1915: While the dust settles on another exciting day's cricket, and Pakistan's fans look up tomorrow's weather forecast in hope of rain, we're going to wrap matters up here - TMS will be back on air at 1045, and I'll be back here a little before that to bring you the lowdown on day four. Which could be very short... or agonisingly long. That's the beauty of this game - you never quite know what you're going to get. Thanks again for your company, see you tomorrow.

1907: So, 15 wickets yesterday, another 13 today... it's been a very entertaining couple of days. Aggers and Boycs are discussing the day's play - you'll be able to hear it as the TMS podcast a little later.

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew on TMS: "Had it not been for Umar Gul's batting this morning, I think the match would have been over by now."

From trebell on 606: "They'd be four down had we reviewed that."

1902 - Pkn 15-3 (7 overs)
Anderson to bowl the last over to nightwatchman Aamer, there's a big appeal off the second ball but it appeared to be swinging down the leg side. (Wouldn't you know it, Hawk-Eye has it hitting leg stump...) But Aamer fends off the over successfully, and Pakistan will begin day four on 15-3, chasing 435.

1859 - Pkn 15-3 (6 overs)
Maybe Umar Gul should have gone in first for Pakistan, he was flaying the England bowlers round the park this morning and they might be well on the way to their target of 435 by now... Farhat has already lost three batting partners, he tries to leg-glance Broad and the ball sails away for four. England are trying to race through the over so they can get another in, Pakistan are trying to take as long as possible so they can't. Farhat defends, England race round and we'll get another over in.

1856 - Pkn 11-3 (5 overs)
Strangely, only now do we get a nightwatchman, Mohammad Aamer, has the situation really changed in the last 10 minutes? Morgan is in at short mid-wicket as England pile the pressure on. Aamer draws his bat inside the line as a snorter whistles past him. A wicket maiden, and England rush round to try to get more overs in before the close.

1852 - WICKET - Amin lbw b Anderson 1 - Pkn 11-3 (4.1 overs)
Anderson to Amin, a huge appeal for lbw, Umpire Asoka de Silva raises his finger and after a discussion with non-striker Farhat, Amin decides not to "burn" Pakistan's one remaining review and walks off. (Hawk-Eye thinks he made the right decision - the ball pitched on the stumps and straightened, so De Silva's decision would have been upheld).

1850 - Pkn 11-2 (4 overs)
Nope, Pakistan are going as per scorecard as Umar Amin is the new batsman, and he's off the mark with an inside-edged single.

1846 - WICKET - Azhar lbw b Broad 0 - Pkn 10-2 (3.3 overs)
Hawk-Eye suggests it might have been going over - but it's so close that the on-field umpire's decision stands, and Umpire Hill raises his finger for a second time! Now is it time for a nightwatchman?

1844 - Pkn 10-1 (3.3 overs)
Time for a nightwatchman? Nope - it's regular number three Azhar Ali. (I say "regular", this is only his third Test but he's three on the scorecard). Broad traps Azhar in front with the second ball he faces, the umpire's finger goes up... and Azhar makes the "T" symbol for a review!

1841 - WICKET - Butt c Collingwood b Broad 8 - Pkn 10-1 (3.1 overs)
England make the breakthrough as Cap'n Butt attempts a cut shot and edges Broad to Colly at third slip!

1840 - Pkn 10-0 (3 overs)
Anderson switches to bowling around the wicket to Farhat, perhaps remembering how he removed the Pakistan opener with a "jaffa" from around the wicket in the first innings. No repeat of that just yet, but he sends down a maiden over.

1835 - Pkn 10-0 (2 overs)
Stuart Broad takes the second over, Farhat tucks a single through mid-wicket as the shadows lengthen across the Trent Bridge outfield. Fellow left-hander Butt rocks back and square-cuts a four, before upper-cutting an attempted bouncer over the slips for four - it nearly went for six.

From Dan, via text: "Surely Matt Prior has proved the benefit of getting county runs under the belt, perhaps some of the others could do with it!"

1830 - Pkn 1-0 (1 over)
James Anderson swings the first ball into left-hander Imran Farhat, who steers a single through the covers. Captain Salman Butt survives the rest of the over. (Technically, we have 14 overs remaining today, but short of forcing England's bowlers to bowl maidens off two-pace run-ups, I can't fathom how we'd get 14 overs in before 1900).

1826: In case you're wondering, we'll be continuing until 1900 BST this evening. Although the close of play is technically 1800, we've got an extra half-hour to make up time lost to bad light yesterday, plus an extra half-hour if the requisite 90 overs weren't bowled by 1800 (which they weren't).

