James Anderson hopeful England can level Pakistan series
Wednesday 4 November 2015 16:03, UK
James Anderson is hopeful England can wrap up an historic victory over Pakistan on what promises to be a tense final day of the third Test in Sharjah on Thursday.
The tourists ended the fourth day on 46-2 in their second innings, chasing a target of 284 which would see them level the three-match series at 1-1.
"We are going to have to bat very well, it's going to be difficult on a fifth-day wicket against their spinners, but we are going to give it a good shot," fast bowler Anderson told Sky Sports.
"We don't want to leave the UAE with nothing. We think we've played pretty well throughout this series and it would be nice if we could get something out of it.
"We have seen the way Pakistan batted in their second innings. They were positive and they took good options and I think if we do that there is a good chance.
"We are going to need a few people to bat very, very well and get a couple of big partnerships, but there is no reason why we can't."
Live Test Cricket
England will make history if they win as their target of 284 is 75 in excess of their previous highest successful fourth-innings run chase in Asia - against Bangladesh in Dhaka six years ago - and Anderson will be content to remain in the pavilion.
"I'd love it if I didn't have to get my pads on to be honest. If we can do it before we get down to the lower order then that would be fantastic," he said.
England could have been better placed had they not spurned a number of chances to dismiss Mohammad Hafeez, who made 151 in the hosts' total of 355 in their second innings, but Anderson praised their efforts in the field.
He said: "It's not ideal missing opportunities but it happens and I thought we stuck at our task really well throughout their second innings.
"I think if you had given us around 250 to chase we would have taken it at the start of the game. Obviously it's a bit more than that, but we need a couple of people to bat really well and we've got a good chance."
Hafeez, however, is confident Pakistan can secure a 2-0 series victory as he believes the pitch will help their bowlers.
"This pitch looks easy but it's not," he said. "We're very confident after closing 200-plus up because we have got enough of a spin attack to get at them. We're very happy with the total on the board and we're very confident.
"To have 284 is nearly 350 on this pitch so clearly we back ourselves and one more wicket will change things."
Will England level the series with an historic win in Sharjah? Live coverage of the fifth and final day of the third Test is on Sky Sports 2 from 5.45am on Thursday. You can also watch without a contract on NOW TV. Don't miss highlights of today's play at 5pm on Sky Sports 2, followed by The Verdict at 6pm on the same channel.
