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104th over: Pakistan 373-3 (Babar 84, Shakeel 19) This point looks even worse to me as Jacks goes on and induces a fake strike! He tricks Shakeel, who beats a sweep but gets away with it as the ball goes away to the square-leg man’s left.
103rd over: Pakistan 371-3 (Babar 84, Shakeel 17) Root continues and, just to disprove my point, Babar Azam steps in. He takes a shot for four, and then another, less unorthodox one, hits the bowler as a Federer forehand.
Updated at 09.04 GMT
102nd over: Pakistan 363-3 (Babar 76, Shakeel 17) It’s still Will Jacks, and while this is a maiden for Shakeel, I’m not quite sure why. Where there’s a will, there’s no way. He’s done well, but he’s a part-time player, and this team already has one. If England had known what plan this pitch was going to be, they would surely have picked Rehan Ahmed, who is a specialist, and a leg player, and could be the future of English slow bowling.
Updated at 09.01 GMT
101st over: Pakistan 363-3 (Babar 76, Shakeel 17) Jack Leach is out, and who can blame him, so Joe Root comes in to bowl it out at both ends. Probably the least lethal form of bowling ever seen in Pakistan. Still, this is a virgin, which is kind of a win. And that’s drinks, with Pakistan cruising again after their attempted collapse before lunch. They have now batted for the same number of overs as England, lost seven fewer wickets and made 294 fewer runs. They are playing Bab-ball.
100th: Pakistan 363-3 (Babar 76, Shakeel 17) Good morning everyone, thanks Taha and congratulations on an assured debut. I’m surprised, surprised that no one at The Guardian got up at 4am to present him with his test cap. In the middle, Jacks continues and the batsmen help themselves to a few more bites from the buffet. We’re halfway through this test – it better be a two-part game.
Updated at 08.52 GMT
99th over: Pakistan 358-3 (Babar 72, Shakeel 16) That’s what I leave, here’s Tim de Lisle to keep you company for the rest of the day.
98th over: Pakistan 353-3 (Babar 68, Shakeel 15) Another boundary for Babar against the Jacks; keeps getting into the off-spinner.
97th over: Pakistan 348-3 (Babar 63, Shakeel 15) These two, by the way, have made 58, all with little trouble.
96th over: Pakistan 346-3 (Shakeel 14, Babar 62) Another short from Jacks and Babar bowls another run for four. He is on course for his eighth test hundred; I can’t see it not happening.
95th over: Pakistan 340-3 (Babar 56, Shakeel 14) A single for Shakeel, one for Babar. These two are getting on quite comfortably.
94th over: Pakistan 338-3 (Shakeel 13, Babar 55) Facing the Jacks, Shakeel swapped his helmet for that lovely green Pakistan cap. Great wardrobe.
93rd over: Pakistan 337-3 (Shakeel 12, Babar 55) Shakeel moves into double figures with a superb sweep for four, takes his front foot well outside off before making perfect contact.
92nd over: Pakistan 332-3 (Shakeel 7, Babar 55) Jacks gets his first wicket with the left-hander, which is a match-best for him. Only one
Fifty for Babar Azam!
91st over: Pakistan 331-3 (Shakeel 6, Babar 55) A superb shot from Babar to reach his half-century – he goes down the track to Jack Leach and collects a six over long on. And then follows up with a backstroke to get past midpoint for four more. Simply charming.
90th over: Pakistan 319-3 (Babar 43, Shakeel 6) Jacks is back to playing his precious stuff. But it’s too short with his third ball, which Babar takes easily for four.
89th over: Pakistan 312-3 (Babar 36, Shakeel 6) Babar and Shakeel trade singles before the latter ends the over with a loose drive that doesn’t get a ball.
88th over: Pakistan 307-3 (Babar 34, Shakeel 3)
“I see what’s going on,” writes Kim Thonger. “It’s a recreation of Old Trafford 1956. Jack Leach plays the role of Jim Laker and will finish with 19 goals in the game. Jacks represents Tony Lock, who got the other one.”
Two down, just 17 more to go for Jack.
87th over: Pakistan 306-3 (Babar 33, Shakeel 3) Shakeel punches for a single before Robinson, almost out of nowhere, unleashes a jaffa that dances past Babar’s outside edge. Really though, this new ball isn’t doing anything for the quicks.
86th over: Pakistan 304-3 (Shakeel 2, Babar 32) A sweet cover from Anderson gets Shakeel another single.
85th over: Pakistan 302-3 (Babar 31, Shakeel 1) A first try for Saud Shakeel as he nails Robinson on the offside for a single.
84th over: Pakistan 300-3 (Shakeel 0, Babar 30) Babar latches onto the leg side for a couple to take Pakistan to 300. Still, they’re not even halfway there yet.
Then Jimmy Anderson is letting loose. Let’s get back on.
Michael writes: “I just caught up on game days and I love the poetic justice of telling you that no one can get here and then a fallen port next to it. You should try using the curse powers of your commenters more often!
Head to 65 to see my magical powers in action.
“Hello Taha.” Hi Peter Salmon.
“Congratulations on your debut! How were the nerves of the night? Did Rob Smyth present you with your cap?
Really: a pretty rough dream. It was the double whammy of trying to force myself to sleep early for a 4am start while also being afraid of missing my alarm. I’ll need a nap after this is over.
Still waiting for a cap and a speech as good as this:
Lunch – Pakistan 291-3
Leach concedes a boundary to Babar in the final over before the break, but this was very much England’s session. They have picked up three wickets in the flattest of tosses, with the first two, who put on 225 for the first wicket, both gone. With Saud Shakeel out there and still waiting for his first runs in Test cricket, England will be pleased with where they are.
82nd over: Pakistan 291-3 (Babar 21, Shakeel 0) Root takes the new ball from the other end, giving away a single from the set.
81st over: Pakistan 290-3 (Babar 20, Shakeel 0) Saud Shakeel is on debut to block the final ball of Leach’s over.
WICKET! Azhar lbw Leach 27 (Pakistan 290-3)
Despite some decent signs of reverse swing for Anderson, England have taken the new ball at the first opportunity – it’s Jack Leach who has it. And he strikes with his fifth ball! The ball slides to catch Azhar, and the finger finally rises. Pakistan review but it’s three reds. This call makes the England session, imo.
80th over: Pakistan 287-2 (Babar 18, Azhar 26) Anderson continues with the reverse ball, and Azhar takes four more with a soft touch behind point.
79th over: Pakistan 283-2 (Azhar 22, Babar 18) Outside off Robinson, and Babar removes him for four. Pope is up to the stumps and can’t keep a delivery down the leg side from escaping for four byes.
78th over: Pakistan 272-2 (Azhar 21, Babar 12) Hi Jimmy. England’s best is in the attack for the first time today but Azhar shows him little respect – the second ball of the over is full and the batsman goes through the covers for four. Moments later there’s a sharp bounce and…oooh a chance off the final ball: Azhar’s inside edge flies, and Zak Crawley can’t hold it with one hand on leg. He would have been a mundane.
77th over: Pakistan 267-2 (Azhar 16, Babar 12) Robinson is too outside off and Azhar drives the ball to the boundary for four. The quick sends a couple of bounces in response.
76th over: Pakistan 259-2 (Azhar 9, Babar 12) Jacks really likes to give the ball decent time, with decent spin too. Azhar sees things lovely and outrageous and steps forward for a drive to bring the only run of the over.
75th over: Pakistan 258-2 (Azhar 8, Babar 12) Robinson continues and Babar takes a couple.