Cricket: Perfect No 8 turns up heat

Stuart Broad made his 10th score above 50 for England and again showed why he is the perfect No 8. He took the game to Pakistan in a way that had not been done in this series and in the process he took it away from them.

Going along at a run a ball when the series so far has barely managed a run every three balls, it was breathtaking stuff.

"It looked difficult to defend against the pressure of the quick, turning ball, especially with the pressure in the last half-hour last night," Broad said.

"So I thought my best option would be to try and manoeuvre the field and counter-punch, really. Belly [Ian Bell] played exceptionally at the other end and soaked up a lot of pressure, which allowed me to expand my game a bit."

The game quietened down after Broad's unbeaten 58 from 63 balls, which included six fours and a six over long-on.

Pakistan, needing to wipe out a deficit of 70 runs, were caught between a rock and a hard place, to attack or to consolidate. They found themselves four wickets down and still behind. The run rate neared a standstill but the game was never less than engrossing.

Broad is fast becoming a No 8 for the ages, the leader of England's significant tail. He will not always pull it off but he averages nearly 30 in tests.

"Once I hit a couple of boundaries, everyone seemed to move out and I could pick up some singles and twos," he said. "You have to choose your times to grab momentum."

Broad's calculated brilliance gave England a lead of 70.

They then dispatched four of Pakistan's top order in short order and when Misbah-ul-Haq, the bulwark, went early in the last session, it seemed that England must prevail.

The recalled Monty Panesar took six for 62 as Pakistan slid to 214 all out, a lead of only 145. Late last night, England were 29 for two.

Pakistan could have been more assertive but their clear feeling was they could not afford risks. Pakistan have spent the past 15 months playing like this, ticking along, eating up time, hoping to get enough runs and overwhelm the opposition through Saeed Ajmal's spin. Ajmal might have crossed England's minds as they sought to consolidate, neither chasing wickets nor conceding runs.

England had some early fortune when Matt Prior, sweeping to backward square leg, and Bell, driving a fierce return, were dropped. But they needed quick runs because to defend would be to invite eventual dismissal.

Broad provided them. He declared his intentions early with a lofted off drive for four and continued to raise the stakes.

Bell held up an end while his partner played the shots and made only 14 of the 47 they added. Bell was lbw to Umar Gul, failing to play forward and England led by only 11.

It was important the tail did its stuff. Broad drove down the ground and nudged into the gaps and Graeme Swann played with his usual zest. The last four wickets added 106 runs.

Broad overtook Ashley Giles as England's second-highest run-scorer in the No 8 position, and is now stands only 10 runs behind the 833 accrued there by Godfrey Evans. It is a small record which has stood for 53 years but an important one.

There is talk Broad would be a handy No 7 but he is too useful where he is and can play a quite different kind of game.

As his innings went on, some Pakistani minds might have turned to Lord's in 2010 when he rescued England from 105 for seven by scoring 169. He batted at nine that day.

- Independent