LONDON: Alastair Cook likely saved his place in the team by returning to form with a much-needed century that steered England to 194-3 and a lead of 119 runs against Pakistan at tea on day three of the third test on Friday.
Cook was out for 110, leaving Jonathan Trott 36 not out and Kevin Pietersen on 23. Cook faced 173 balls and struck 16 boundaries, while combining in a crucial third-wicket stand of 116 with Trott in England's second innings at The Oval.
Left-handed opener Cook played with aggression and abandoned the anxiety that he brought into the innings after his worst-ever run of form threatened his place, having endured eight innings without reaching 30.
He reached his 100 in bizarre fashion when he defended a ball from Mohammad Asif, who then picked up and threw over the wicketkeeper's head to the boundary, giving Cook his century with overthrows, sparking laughter among the batsmen and cheers from the capacity crowd.
There were no wild celebrations from the relieved Cook, just a rueful smile and a happy acknowledgment towards his teammates and the applauding spectators. He was dismissed to a catch down the leg side off Wahab Riaz, but received a standing ovation for his 13th test century.
Trott, who has faced 125 deliveries, played a subdued innings and was happy to support Cook, who contributed 78 on reaching their 100 partnership. Pietersen, though, was intent on attack and took three fours off one Asif over before tea.
Pakistan, 2-0 down in the four-match series, need to win here and the final test at Lord's next week to salvage a series draw. England is seeking a seventh straight test victory.
Cook, who began the day on 0, passed his previous highest score in the series (17) before lunch with a clip off his legs through midwicket from a Mohammad Amir ball heading outside his off stump.
Two consecutive Cook boundaries edged between second and third slip off Asif were false strokes but maybe was the luck he needed.
When debutant Riaz was introduced, Cook smashed a pull shot through midwicket as soon as the left-armer dropped short. There was no cautiousness despite Riaz's first innings 5-63.
One clear error from Cook, when on 23, came when he slashed Riaz at head height between Imran Farhat at first slip and Yasir Hameed at second. Both fielders left the ball for each other.
Perhaps Cook's finest stroke of the day was a cover drive off Amir, pushed through the infield from a long stride off the front foot.
He jogged up to the middle of the pitch and as the ball bounced over the boundary rope he turned his back on Trott to return to his crease rather than give the habitual touching of gloves, such was his focus.
Nightwatchman James Anderson was out before lunch to Saeed Ajmal's first ball of the morning, edging to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal on 11. The floodlights were turned on after lunch as conditions turned gloomy. -AP
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