Watch: Mohammed Siraj bowled Tom Hartley with a reverse-swing cracker-jack, pegging back the No.8’s off-stump.
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Siraj was reintroduced with England having stitched together their longest partnership of the series, and struck in his first over, Ben Foakes clipping to mid-wicket. Reverse swing played a part in that dismissal, but there was also some smart captaincy involved. With Hartley in his sights, he needed no help from the fielders, beating the outside edge and hitting the stumps.
The ball curved away in the air, with Hartley’s back leg shooting out as he attempted to cover for the movement. The left-arm spinner was unable to do so, and Siraj celebrated.
Siraj’s double-strike was especially sweet given his struggles earlier in the day. In the first session, he leaked 43 runs off six overs, with a Zak Crawley assault denting his figures, and he was unused during the second session.
An excellent hundred from Root carried England to 302-7 at stumps.
