Pakistan batsmen battle hard on rain-hit fourth day

England will win the series even with a draw, but on a flat surface against a stoic, skilful batting line-up, they were unable to make serious inroads on a truncated afternoon in Southampton

• Scorecard: England v Pakistan

Only 56 overs were possible on the fourth day of the final Test at the Ageas Bowl as Pakistan fought hard with the bat in the knowledge that rain is forecast is scheduled for much of Tuesday.

England will win the series even with a draw, but on a flat surface against a stoic, skilful batting line-up, they were unable to make serious inroads on a truncated afternoon in Southampton.

Only two wickets fell, with Stuart Broad trapping Shan Masood in front as he looked to shoulder arms to a delivery, before James Anderson had Abid Ali lbw to take the Lancashire seamer to 599 Test wickets.

Anderson would have had Masood earlier, but Jos Buttler shelled an opportunity that wobbled between taking Masood’s outside edge and reaching the England wicketkeeper.

It has been an unusual series for Masood, who begun in fine style by making 156 at Emirates Old Trafford, though he has made just 24 runs in four innings since.

Pakistan weather the storm and Jimmy Anderson's wait goes on... ENGLAND V PAKISTAN TALKING POINTS

Abid, meanwhile, made 42 and looked compact before being dismissed by Anderson as the ball started to reverse-swing.

However, after England were restricted to bowling spin from both ends amid deteriorating light, the heavens opened and play was abandoned for the day, with more of the same set to follow on Tuesday.

England’s main concern, though, revolved around Ollie Pope; the Surrey batsman left the field early in the day clutching the same shoulder he had surgery on in 2019. They will hope that blow is not serious.

So light were England’s numbers at one stage, with Gloucestershire batsman James Bracey replacing Pope, that Paul Collingwood – now a member of England’s backroom staff – briefly donned his whites to run drinks onto the field.

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