Azhar's perfect patience

Milestone of the day
It was not particularly pretty and it was not particularly exhilarating but Azhar Ali's innings was, in many ways, a perfect example of the patience, concentration and technique required to prosper at this level. This was how Test cricket used to be played: hard and attritional, with determination and concentration assuming greater importance than flair or panache. Azhar's relief on reaching his century - just his second in Tests despite having passed 50 on 15 occasions - was palpable. After cutting a boundary off Monty Panesar to reach three figures, he fell to his knees to give thanks and kissed the pitch. It did not matter which side you supported, it was impossible not to be pleased for him.

Drop of the day
Had Taufeeq Umar, at third slip, clung on to a relatively straightforward chance offered by Alastair Cook in just the third over of England's second innings, the tourists would have been four for one and left facing an awkward last hour. As it was Taufeeq, who has endured a disappointing game, put down the chance off the unfortunate Umar Gul. The England pair went on to record their highest opening partnership of the series - previously 27 at Abu Dhabi - and sustain their side's slim hopes of achieving England's highest fourth-innings run chase since 1928-29.

Shot of the day
Younis Khan's masterful innings did not extend too long into the third morning but, before he departed, he provided an echo of his sumptuous batting the previous day. There was little wrong with the delivery from James Anderson - pretty much on a good length and challenging Younis to play outside the off stump - but such was Younis' form and skill that he used his long reach to drive beautifully through the covers. It was the shot of a very fine batsmen in the best of form. There has not been anything better this match.

Ball of the day
Monty Panesar's rehabilitation continues. Two games into his Test comeback and he has his second five-wicket haul; this time clinched when Umar Gul missed a leg side heave and fell lbw. Panesar's unaffected joy is a delight to witness, but his success does leave England with a dilemma. When they revert to an attack that includes just one spinner, they have to decide whether Panesar has done enough to displace Swann - who's taken one five-wicket haul in his last 13 Tests. While Swann's superior batting and reliable slip catching provides him with a substantial advantage, England might also bear in mind the make-up of opposition sides. Should they contain several left-handers Swann should be preferred but if they are packed with raight-handers, Panesar must come into consideration.

Memory of the day
In the last over before the close, a moment evokes memories of England's Dunkirk moment at Cardiff in 2009 when the last pair, James Anderson and Monty Panesar called for new gloves with moments to go to kill as much time as possible. Here, England's openers, desperate to avoid facing an extra over, took a fresh guard, retied their shoe laces, looked around the field to ensure they understood where every fielder was lurking and then decided to catalogue their CD collection. They wasted every moment they could. Umar Gul, illustrating a nice line in irony and realising that enough time had elapsed to rule out any chance of an extra over, then held up the bowler - Abdur Rehman - to tie his own laces. Even Andy Flower smiled.

Quote of the day
Graeme Swann when asked about the likely make-up England's ODI squad: "After the way we played in India, I'd pick anyone rather than the XI who played there."