LONDON: Pakistan saw off Andrew Strauss but missed a glaring chance to dismiss the England captain’s opening partner, Alastair Cook, on the first day of the fourth and final Test at Lord’s on Thursday.

England were 39 for one at stumps after rain and bad light meant only 12.3 overs were possible in the day’s play.
Cook, dropped on one, was 10 not out and Jonathan Trott eight not out were at the crease. It was no surprise when Pakistan captain Salman Butt opted to field after winning the toss in the kind of overcast conditions that have troubled batsmen on both sides all series.
Poor catching has hampered Pakistan in this campaign and their 18th dropped effort in four Tests — a remarkable and damning statistic by international standards — was one of their worst.
England were on seven in the third over when Cook was drawn into edging outside off-stump by Mohammad Aamer only for third slip Umar Akmal to drop the seemingly straightforward two-handed chance, much to the teenage left-arm quick’s evident and understandable disgust.
Next ball Cook added to Aamer’s frustrations by edging him unconvincingly through the slip cordon for four.
Pakistan thought they had Cook caught behind off Aamer for nine, with England on 25 but the batsman asked for the referral and umpire Bowden, after replays indicated Cook had missed the ball, reversed his original verdict.
But Pakistan had the wicket their new-ball pair deserved when Mohammad Asif produced a superb full-length delivery that swung in a touch to bowl left-hander Strauss for 13 and leave England 31 for one in the 12th over.
Although the Lord’s floodlights were on, Bowden and fellow New Zealand umpire Tony Hill halted the match midway through the 13th over after it appeared players were having difficulty seeing the red ball out of an otherwise dark background.
Any chance of a resumption Thursday was then ended by fresh rain.