A very fine bowling effort in the third-innings of the first Test against Pakistan means that England has given itself a chance despite conceding a 107-run lead. But the team must continue approaching the game with a lot of positivity if it is come out triumphant chasing what will be a significant target on a deteriorating track in Manchester, said pacer Chris Woakes.
Dismissed for 219 in response to visitors' 326 in the first essay, the home team needed an inspiring performance with the ball, which the team's quicks were able to provide.
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Pakistan could only manage to stretch its advantage to 244 at 137/8 by stumps on Day 4. 245, with still two wickets left, is already a difficult target on a worsening track, but at least England winning isn't completely out of the equation.
"When you lose the toss on a surface like this you are always going to be up against it, especially if there is a first-innings deficit," Woakes, who had figures of 2/13 after play on Friday, told reporters.
"At the same time, we have given ourselves a chance. They are not completely away from us, and we feel we can get them, even if we do still have to pick up two wickets in the morning," he added.
Apart from Woakes, Stuart Broad (2/23), Ben Stokes (2/11) and Dom Bess (1/40) also bowled quite well.
Despite taking a huge lead, Pakistan couldn't stamp its authority. Abid Ali (20), Asad Shafiq (29) and Mohammad Rizwan (27) got starts, but no one played the kind of innings that would've taken the game away from England.
Irrespective of what the hosts end up chasing, Woakes wants them to not give up and take the game back to the opposition.
"We have got to come out and try and be positive. If you look to sit in on this wicket, especially against the spin, there will be one with your name on it."
“It will be a challenge. We have to try and knock them over without them building any sort of partnership (in the morning). It is an exciting day ahead," he concluded.
(Inputs from Reuters)
