<p>England were set a challenging target of 277 to win the first Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford on Saturday after Yasir Shah led a valuable late-order batting assault by the tourists.</p>.<p>Yasir made a quickfire 33 off just 24 balls, including five fours and a six.</p>.<p>A brief session saw Pakistan add 32 runs in 16 balls before they were dismissed for 169 in their second innings.</p>.<p>Only twice has a team chased more than 200 to win in the fourth innings of a Test at Old Trafford, with England making 294-4 against New Zealand in 2008 and 231-3 against the West Indies at the Manchester ground in 2004.</p>.<p>Yasir had already taken 4-66 in his primary role as a leg-spinner during England's modest first-innings 219.</p>.<p>Pakistan resumed on 137-8, a lead of 244, after they had lost four wickets late on Saturday, with star all-rounder Ben Stokes striking twice shortly before stumps to help drag England back into the match.</p>.<p>But Stokes did not bowl on Saturday, with England captain Joe Root opting for a combination of Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad.</p>.<p>Yasir, 12 not out overnight, extended the lead past 250 by taking 10 runs off the first three balls of Saturday's play from fast bowler Archer.</p>.<p>A clipped legside two was followed by a powerful pull for four well in front of square from a short ball that did not get up.</p>.<p>And when Archer dropped short outside off stump, Yasir cleverly uppercut him high over the slips for another boundary, with 11 runs in total coming off the first over.</p>.<p>Yasir then promptly clubbed Broad's first ball of the day through midwicket for four.</p>.<p>And he surpassed that stroke when, two balls later, he hoisted Broad for a magnificent six.</p>.<p>Broad had Yasir caught behind but by then the damage had been done.</p>.<p>Last man Naseem Shah then played a shot worthy of a top order batsman when he got off the mark first ball by lofting Broad straight back over his head for four before he was bowled by Archer.</p>.<p>England are trying to end a run of losing the first Test in each of their last five series.</p>.<p>This is the first of a three-Test contest, with Pakistan having not lost a series against England since 2010.</p>
<p>England were set a challenging target of 277 to win the first Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford on Saturday after Yasir Shah led a valuable late-order batting assault by the tourists.</p>.<p>Yasir made a quickfire 33 off just 24 balls, including five fours and a six.</p>.<p>A brief session saw Pakistan add 32 runs in 16 balls before they were dismissed for 169 in their second innings.</p>.<p>Only twice has a team chased more than 200 to win in the fourth innings of a Test at Old Trafford, with England making 294-4 against New Zealand in 2008 and 231-3 against the West Indies at the Manchester ground in 2004.</p>.<p>Yasir had already taken 4-66 in his primary role as a leg-spinner during England's modest first-innings 219.</p>.<p>Pakistan resumed on 137-8, a lead of 244, after they had lost four wickets late on Saturday, with star all-rounder Ben Stokes striking twice shortly before stumps to help drag England back into the match.</p>.<p>But Stokes did not bowl on Saturday, with England captain Joe Root opting for a combination of Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad.</p>.<p>Yasir, 12 not out overnight, extended the lead past 250 by taking 10 runs off the first three balls of Saturday's play from fast bowler Archer.</p>.<p>A clipped legside two was followed by a powerful pull for four well in front of square from a short ball that did not get up.</p>.<p>And when Archer dropped short outside off stump, Yasir cleverly uppercut him high over the slips for another boundary, with 11 runs in total coming off the first over.</p>.<p>Yasir then promptly clubbed Broad's first ball of the day through midwicket for four.</p>.<p>And he surpassed that stroke when, two balls later, he hoisted Broad for a magnificent six.</p>.<p>Broad had Yasir caught behind but by then the damage had been done.</p>.<p>Last man Naseem Shah then played a shot worthy of a top order batsman when he got off the mark first ball by lofting Broad straight back over his head for four before he was bowled by Archer.</p>.<p>England are trying to end a run of losing the first Test in each of their last five series.</p>.<p>This is the first of a three-Test contest, with Pakistan having not lost a series against England since 2010.</p>