England fightback leaves Test nicely poised

England are clinging on in the first Test against Pakistan after a Ben Stokes-led fightback on a fluctuating third day at Emirates Old Trafford. The home side took four wickets for 27 runs, including two for Stokes, in the fading light to leave Pakistan 137-8, leading by 244.

Even now that represents a formidable target for England to chase on a surface spitting and biting for the spin bowlers.

History is not on their side, either. Only once before have more runs been chased in the fourth innings to win a Test on this ground.

Earlier, England, who were 92-4 overnight, salvaged something from their first innings by reaching 219.

Ollie Pope moved on to 62 and Jos Buttler came through a forensic examination from Mohammad Abbas to edge his way to 38. Buttler was the first in a slump of three wickets for 11 runs, an overall final collapse of 5-60.

All of those wickets fell to leg-spin, Yasir Shah ending with 4-66 and Shadab Khan picking up 2-13. (BBC Sport)