England vs Pakistan: Younus Khan's double century puts Pakistan in control as hosts face huge deficit

England 328 and 88-4, Pakistan 542

England can forget trying to reach the top of the world rankings. For now they have an almighty battle to prove they are even the number one team in this series after a torrid third day that left them on the brink of defeat in this final Test.

Indeed, it is Pakistan, who themselves can reach the summit of Test cricket with a win here, who are feeling on top of the world after they manoeuvred themselves into a position where a 2-2 draw now seems the only possible outcome from a fascinating series.

For that they can thank veteran batsman Younis Khan, whose fifth Test double hundred helped his side to a 214-run first-innings lead as they posted 542 in reply to England’s 328.

By the close, England, on 88 for four, were still trailing by 126 and facing a battle to avoid an innings defeat after losing captain Alastair Cook, Alex Hales, James Vince and Joe Root, with leg-spinner Yasir Shah turning the screw by accounting for the last three of those batsmen.

History, not to mention logic, suggests there is only one winner in this match from here. Only six teams in history have come back from conceding a 200-plus first-innings deficit.

It’s a feat England have achieved twice, both against Australia – in Sydney in 1894 and at Leeds in 1981, when Ian Botham engineered the Miracle of Headingley in perhaps the most famous Test win of them all.

Younus Khan is congratulated as he leaves the field at The Oval (Getty)

Cook’s team, of course, had come from 103 runs behind on first innings during the third Test at Edgbaston last week to pull off the win that gave them a 2-1 lead in the series.

But Pakistan, still hurting from that turnaround in Birmingham, will surely not let a winning position slip out their grasp once again.

One other sliver of trivia it’s probably worth pointing out at this point is Pakistan were the last Test side to lose a match after establishing a first-innings lead of more than 200.

That came in Sydney six years ago, when Australia overturned a 206-run deficit to win by 36 runs.

Only one member of the current team played in that match – Misbah-ul-Haq.

Yet it’s hard to imagine Pakistan’s captain will be losing any sleep worrying about a repeat here.

Steven Finn celebrates prematurely after believing he has dismissed Khan (Getty)

The loss of Cook in the tenth over of England’s innings, edging an away swinger from Wahab Riaz to first slip, started the rot.

Yasir, who took 10 wickets during Pakistan’s victory in the opening Test at Lord’s, then came to the fore, removing Hales and Vince in successive overs before Root became his third victim.

Hales and Root used up both of England’s reviews contesting lbw decisions in vain.

Sandwiched in between was an ugly dismissal for Vince, who fell for a duck driving to Misbah at cover in what could be his final Test innings given he now averages just 19.27 in seven matches.

And to think England had started the day with a hope they could still win this match.

Any early optimism felt by the hosts on the first morning was soon wiped away as Pakistan kept their opponents toiling in the field for the first 58 overs of the day.

With the tourists resuming with a lead of 12 on 340 for six, Cook’s side would have hoped to blow away the tail.

However, Younis, unbeaten on 101, and Sarfraz Ahmed, soon made it clear that scenario was unlikely to come to pass.

England toiled in the field as they surrendered a 214-run deficit (Getty)

The frustrated England attack finally made the breakthrough 32 minutes before lunch when Chris Woakes, whose two wickets with the second new ball had pegged Pakistan back the previous evening, induced an edge from Sarfraz, on 44, that was brilliantly taken, one-handed by a diving Jonny Baitstow.

Steven Finn, and England, thought they had Younis on 133, the batsman given out lbw but winning a reprieve with a review that showed the ball going over the top of the stumps.

That allowed Pakistan to head into lunch on 417 for seven, a lead of 89, and in complete control.

England’s desperation saw them turn to the part-time off-spin of Root immediately after lunch.

And while he didn’t have any joy, Moeen Ali did, Wahab stumped by Bairstow two balls after Cook had reprieved him at first slip.

That drop was the 15th by England in this series and fourth in this innings. At least it only cost England two runs before he was sent on his way.

Pakistan, on 434 for eight, were leading 106 by that stage. And with Younis having brought up his 150, they were confident of stretching that advantage even further.

That’s exactly what happened as Younis worked through the gears, swatting Moeen for four huge sixes after lunch, the last of which saw the Pakistani bring up his double hundred.

Younis eventually fell to James Anderson, trapped lbw for 218, but by then Pakistan’s lead was 203.

Eleven more runs were added before the innings was wrapped up on the stroke of tea, Stuart Broad taking a brilliant catch at midwicket off Finn to dismiss Sohail Khan.

Pakistan went into the interval knowing they were in complete charge of this match.

And that position was further strengthened during the remaining 31 overs of the day.

Indeed, if Pakistan don’t win this Test at some point on day four it really will be a miracle.