LONDON, Aug 20 (AP): Alastair Cook probably saved his place in the team by returning to form with an unbeaten half century that helped England to 110-2 for a lead of 35 against Pakistan on day three today of the third test at The Oval.
Cook was 76 not out at lunch from 111 balls with 12 boundaries, while Jonathan Trott was on 15. Their third-wicket partnership was worth 70.
After England resumed on 6-1, the only wicket to fall in the morning session was nightwatchman James Anderson for 11.
Left-handed opener 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, 2-0 down in the four-match series, need to win here and the final test at Lord�s next week to draw the series. England seeks a seventh straight test victory.
Cook, who began the day on 0, passed his previous highest score in the series (17) with a clip off his legs through midwicket from a Mohammad Amir ball heading outside his off stump. He scored his first runs of the morning in similar fashion.
Scorecard
England 1st innings: 233
Pakistan 1st innings: 308
England 2nd innings: Strauss c Hameed b M Amir 4, Cook c Kamran b Riaz 110, Anderson c Kamran b Ajmal 11, Trott not out 26, Pietersen not out 6. Extras: (lb 2, w 1, nb 4) 7. Total: (3 wickets; 55.2 overs) 164. Fall of wickets:1-4, 2-40, 3-156. Bowling: Amir 11-2-41-1, Asif 13-5-32-0, Riaz 8-1-40-1, S Ajmal 20.2-4-40-1, Farhat 3-0-9-0.