Ramiz Raja on TMS: "Salman Butt is a young captain who needs to learn quickly - I'm surprised the coach Waqar Younis didn't get a message to him at the drinks break about how to get rid of the tail"

From Bertie Kennedy, via text: "If there's any doubters who think Prior shouldn't be on the plane to Oz just need to look at this performance: vital runs, batting with the tail and only five byes conceded."

Bertie, you're probably right - but on the evidence of this Test, being the opposing wicketkeeper to Kamran Akmal would make just about anyone else look good by comparison...

1820: Rather improbably, Steven Finn now has a Test average of 12, despite his nine not out being his highest Test score. And while we're on improbable things, if you manually refresh your page then Pakistan's decidedly improbable victory target will appear above.

1818 - Eng 262-9 declared (75.3 overs)
Prior is one run away from his third Test century, and the field comes in. An arm ball beats Prior down the leg side and nearly bowls him round his legs... Prior sweeps, sets off for a run and Finn sends him back as square leg swoops on the ball! Eventually, he chops a single to third man as they run three, removes his helmet to celebrate his century and Cap'n Strauss waves them in.

1814 - Eng 259-9 (75 overs)
I could probably cut'n'paste this from the last few overs: "Prior steers a single, and Finn negotiates the rest of the over." Just for some variety, Finn sweeps a single, to bring Prior back on strike. On 98. He's down the pitch with a solid off-drive, but can only run one. Then, Kamran Akmal's forgettable Test doesn't get any better when Finn fails to read a googly and Kamran takes one in the face.

1811 - Eng 256-9 (74 overs)
Prior is on 96 - will he go for the century against Malik? No, he can only get a single to deep mid-on. Finn survives the rest of the over, although this is getting a little tedious if Prior is only going to score one run an over...

1807 - Eng 255-9 (73 overs)
After the umpteenth drinks break of the day (possibly a record), Prior gets his usual single-off-the-first-ball, while Finn gets the chance to add to his 32 consecutive dot balls - but responds with a very fluent sweep for four! He sees off the over successfully.

From alfie on 606: "With two days to play I think Prior has earned a couple more overs to try for the ton. Crowd seems to approve."

1801 - Eng 250-9 (72 overs)
Yet again, Prior takes an early single and Finn is forced to bat out the rest of the over. On the England balcony, Cap'n Strauss is still in his tracksuit rather than his whites, so clearly won't think about declaring with Prior in the nineties - he has 95.

Michael Vaughan on TMS: "I've just seen Dangermouse in the crowd!"

1758 - Eng 249-9 (71 overs)
A single takes Prior to 94, Finn defends in textbook fashion against Kaneria. Were Pakistan to win from this position, they would have to complete the highest successful fourth-innings run chase in Test history...

Michael Vaughan on TMS: "This is what happens when you have a four-man attack and the opposition decide to attack the spinner, as they've done with Kaneria - you have to take him off early, and then you have to over-bowl the three seamers."

1755 - Eng 248-9 (70 overs)
Prior, on 92, facing Malik - he hammers a single to mid-on, and Finn sees off the rest of the over.

1752 - Eng 247-9 (69 overs)
Prior nurdles a two to fine leg, then skips forward and hammers a six over the bowler's head. Then, he repeats the shot, with the same result! He's now on 91. A single to third man ensures he keeps the strike.

1749 - Eng 232-9 (68 overs)
Single from Prior against Malik, then Finn shows his immaculate application of the forward defensive stroke from the MCC coaching manual. England physio Kirk Russell comes on with a couple of drinks, as well as some tape to cover up an advertising logo on Steven Finn's armguard. No doubt at the behest of the ICC.

1745 - Eng 231-9 (67 overs)
Kaneria returns, Prior pushes a single to take the lead to 397 - my only worry is that England have enough runs now, but they're just wasting time, and may later rue doing so if time is lost to the weather over the next two days. Finn prods forward at a googly and the ball pings away kindly for a leg bye. Prior bashes a four through mid-wicket to push the lead past 400, and nicks the strike with a single. He has 76.

1741 - Eng 224-9 (66 overs)
Prior clubs a single, the field comes in for Finn, who defends well against Malik.

1739 - Eng 223-9 (65 overs)
The field scatters for Prior, offering him a single (or probably a two) just about anywhere he wants. Prior tickles a two to third man, then drives a single to long-on.

1736 - Eng 220-9 (64 overs)
Prior steers Malik through the gap between mid-on and mid-wicket, and they scurry back for two. There's then a comedy moment when three fielders converge on the ball but none of them manage to pick the ball up... Prior manages to run a single when he stops laughing.

