England Tightens Grip in Third Test Against Pakistan as Lead Exceeds 160

England pushed their advantage past the 160-run mark in the third Test against Pakistan before losing Dan Lawrence, as the hosts tightened their hold on a match edging towards a decisive final act.

Lawrence, who had looked increasingly assured at the crease, was eventually bowled as Pakistan finally found a way through after a long spell on the back foot. The dismissal offered them a flicker of encouragement, but by then England’s lead had already swelled into dangerous territory.

This was a day about accumulation and control. England did not blast Pakistan away; they squeezed them. The top order laid the foundations, rotating the strike, dragging the bowlers into long, draining spells. Every leave, every forward press, chipped away at Pakistan’s resolve and pushed the lead higher.

Pakistan searched for movement, tried angles, changed fields. For long stretches, nothing worked. The ball softened, the pitch slowed, and England’s batters settled into a rhythm that suited them perfectly. Singles flowed, the odd boundary punctured the infield, and the scoreboard ticked steadily towards a lead that now looms large over the contest.

The breakthrough came when Lawrence, looking to press on, misjudged one that went straight through to hit the stumps. It was a moment Pakistan desperately needed. The celebrations told their own story: this wicket felt like more than just a number in the scorebook. It was a sign that, if they could string a few more together, the game might yet bend back their way.

But the bigger picture remains stark. A lead beyond 160 on this surface hands England the luxury of attacking fields and relentless seam in the fourth innings, backed by spinners who will only grow more dangerous as the pitch wears.

Pakistan now face a hard road. They must first limit the damage with the ball, then summon a level of discipline and resilience with the bat that has so far eluded them in this match. England, by contrast, can sense the opportunity: one more push with the bat, and the bowlers will have a total worth fighting for.

Lawrence’s dismissal checked the momentum, not the direction of travel. The lead stands, the pressure mounts, and the third Test moves towards a final phase that will test Pakistan’s technique, temperament and, perhaps most of all, their belief.