Anderson stranded on 599, Pakistan digging in to save test

England paceman Jimmy Anderson was stranded on 599 wickets as Pakistan took a giant step toward securing a draw in third and final test with a disciplined batting display eir side of a long rain break on Monday.

Anderson started Day 4 needing two wickets to become first fast bowler to reach 600, and mand to take one — that of Abid Ali (42) — during a lengthy third session at Rose Bowl.

However, fading light soon forced England to only deploy spin and eventually stopped play altoger, with Pakistan on 100-2 at stumps.

tourists, who were asked to follow on after scoring 273 in ir first innings in reply to England's mammoth 583-8 declared, trailed by 210 runs with one day remaining. Tuesday's wear is looking bleak, though, with rain forecast for much of day in Southampton.

England appears destined to win series, leading 1-0 after its three-wicket victory in first test before second match was drawn. It would clinch a first series win over Pakistan in 10 years, and a second series this summer after beating West Indies 2-1 in July.

It remains to be seen if 38-year-old Anderson gets ar chance in this test to reach 600 wickets. He won't want to miss this opportunity, with uncertainty over when England will play its next test because of global pandemic.

Frustratingly for Anderson, ar catch went down off his bowling, with wicketkeeper Jos Buttler shelling an easy chance of Shan Masood before lunch, which was taken early because of a heavy shower that delayed play for more than three hours.

re were three drops off Anderson in of 10 balls in Saturday's final session.

Kwing a draw is best y can hope for, Pakistan's batsmen dug in and have gone along at just 1.78 runs per over.

Captain Azhar Ali, a century-maker in first innings, was unbeaten on 29 and Babar Abam was on 4.

Im credits: AP