1732 - Eng 217-9 (63 overs)
Last man Steven Finn stalks to the crease - and he's going to face Amin's innocuous medium pace, so he may never have a better opportunity to improve on his Test-best score of three not out. Which he does, by edging a four past the keeper.

1728 - WICKET - Anderson c K Akmal b Malik 2 - Eng 213-9 (62 overs)
Anderson drives in the air but it falls just short of the man diving in at cover, and they scamper a single. Prior sweeps Malik for four, a single moves his score on to 63 and then Anderson perishes with a mistimed slog-sweep which pops up for keeper Kamran Akmal to take.

1724 - Eng 207-8 (61 overs)
Now, this is strange from Pakistan... they've just taken a wicket, so how do they turn the screw on England? By taking off Aamer and bringing on part-time medium-pacer Umar Amin. Although Prior can't get him away and Amin completes a maiden over, surely they've got to try to take wickets?

1721 - Eng 207-8 (60 overs)
Anderson takes guard, while Vic Marks confesses to having got a king pair for Oxford University against Northants. Jimmy defends his first ball, before squeezing a single through backward point. Prior pushes a two and a single to take his score to 58.

1716 - WICKET - Broad c Farhat b Malik 24 - Eng 203-8 (59.1 overs)
Broad goes for the drive and nicks a regulation catch to the solitary slip. The lead is 375 - out comes Jimmy Anderson, on a king pair...

1715 - Eng 203-7 (59 overs)
Broad defends serenely against Aamer, just a single from the over. Prior and Broad get a drink - er, didn't we just have a drinks break?

From tomabarlow123 on 606: "Anyone who thinks Kieswetter, a man who has never proven he has any Test-match batting ability (not even signs of it like Morgan did), and isn't the greatest keeper in the world, should just look at this innings. Prior is, quite simply, the best all-round keeper-batsman in England."

1712 - Eng 202-7 (58 overs)
Prior and Broad help themselves to singles against Malik. They're in no great danger here.

1708 - Eng 198-7 (57 overs)
After a drinks break, Mohammad Aamer replaces Kaneria - Prior keeps the scoreboard ticking with a single. We've still technically got 35 remaining overs to bowl today, although the light may put paid to that.

1703 - Eng 197-7 (56 overs)
Off-spinner Shoaib Malik is introduced as Pakistan's sixth bowler, Broad paddle-sweeps a single, then Prior brings up his 15th Test fifty with a reverse sweep for four. A more textbook stroke earns him a single.

1658 - Eng 191-7 (55 overs)
Kaneria's still on, for some reason... Prior is hit on the pad while sweeping, but it struck him well outside the line of off stump. He does put bat on ball by carving a two to third man, but Blowers has noticed some darker clouds in the vicinity...

1655 - Eng 189-7 (54 overs)
Rather belatedly, Mohammad Asif is recalled to the attack, which temporarily stems the flow of runs from Prior. The Sussex man steers a three wide of mid-wicket, and Broad drives a single to mid-off where Umar Gul appears to have banged his knee slightly. A single takes Prior to 45, and Broad joins in the fun with a confident pull for four through mid-wicket, to Asif's disbelief.

Michael Vaughan on TMS: "Salman Butt has missed a trick here by not bowling Aamer and Asif sooner."

1650 - Eng 180-7 (53 overs)
Kaneria skips in to bowl to Prior, who pulls away when he sees someone moving near the sightscreen. Prior cuts a two through the covers, then helps himself to a single to mid-on. Broad has the crowd on their feet when he hoists a six into the stand at cow corner, and a single takes him to 15. Prior turns a single round the corner to keep the strike, and this is too easy for England.

1645 - Eng 169-7 (52 overs)
Another handsome square-driven four by Prior against Gul takes the Sussex man to 36. A single brings Broad on strike, he hasn't looked in great nick recently but fluently pulls a four through mid-wicket, where he appears to be applauded by a man dressed as an X-wing pilot from Star Wars. Broad looks less fluent from the last ball of the over, swishing and missing outside off stump.

1641 - Eng 160-7 (51 overs)
A Pakistan substitute runs on with two helmets for close fielders as Kaneria prepares to bowl to the lanky Broad, who swipes a single to fine leg. In fact, Broad and Prior manage alternate singles off each ball of the over - Michael Vaughan doesn't think Pakistan are trying hard enough to keep Broad (as the junior batsman) on strike. The lead is 332.

1636 - Eng 154-7 (50 overs)
Gul sends down another "grubber", similar to the one which kept low and bowled Trott, but it just misses the stumps. Prior unleashes another powerful square drive for four - he's up to 29, and England's lead is 326.

Michael Vaughan on TMS: "For Pakistan to have any chance of winning, they'll have to get England out in the next 15-20 runs and then bat out of their skins."

