Cook leads England's fightback at The Oval
Source: Agencies |
August 21, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
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ENGLAND opener Alastair Cook ended a dismal run of form with an aggressive 110 yesterday to push Pakistan on to the back foot on the third day of the third test at The Oval in London.
At tea, England was 194 for three, an overall lead of 119, after it had started the second innings on Thursday evening with a deficit of 75.
Cook, with only 106 runs in eight test innings this season, rode his luck in the opening hour. He edged Mohammad Asif for consecutive fours and slashed Wahab Riaz at catchable height through a vacant fourth slip position.
As the day's play progressed, the left-hander grew in confidence and authority. He took 12 off a wayward over from Riaz and was given plenty of short-pitched bowling to feed his penchant for the hook and cut.
Pakistan looked flat in the field with Asif unable to find the late movement which has made him such a threat throughout the series.
Cook reached his 13th test century when he played the ball back to Asif, who caught the ball on the bounce, then inexplicably hurled it high over wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal's head for four overthrows.
Asif later conceded 15 runs in an over including three boundaries.
When Cook was eventually out, leg-glancing Riaz to Kamran Akmal, he had scored 87 out of a third-wicket partnership of 116 with Jonathan Trott.
At the interval, Trott was on 36 after more than three hours at the crease with Kevin Pietersen on 23.
After England resumed on 6-1, the only wicket to fall in the morning session was nightwatchman James Anderson for 11.
Cook played with aggression and abandoned the anxiety that he brought into the innings after his worst-ever run of form threatened his place, having endured eight innings without reaching 30.
Pakistan, 0-2 down in the four-match series, needs to win here and the final test at Lord's next week to draw the series. England seeks a seventh straight test victory.
One clear error from Cook, when on 23, came when he slashed Riaz at head height between Imran Farhat at first slip and Yasir Hameed at second. Both fielders left the ball for each other.
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