Pak fight back after Cook ton

Aug 21, 2010 |

London, Aug. 20: Alastair Cook ended the first real slump of his international career with an innings of 110 as England fought back in the third Test against Pakistan at The Oval here on Friday. But the match was still in the balance at tea on the third day.

England, looking to go 3-0 up in this four-match series, were 194/3 in their second innings, a lead of 119, with Pakistan still to bat again. Jonathan Trott was batting on 36 and fellow South Africa-born batsman Kevin Pietersen unbeaten on 23.

Left-handed opener Cook had managed just 106 runs in his eight previous Test innings, at home to Bangladesh and Pakistan.

But the selectors’ decision to keep faith with him ahead of England’s Ashes defence in Australia later this year was rewarded with the 25-year-old Essex batsman’s 13th hundred in 59 Tests and third in seven against Pakistan.

Cook dominated a third-wicket partnership of 116, contributing 87 runs to Trott’s 25. Nought not out overnight, Cook started scratchily on Friday in overcast conditions that threatened to provide plenty of assistance for Pakistan’s swing bowlers and was fortunate when a cut off Mohammad Asif flew between the slips.

Brief cores (at tea): England 233 & 194/3 (Cook 110, Trott batting 36, Pietersen batting 23; Ajmal 1/55, Riaz 1/40) vs Pakistan 308.

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