1631 - Eng 150-7 (49 overs)
Stuart Broad is the new batsman - he takes a long look around the field before settling over his bat and defending his first ball. The left-hander is off the mark with a single off his legs, while a no-ball - indefensible for a spinner in my eyes - also advances the score, before Prior helps himself to a single off the last ball to keep the strike.

1627 - WICKET - Swann lbw b Kaneria 28 - Eng 147-7 (48.1 overs)
Hawk-Eye indicates the leg break would have hit the stumps, Hotspot reveals there wasn't any bat on it... so the decision is overturned and Swann is out. More success for the UDRS.

1625 - Eng 147-6 (48.1 overs)
Kaneria strikes Swann on the pad, Umpire Hill shakes his head, but Pakistan call for a review...

1623 - Eng 147-6 (48 overs)
Single from Prior takes this seventh-wicket stand to 48 - this is now the biggest stand of the innings, beating the 47 added by Trott and Pietersen. But then Gul hits back when Swann is late in trying to avoid a bouncer and is struck on the back of the helmet. Grimacing, he takes the helmet off and one of the England backroom staff runs on with a replacement helmet. Finally we resume as Gul tries to fire in one of his unplayable yorkers, but Swann fends it off for a leg bye.

Former Pakistan opener Ramiz Raja on TMS: "Kaneria's body language isn't great, even though he's trying hard, he's bowling full tosses."

1616 - Eng 145-6 (47 overs)
Prior drives Kaneria for a single to deep mid-off, then Swann launches Kaneria for a straight six - and you sense Pakistan are rather losing heart. A confident sweep brings the cheeky Twitterer four more - he has 28 from 31 balls.

1613 - Eng 133-6 (46 overs)
After the day he's had, can we expect some more Umar Gul magic in the evening session? Swann steers a no-ball through square leg for a single, then the crowd have something to laugh about as Gul drops the ball shortly before entering his delivery stride! Prior prods a single to mid-on - he has 22, and another leisurely single takes Swann to 17 - this stand is already worth 35.

1607 - Eng 129-6 (45 overs)
Danish Kaneria to continue with his leg-spin - he has a slip and a silly point surrounding Prior, who finds the gap with a forceful drive between the bowler and mid-on which disappears for four. A single takes the England lead to 300, then Swann sweeps effectively for a single.

1604 - Eng 123-6 (44 overs)
Umar Gul has had an excellent day's cricket from a personal point of view - and with figures of 3-20 from his first 10 overs, he's going to start us off after tea. Prior whips a two off his toes through mid-wicket - and thankfully doesn't call for a third. The Sussex keeper scampers a single to a dawdling mid-on, while Gul has an lbw shout turned down against Swann, which looked to be going down the leg side.

From Stephen (on a train to London after two days at the Test), via text: "That must have been an England fan who said Pakistan need to bring Danish Kaneria on to take wickets! That's a joke. He's the reason England are still so far ahead... He was absolutely terrible on the first day."

1542: Well, whether you want to "phone a friend" during the interval or not, keep listening to TMS as Aggers speaks to Chris Tarrant, president of the Lord's Taverners.

From Doug Smith, via text: "So our Englishmen, South Africans and Irishmen have all failed us; maybe Umar Gul could pad up and switch shirts?"

1540 - Eng 120-6 (43 overs)
Our first sign of spin all day as Danish Kaneria is finally thrown the ball for the last over before tea. He did get some turn on the first day, but went round the park, taking 0-100... Prior is bedding in for tea, turning a gentle single off his legs, and Swann is resolute in defence as the players trot off for a slice of cake. The lead is 292.

1537 - Eng 119-6 (42 overs)
Asif in for his 16th over, Prior is operating in singles at the moment, while another Kamran Akmal fumble behind the stumps almost gives England an undeserved overthrow. Tea fast approaching.

From Graham, Barcelona, TMS inbox: "Prior is becoming a 'running' liability! It was Morgan's call and Prior wasn't even paying attention!"

1533 - Eng 118-6 (41 overs)
Prior and Swann club Aamer for several singles as the overall lead creeps up to 290.

From Kashif, via text: "Pakistan need to bring back Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf to have a balanced batting side. You can see what's happening to Pakistan cricket without these two greats. Pakistan supporters should demand them back."

1528 - Eng 115-6 (40 overs)
Asif has a short mid-off in for Swann - who changes his mind about his shot, and as he tries to leave the ball, it hits his bat and sails past gully for four! That brings up "Nelson" (111). Swann lofts a four over the non-striker's head, and Asif gives it his best "how on earth did he do that?" expression beloved of bowlers the world over. Aggers reveals he'll be joined in the tea interval by Chris Tarrant - in his capacity as the president of the Lord's Taverners...

