Panesar strikes as England battle (From Haringey Independent)

Panesar strikes as England battle

7:13am Saturday 28th January 2012 in National Sport News © Press Association 2011

England tried to clear a path to series-levelling victory on a misty fourth morning of the second Test against Pakistan at the Zayed Stadium.

Monty Panesar (four for 53) added an important wicket in the first hour when he broke a troublesome stand between Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.

Azhar's 143-ball 50 nonetheless ensured England's last-innings target, to make it 1-1 with one match to play next week, would be no mere formality as the 'hosts' established a 92-run lead - on 162 for five - after an hour's play on Saturday.

Just as Shafiq and Azhar (66no) were threatening a century stand, Panesar got one in the perfect spot to the former - and marginal turn was enough to take the edge for a sharp slip chance, well taken by James Anderson.

Yet with each ball that Panesar and Graeme Swann spun past the bat, it was ever more evident that England would need to bat well again to make more than 150 against Saeed Ajmal and Co.

That prospect remained too, especially after Azhar survived via DRS on 65 after umpire Steve Davis had initially given him out lbw on the front foot to a big Swann off-break which would have turned well past leg-stump - according to computer simulation.