Paris Soir - England dismiss Pakistan's Masood to close on victory in 3rd Test

The experienced batsman led a rescue operation alongside Azan Awais as the tourists passed 200 for the first time in the three-match series at the sixth attempt.

Masood was in sight of an eighth Test hundred when he fell to a sensational slip catch by Dan Lawrence off the bowling of Gus Atkinson.

The much-changed visitors are showing belated grit in Birmingham at the end of a turbulent series but have almost no chance of avoiding a humiliating 3-0 whitewash.

Pakistan lost two wickets without scoring a single run on Thursday before opener Awais settled in alongside Masood, putting on 125 for the third wicket.

Their partnership was broken on Friday when Awais was caught down the leg-side by stand-in wicketkeeper Jordan Cox off the bowling of spinner Lawrence for 59, which brought captain Babar Azam to the crease.

The skipper, who missed the first Test with an injured hand, batted fluently to reach his fifty off 76 balls, with eight boundaries.

Pakistan were 246-4 at the end of the 55th over, with Azam 51 not out and Saud Shakeel unbeaten on 14, trailing by 74 runs.

Ollie Robinson has been the pick of England's bowlers so far, taking 2-36 in his 19 overs.

England had bowled Pakistan out for a meagre 133 on the opening day at Edgbaston before making 453 at a brisk pace to leave victory looking almost inevitable.

Joe Root's side have dominated the series, winning the first game by an innings and 103 runs and the second by 194 runs.

The hapless tourists have lurched from one crisis to another during their ill-fated tour, which seems certain to end in a 16th Test defeat in 21 matches.

They released seven players and sacked head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul after the second Test defeat, making four changes to their side in Birmingham.

G.Perrin--PS