From rich1uk on 606: "That really was a crazy run-out given the circumstances in the match."

1523 - Eng 107-6 (39 overs)
Prior may have been taking running-between-the-wickets lessons from Owais Shah, that's the second run-out he's been involved in during this match. Amin is taken off and Mohammad Aamer returns. New batsman Graeme Swann drives at one outside off stump and it flashes over gully's head for four. The next one is on leg stump, Swann tries to turn it off his legs and it sails through for four leg byes. A single ensures the Notts spinner keeps the strike.

1518 - WICKET - Morgan run out (U Akmal) 17 - Eng 98-6 (38 overs)
Asif has a half-hearted lbw shout against Prior, Umpire de Silva shakes his head and Pakistan decide not to review it. A good decision, as it turns out - Hawk-Eye shows the ball sailing over the stumps. We haven't had the UDRS invoked at all today... Prior stands-and-delivers, trying to whack Asif through the covers but fails to make contact. A powerful square drive by Prior looks like it's going for four, but it's saved on the rope - after they run two, there's a mix-up between the batsmen and Morgan is run out at the bowler's end! Morgan knows he's out, he doesn't even wait for the third umpire's verdict.

1512 - Eng 96-5 (37 overs)
Amin drops in a long-hop and Morgan superbly picks the length and square-cuts him for four. "I think he's got to bowl Kaneria," postulates Vic Marks on TMS. "He's got to bowl England out, and if he's not going to bowl him now, when will he?"

1509 - Eng 92-5 (36 overs)
Asif, who rivals Ryan Sidebottom for the fullest head of hair in Test cricket, strays down the leg side and Morgan flicks a single to the man on the square-leg fence. By the way, if you want to see more pictures of Jim Carter, Blowers' trousers or a magnificent cake, I can point you to the TMS Flickr stream.

1505 - Eng 91-5 (35 overs)
...or possibly not, as Pakistan turn to Umar Amin's gentle medium pace. He picked up his first two Test wickets against Australia at Headingley - Marcus North and Shane Watson, and seems to have carved a little niche as Pakistan's occasional fourth seamer. Prior works him for two off his legs, that's a rapid over and should improve the over-rate - we've supposedly got 57 more to bowl today but I can't imagine the light will permit all of those to be bowled.

1502 - Eng 89-5 (34 overs)
Morgan is batting carefully against Asif - maiden over. England may be 89-5, but they're "net" 261-5. And we might finally see some spin...

1457 - Eng 89-5 (33 overs)
Gul raps Morgan on the pad, there's a half-serious shout for lbw but the ball clearly pitched outside leg stump. England benefit from back-to-back boundaries as Morgan brutally pulls a four through mid-wicket before Kamran "Buttergloves" Akmal lets four byes through. A single takes the Dublin-born left-hander to 12.

From Andy, via text: "Re: 1408, I am actually a Lancastrian which slightly pains me to mention Lyth but his stats don't lie and have heard many good reports."

1452 - Eng 80-5 (32 overs)
After a drinks break, Asif sends down a no-ball (his back foot was outside the return crease) which Prior whacks back past the bowler for four. And if you missed TMS's excellent "View from the Boundary" interview with Jim Carter at lunchtime, you can now download it as a podcast.

1446 - Eng 75-5 (31 overs)
Prior is finally off the mark as he fends off a lifter from Gul (3-14 before this over) and gets a single to fine leg as he takes a hand off the bat. Michael Vaughan makes a very good point on TMS - how much have fielding errors cost Pakistan in this game?

From eirebilly on 606: "The game is far from over. This has been an amazing fightback from Pakistan. Mogs sure has a lot to do now for England. He is a great backs to the wall batsman so hopefully he will shine again."

1441 - Eng 74-5 (30 overs)
Mohammad Asif replaces Aamer at the Paula End, as Pakistan see fit to rotate their three strike bowlers. Morgan guides the first ball of the over to third man for two, but is content to defend the rest of the over - England lead by 246.

1436 - Eng 72-5 (29 overs)
New batsman is Matt Prior, who was run out in the first innings after a mix-up with his partner Graeme Swann. "Don't worry, after only five left hooks we are friends again," Swanny posted on Twitter yesterday evening. Prior defends his first two deliveries.

1433 - WICKET - Collingwood lbw b Gul 1 - Eng 72-5 (28.4 overs)
Gul, who has conceded just 14 runs from his first seven overs, tries a bouncer at Collingwood, it keeps low and strikes Colly on the knee-roll... Umpire Tony Hill, who's had an excellent game so far, raises his finger. There's a brief consultation... and Colly decides not to ask for a review. Hawk-Eye indicates it would have probably hit the top of off stump (well done Mr Hill again), though it was very nearly (but not quite) a no-ball...

