Ben Stokes continued to turn Test cricket on its head with bold plans and tactics that could lead to the most stunning of wins… or a record-breaking loss.
But even if Pakistan overhaul their generous target of 343, or are left batting out for a draw at the close then the England skipper can be satisfied that he and his team delivered five days of entertainment and backed up their words with action to try and win on a surface that has done its best to nullify every bowler on show.
By the time the two teams walked off on day four, the game remained absolutely in the balance with the home side 80-2, requiring a further 263 from the final day. Whatever the outcome on day five of this historic Test match, the repercussions for the game could be seismic, because Stokes has shown that imagination can be the lifeblood of sporting glory.
