Monty Panesar ripped through Pakistans top order to reduce the hosts to 125 for four at the close of the third day of the second Test on Friday,55 runs ahead of Englands first innings total. Left-arm orthodox Panesar,playing his first Test match for England since 2009,dispatched opener Mohammad Hafeez (22),captain Misbah-ul-Haq (12) and Younus Khan (1) in Abu Dhabi to leave Pakistan struggling on 54 for four with England looking well-placed to avenge their 10-wicket defeat in the series opener last week. However,batsmen Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali dug in,roared on by the teams passionate support as they put on an unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 71. Shafiq (35) and Ali (46) upped Pakistans run rate from just 73 in the first 40 overs of the innings to 52 from the final 21 overs. Their only real scare was when Kevin Pietersen fluffed a run-out opportunity,missing the stumps with Shafiq flailing in no-mans land as Pakistan attempted a quick single. First strike The afternoon had started brightly for Pakistan,who bagged Englands final two wickets before openers Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar made a steady start to their second innings. England then struck,Panesar drawing Hafeez forward as the batsman tried to block the anticipated turn,but the ball kept straight for a clear lbw. Fellow spinner Graeme Swann came on at the other end and bowled Umar (7),the ball sneaking between bat and pad as Pakistan lost their second wicket without adding to their score of 29. Panesar was not to be outshone,however. He bowled Khan with a turning delivery that clipped off-stump and then snagged Misbah lbw with a sliding ball that struck the Pakistan captain below the knee. Panesar ended the day on 3-44. Earlier,Stuart Broads unbeaten 58 had helped England achieve a 70-run first innings lead. His knock was vital after Matt Prior and Ian Bell both disappointed with the bat,England losing their final five wickets for 120 runs. For Pakistan,all-rounder Hafeez finished with 3-54,while Saeed Ajmal ended on 4-108. Brief scores: Pakistan 257 & 125/4 (Asad Shafiq 35 batting,Azhar Ali 46 batting; Monty Panesar 3/44); England 327 all out (Alastair Cook 94,Jonathan Trott 74; Saeed Ajmal 4/108,Mohammad Hafeez 3/54)