From Awais from Cardiff, TMS inbox: "We keep talking about Pakistan's batting, what about their fielding? Only if their fielding was of international standard, they would have been in winning position in this game! I wouldn't be surprised if they have a different wicketkeeper for the second Test..."

1427 - Eng 72-4 (28 overs)
Butt leaves the field temporarily to be replaced by sub fielder Wahab Riaz, so presumably vice-captain Kamran Akmal is taking the reins for an over or two. Aamer goes wide of the crease and sends down a pearler which swings away from Morgan at the last minute and just fails to take the edge as he plays and misses. Maiden over. Doug (below), you're making a big assumption that Hampshire would want KP to play for them, after he so spectacularly (and needlessly) burnt his bridges with them, and they refused to pick him for that 40-over game last week?

From Doug Scholes, via text: "Cook needs to be dropped, Trott to open and Bell to bat 3 when he's back from injury. Also the selectors need to be ruthless and send KP back to Hampshire to find some form and give his place to someone in form at the moment, eg Bopara."

1424 - Eng 72-4 (27 overs)
Umar Gul, who will make a half-decent case for the man-of-the-match award if he picks up a couple more wickets, pings in a bouncer to Morgan which is signalled as a wide. A confident cover drive is brilliantly stopped by Butt diving to his right at mid-off and they scuttle through for a single - but replays show that a direct hit would have run Morgan out.

1418 - Eng 70-4 (26 overs)
It's still Aamer from the end I still like to call the Paula Radcliffe Road End, and he has Colly on the defensive. The Pakistan pace pair are both bowling around the 85mph mark, and Colly survives as Aamer completes a maiden over.

From Rog T, TMS inbox: "If KP has 'Australia Tour' in his diary one hopes it is in pencil."

1414 - Eng 70-4 (25 overs)
So, England's answer to International Rescue (from the first innings) - Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan - are together again. The lead is 238. Morgan tries to turn Gul to leg but can't make contact - but he's off the mark when he opens the face to angle a four past the slips.

1410 - WICKET - Trott b Gul 26 - Eng 66-4 (24.2 overs)
Trott is beaten by a shooter that keeps very low and Gul demolishes his stumps!

1408 - Eng 66-3 (24 overs)
Colly looks a bit hesitant against left-armer Aamer. He has two slips in, but with the erratic form Kamran has showed in this Test, he may want to employ a long-stop. Colly sees off a maiden over. Andy on the text (see below), to take a wild guess, you wouldn't be from Yorkshire by any chance would you?

From Andy, via text: "How about Adam Lyth as a shout for opening instead of Cook? Has had a fantastic season in all forms of the game."

1403 - DROPPED CATCH - Eng 66-3 (23 overs)
Time for England's fire-fighter - Paul Collingwood can be relied upon to dig in and get them out of trouble in his "Brigadier Block" persona, and I'm not just saying that because I have a Sunderland fan sat opposite me in the office today. But Colly nibbles at his first ball outside off stump, Kamran goes for the catch and fumbles it out of his gloves in front of first slip! Incredible - that was easier than the catch he's just taken! Gul should be on a hat-trick... Colly is off the mark with a single.

1359 - WICKET - Pietersen c K Akmal b Gul 22 - Eng 65-3 (22.3 overs)
KP isn't happy with something next to the sightscreen - and a fan (sat next to the screen) wearing a bright yellow jacket is asked to disrobe. "He's lucky he can't see your trousers," quips Michael Vaughan to Blowers on TMS. But whether he was distracted by the yellow-jacketed man or not, KP then gets an inside edge and Kamran takes a quite stunning catch diving to his left! Will the real Kamran Akmal please stand up?!

Former England captain Michael Vaughan on TMS: "I think spinner Danish Kaneria's going to have to do a big job for Pakistan as the swing's gone and there's no seam movement."

1355 - Eng 65-2 (22 overs)
Trott square-drives Aamer for four, the teenage pace bowler's looking bit frustrated - and as Michael Vaughan points out on TMS, Pakistan can't afford for England to score too quickly. (The overall lead is now 237). Keeper Kamran Akmal winces in pain after taking a blow on the finger as he catches the ball, then Aamer has Trott wafting outside off stump.

1351 - Eng 61-2 (21 overs)
Umar Gul to continue after lunch, but he slings one down the leg side which disappears for four leg byes. Rather appropriately for Nottingham, among the many fancy dress-wearers in the crowd appears to be a group dressed as Robin Hood and his merry men. KP's a merry man after he blasts a four back past the bowler.

