Pakistan v England 
/ Ed Hawkins / 27 January 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Saeed Ajmal might be deadly on a fourth day wicket
"A chase of 175 on a wearing pitch with Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman whirling away will be tricky indeed"
Ed Hawkins says there could be more turns on day four as England look to get back into the series
So England would appear to be in the driving seat after day three of the second Test at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. They are [1.49] for victory with Pakistan [3.75] and the draw a largely irrelevant [14.50].
The tourists, who have battled hard in this Test following their dismal showing in the first game, leaving many to believe it was surely a blip, trail by 55 runs with six wickets to claim.
England should win. Should. It is difficult to definitely say that they will, however, because we must respect the character of this game. It has been a capricious sort. We have been unable to confidently say how proceedings would pan out, in terms of one side dominating, ever since England's implosion from a position of strength on day two.
The key for England will be early wickets. And from that point of view the game has been consistent. In the first innings England rushed through the Pakistan tail after an overnight break as refreshed bowlers restricted Pakistan to only one more run.
A repeat is unlikely, of course, but Andrew Strauss and co will hope to pick up the remaining Pakistan batsmen for no more than 100 runs. Any more and England will be nervous. A chase of 175 on a wearing pitch with Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman whirling away will be tricky indeed.
In such a sentence we have a strategy for the denouement. There is the potential for classic back-and-lay scenarios in a tight chase, particularly as we already know that once partnerships - which are far from impossible - are broken there is an opportunity for another quick wicket. One brings two has been this Test's mantra.
There is work to be done until then, of course. And one would hope that a thrilling Test does not fizzle out with Pakistan falling by the wayside tomorrow. Much depends on Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali. Adnan Akmal aside, there is precious little batting to come.
Looking ahead to a top England runscorer, it is difficult to get away from Jonathan Trott. A battle will be right up his street and we will forgive him his lazy shot in the first dig. Men to avoid are Strauss, Eoin Morgan and Kevin Pietersen.
Each appear to be in dire form. There is little one may be able to do betting-wise with the latter two but Strauss could be worth a lay for top bat, especially if England are chasing a small target.
No-one managed to correctly predict the number of runs scored on day three in the Michael Vaughan Run Chase game so we have a rollover on day three, with £1,500 now up for grabs.
Click here to play ahead of tomorrow's action.
The last hour and a half of day two really put the brakes on England's progress and facing Saeed Ajmal isn't going to get any easier. Batting last on this pitch may be like playing on a minefield and that...
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Ed Hawkins says England are close to rediscovering their identity after taking charge in Abu Dhabi...
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