England insisted they would not cry foul over Pakistan’s pitch gamble after dropped catches saw them backed into a corner in Multan.
Ben Stokes’ side endured a tough third day at the second Test, with the hosts making themselves favourites to square the series 1-1 on a fiendishly difficult re-used surface.
Pakistan set England a target of 297 – steep in any fourth innings and even more taxing after both openers fell cheaply to leave them 36 for two at stumps.
England’s task would have been more manageable had they not put down Salman Agha twice in the space of three Brydon Carse deliveries during the afternoon session – wicketkeeper Jamie Smith grassing a regulation chance behind the stumps and Joe Root unable to close his hands around a low opportunity at slip.
Salman was on four, then six, when he was reprieved and went on to top-score with 63 as Pakistan stretched their lead far beyond England’s record chase of 209 in Asia.
England lost a total of six wickets for 88 against spin over the day, the last four in their first innings during the morning before Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley were picked off at the close.
But assistant coach Paul Collingwood refused to blame the worn surface for his side’s predicament.
“We’ve got to go out there and play on the pitches we’re given. I don’t think there’s anything we can do about it,” he said.
“It’s a bit of a gamble from Pakistan’s point of view – I guess they’ve taken a risk on winning the toss – but it was a gamble they were willing to take. From our point of view we’re not going to complain or anything like that.
“It is unusual, I’ve not come across it in Test cricket before. But we have to find a way to knock off the runs on a wicket that’s got plenty of cracks and plenty of assistance.
“The amazing thing is that there’s still hope, and there’s only hope because of the amazing things these guys have done in the past.
“We know it’s been tough, and we’ve got to be realistic, but we’ll find ways to put them under pressure. You have to take risks, it’s as simple as that.”
Collingwood, a brilliant fielder and safe pair of hands in his own playing days, also offered some mitigation for the missed chances which look set to go down as vital moments in the match.
“One thing you’ve got to say with the dropped catches, it’s unusual to be standing so close to the bat,” he said.
“On that kind of pitch you’ve got to try to make sure any edge carries because it’s slow and balls having been bouncing twice on the way through.
“You hold your hands up to the bravery because these lads have gone two or three yards closer in to try get those edges. It’s just unfortunate we didn’t take a couple of them.”
Salman was feeling in confident mood after his starring role with the bat but he urged his side to focus.
“We should win from here but we have to do good things consistently,” he said.
“We are ahead of the game, there’s no doubt about that, but we all know England can build their momentum very quickly and we need be aware of that.
“We were looking for anything around 200 (ahead)…when it was 220-230, I knew we had done what we wanted and after that it was all a bonus.”