Buttler, Bess keep England hopes alive

Jos Buttler insisted England could achieve what would be a remarkable victory in the first Test after playing a key role in denying Pakistan a win by an innings at Lord's on Saturday.

Pakistan were poised to go 1-0 up in this two-match series inside three days as England suffered their latest top-order collapse. 

But Buttler (66 not out) and Test debutant Dominic Bess (55 not out), who came together with England still 69 runs behind at 110 for six, shared an unbroken century stand that took the hosts to a total of 235 in their second innings at stumps.

England now lead by 56 runs, albeit they have just four wickets standing and with the new ball available to Pakistan early in Sunday's play.

But at least they have a glimmer of hope, with Buttler and Bess batting through the evening session after England captain Joe Root's exit for 68 completed a woeful slump that saw four wickets lost for just 19 runs.   

"Of course there is (belief we can win)," said Buttler, who had been recalled for his first Test in 18 months following a stint in the Indian Premier League primarily to help England win games rather than first dig them out of trouble.

"The atmosphere in the ground was great there at the end, and of course in the dressing room as well.

"A fourth-innings score, chasing down a total, is never going to be easy -- if we can get our way up to a challenging total."

Less than a fortnight ago, Pakistan collapsed to 3-14 chasing 160 before recovering to beat Test debutants Ireland by five wickets in Dublin.

And in October, needing 136 to defeat Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan were bowled out for 114.

Buttler, however, reckoned England would need to set Pakistan a somewhat larger target to give themselves a chance of a come-from-behind win. 

"Tomorrow we need to make it as big as we can - 150 would be great, (but) we'd probably be trying to think more like 200," he said.

"I know that's a lot more runs, but 200 in the fourth innings will be tough. If it's 150, that's going to have to be enough."

Although Buttler made his name at Somerset - Bess's county club - he never met the 20-year-old before leaving for Lancashire five years ago.

"I haven't seen him bat much, but I've heard a lot about his batting from the guys at Somerset," he said.

"He can obviously bat. It was a bit like Joe Root, some of those back-foot punches and cover-drives."

It is only two years since Bess made his first-class debut, against Pakistan at Taunton, and Buttler was impressed by the way he had adjusted to the Test-match environment.

Image Id: 59498BF6826F4CF6BDD3EC85DFE94D18 Image Caption: 'You certainly wouldn't think it's his first game.' // Getty

"You certainly wouldn't think it's his first game," he said.

"He's really taken to it. He's got a great character, and I think he really loves the competition."

Buttler added: "He's got a lot of fight, and he was trying to show that - and for me, being back in the side, I was showing how much it means to be out there."

With two days left, Pakistan are still very much on top but they are likely to be a batsman down after Babar Azam suffered a broken forearm when hit just above the left wrist while facing Ben Stokes on Friday. 

"We won't be happy to chase anything over 150," said Pakistan batsman Asad Shafiq. 

"I don't think we did anything wrong.

"We should give credit to the English batsmen, especially the debutant," he added.

Qantas tours of England and Zimbabwe

ODI squad: Tim Paine (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye

T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Qantas Tour of England

June 7: Warm-up v Sussex, Hove (D/N)

June 9: Warm-up v Middlesex, Lord's

June 13: First ODI, The Oval (D/N)

June 16: Second ODI, Cardiff

June 19: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)

Qantas T20I tri-series Tour of Zimbabwe

Sunday, July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

Monday, July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

Tuesday, July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

Wednesday, July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

Thursday, July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

Friday, July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

Sunday, July 8: Final