From FleetJackHobbs on 606: "A thoroughly entertaining lunch time interview. Top marks! - I wouldn't mind having that guy [Jim Carter] round to dinner."

1346 - Eng 53-2 (20 overs)
Mohammad Aamer has changed ends for his second spell - we've got another 73 overs to get through today, and without any spin in the attack so far, the over-rate isn't great. Aamer has two slips and a gully in for Jonathan Trott, who forces a shorter delivery through mid-wicket for four. He has 22, Kevin Pietersen has 18.

1339: Aggers' interview with Jim Carter is over all too soon as the umps are on their way and we're ready to resume proceedings from the middle at Trent Bridge.

From Mark, Glasgow, via text: "Trott to open in place of Cook anyone? Might create a problem again at number three, but bump Pietersen up?"

From TC, Pimlico, TMS inbox: "Re: 1147. If you ask me, it looks like Inzi's already the fielding coach."

1304: Right, while I dash out for the finest sandwich available to humanity (or in my case, the BBC canteen), listen out for "A View from the Boundary" on TMS - with special guest Jim Carter.

1302 - Eng 49-2 (19 overs)
Gul to bowl the last over before lunch. KP tries a couple of his legside flicks, without success. Meanwhile, if you want to see a picture of Henry Blofeld's lobster-coloured trousers which have aroused so much comment on TMS today, check out Aggers' Twitter feed. Gul eventually completes a maiden over - that's lunch, England lead by 221.

1257 - Eng 49-2 (18 overs)
Vic Marks on TMS recalls (through gritted teeth) about how Pietersen once spent a winter driving around in a Somerset sponsored car before having a change of heart and joining Hampshire... Trott guides a four through square leg when the tiring Asif strays down the leg side, then a single takes him to 18 before KP nicks the strike. Meanwhile, Ali Cook is caught by the TV cameras picking his nose on the England balcony. The unacceptable face of cricket?

1252 - Eng 43-2 (17 overs)
Danish Kaneria, hardly the most athletic of the Pakistan fielders, is a ball-magnet at the moment - having chased down that three from KP last over, he has to pursue another single from Pietersen, who moves on to 17. Gul, whose run-up is likened to a dressage horse by Blowers on TMS, is flicked by Trott to guess who, Kaneria again on the square leg boundary as they run one. Might he get a little trundle with the ball before lunch?

From John, via text: "I'm afraid I've found another fault with your scoreboard - it's showing that Kamran Akmal has taken two catches. Must be broken."

1248 - Eng 41-2 (16 overs)
While Blowers greets the new stand at Trent Bridge with "a regal wave - reminiscent of the Queen Mother" (according to Vic Marks), Trott finally cuts loose with a straight-driven four which takes him into double figures. He then prods one to gully, half-sets-off for a run that isn't there, but Shoaib Malik's throw is wild enough for them to run an overthrow anyway. KP works the last ball of the over off his legs and they scamper three.

From Mohsin from Pakistan, TMS inbox: "Pakistan are very unlucky these days to have a great bowling attack but no batting to support it, hence they are in trouble most of the time like here in this match. Even if the bowlers get England out for under 100, the batting will not be able to chase down the target."

1243 - Eng 33-2 (15 overs)
Pakistan's first change of bowling as it's time for Umar Gul, fresh from his batting heroics earlier today. Trott turns a single to fine leg, KP tries a big hit through the covers but it's straight to a fielder. Gul has a good old stretch between deliveries, that's a good first over which only yields that one run. KP plays and misses awkwardly at the last ball - "the defensive stroke of a man perfectly out of form," notes Blowers on TMS.

1237 - Eng 32-2 (14 overs)
Once more, Kamran is standing up to the stumps to keep KP in his crease - no mean feat when Asif is bowling just a shade under 80mph (and considering Kamran had an absolute shocker with the gloves on Thursday). As well as the silly mid-off, there's now a short mid-on standing just off the pitch, in the perfect position to pick the non-striker's pocket if he backs up too far. KP tries an on-drive but it sails off an edge through the slips for four. Asif raises his eyes to the heavens in frustration - it wasn't a catch as it just dribbled along the ground, but it sailed perfectly between first and second slip.

1232 - Eng 28-2 (13 overs)
Pietersen is on the defensive against Aamer (still in Wasim mode), before clipping a single past mid-on. England sneaking along here, but they lead by 200 now, and there's just under half-an-hour to lunch - although we're still due to have 79 more overs bowled today as we try to make up time lost to bad light yesterday.

