Live Cricket Score of England vs Pakistan, 3rd Test, Day 4 at Birmingham

Hello and welcome to Day 4 of a tantalizingly-poised Test match in Birmingham, where Alastair Cook and Alex Hales have kept Pakistan at bay with a superb opening stand of 120 runs. A total of 16 boundaries have been scored between the two as both reached fifties before stumps on Friday. Sohail Khan, who returned to Test cricket with a superb fifer, was undone by fatigue and bowled just eight fruitless overs for 40 runs.

Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah tested the batsman constantly but couldn't find a breakthrough in their identical spells of none for 28 in 11 overs each as Cook and Hales came away unscathed, helped their side to a 17-run lead that they will hope to build on. Mickey Arthur, the Pakistan coach, expects Sohail to step up and try to replicate his first-innings efforts.

An excellent effort by the two batsmen indeed, but Saturday morning presents a brand new challenge. The England captain and his opening partner need to carry on to keep widening the distance between Pakistan and a possible series lead. Can Amir & Co. make a rejuvenated comeback in the morning session? Or will Cook steer his side to safety? Intriguing day's play coming up.

As we wait for the day to begin, here's how Day 3 unfolded...

Amir may not have had the best of first overs but Sohail Khan certainly gives Pakistan hope in his second over. It's an early strike on Day 4 and it's that of the skipper, Alastair Cook. Not the best of deliveries but a superb catch at point by Yasir. Full and outside off, teases Cook into a drive but the England captain is not fully committed to the drive. Ball balloons off the outside part of the bat and Yasir completes a sharp take.