengthen our position and the first session on day four will decide where we stand."

Pakistan had a wobbly start in their second innings, losing opener Mohammad Hafeez in the fourth over, leaving Shehzad and No. 3 Azhar Ali to do the repair work. Hafeez, since his double-hundred in Bangladesh in Khulna, has scored 8, 0, 2, 46*, 42 and 8.

Both Shehzad and Azhar shared a 120-run stand to stabilise the innings, though Shehzad lost his way immediately after tea. Both struck fifties and Pakistan were trailing by only six runs at the end of the third day when bad light stopped play an hour into the final session. "Whenever there are early wickets there are jolts but that is what Test cricket is all about as it never goes straight," Shehzad said.

"It always tests your patience and tests everything. But at the same time you have to be focused and can't overthink about those who got out, but need to think about what is coming next. So Azhar and me decided to concentrate on what we had in our hands and what the situation demanded. We tried to bat session by session, which actually helped us rebuild, so now we are in good position."

Shehzad explained the P Sara Oval pitch had changed drastically since the first day, something that was very much expected. "The way pitch started from day one it was very much bouncy, but it's day three and it's quite slow, especially after the tea session," he said. "It's changing the behaviour as every day passes but this is what the beauty of Test cricket is and you have to adapt yourself quickly, maybe over by over. You need to know and get yourself ready for what is coming next to you and change your tactics instantly when required."

Shehzad took 215 minutes and 154 balls to score his 69 runs. He was extra careful when he approached his fifty, particularly watchful at 48 as he took 15 balls to score a single to make it 49. He crossed 50 by mistiming a pull shot with a top-edge over mid-on for three. He added another 17 runs in 39 balls before another mistimed pull, that went behind for a simple catch to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal. "I should accept that I played a bad shot and I shouldn't have gone for that as there was a lot left in the game. I knew that job was not done but it happens…you just lose [concentration] somewhere and that costs you."