From James in Accra, TMS inbox: "Dear England Selectors. I would like to apply for the position of Test team opener. I once scored a fifty, although to be honest I haven't scored any runs for years and am completely incapable of showing any backbone and tough it out if things get a little difficult. Basically, I'm great against rubbish teams on massively batsman-friendly pitches, but otherwise I bat like I've never seen a cricket ball before. If the Test opener position isn't available, I'd be happy to take the number 4 spot. While I am one of the greatest Test number 4s ever to pick up a bat and am pretty sure everyone loves me, I haven't scored a decent score against a decent team for a few years. In anticipation of 50 Test matches and maybe even an MBE."

1227 - Eng 27-2 (12 overs)
Single from KP, then Asif still has a silly mid-off in for Trott, who is watchful in defence. Kamran stands up to the stumps to keep the Warwickshire man in his crease.

1223 - Eng 26-2 (11 overs)
After a speedy drinks break, Trott guides Aamer for a single to fine leg. Aamer shifts to bowling round the wicket (in the manner of Wasim Akram) to KP - a single takes the soon-to-be-ex-Hampshire player to seven.

From Cookie_Monster_Will_Eat_You on 606: "If Pakistan could bat they would be world beaters. Asif and Aamer are definitely the best two strike bowlers in the world."

1216 - Eng 24-2 (10 overs)
It's more of the same at the other end as KP plays and misses at Asif. Meanwhile, apologies if the scorecard is running a little slowly (as some of you have reported), stay with the live text and you'll hear about anything that happens, as soon as I can type it. Eventually, KP whips Asif through mid-wicket for his first boundary of the innings.

1212 - Eng 20-2 (9 overs)
Simon Hughes (deputising for CMJ, who's at a wedding) takes over on TMS as Aamer continues his probing line against KP, who pushes a single past the bowler. Trott is playing and missing at the left-armer, who looks liable to take a wicket at any time.

From Bernie, via text: "While I want England to win, I want Pakistan to do really well. They have gone through so much at home, and it is to their credit that they are competing so well. Great stuff guys."

1207 - Eng 19-2 (8 overs)
That was Asif's 100th Test wicket, by the way. It's fair to say Kevin Pietersen could do with some Test runs - his last ton was against West Indies in Trinidad, 16 months (and 13 Tests) ago. He pushes his first ball for a single into the covers, Trott looks happy to survive against Asif's swing bowling.

1202 - WICKET - Cook c K Akmal b Asif 12 - Eng 18-2 (7.1 overs)
Cook feathers an edge to a loose delivery down the leg side, keeper Kamran takes the catch and umpire Asoka de Silva raises his finger straight away. So, Cook's wretched English summer with the bat (7, 23, 29, 8 and 12 in his five Test innings) continues. Don't worry though, KP's in next...

1201 - Eng 18-1 (7 overs)
Cook lets one go which sails millimetres over his stumps, Aamer is getting the ball to swing all over the place at the moment. The England vice-captain eventually flicks a single to fine leg, though they nearly get a second run on a wild throw in from the boundary.

1156 - Eng 17-1 (6 overs)
Cook defends well in the gloom against Asif, there's a stifled lbw appeal at one which swings back in at Cook, but the Essex man forces it off his legs for a single.

From Sarah, via text: "Shhh! I'm in the National Library of Wales doing work for my PhD, so I don't want an England batting collapse to provoke unnecessary shrieking in its hushed reading rooms. The librarians are sterner than a Rudi Koertzen slow death!"

1152 - Eng 16-1 (5 overs)
Cook pushes a safer single through extra cover, while Trott nudges Aamer for four through fine leg. Meanwhile, Aggers reveals that the TMS lunchtime guest today will be actor Jim Carter (of Brassed Off and Shakespeare In Love fame) - but it's getting very gloomy at Trent Bridge and he fears they could go off soon.

1147 - Eng 11-1 (4 overs)
The wild-haired Asif has a man in at silly mid-off for Trott, who's off the mark with a single to fine leg. Cook plays and misses at another away-swinging beaut from Asif. Cook then pushes a quick single, Trott sets off late but there's a fumble by the man at short extra cover and they complete the run. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the world of cricket, former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has been quoted as saying that he'd like to offer his services to Pakistan as a batting coach... would be interesting to say the least!

From crickeet on 606: "Good test for Cookie here, I hope he can come through it and bag a few valuable runs. Be good for him."

1141 - Eng 9-1 (3 overs)
Aamer charges in from the Pavilion End, Cook forces him through mid-wicket and a bit of comedy fielding from Umar Gul on the boundary lets the ball straight through for four. Cook is then beaten by a beauty from Aamer which swings away and just misses the edge of his bat, but forces a two past the lumbering Kaneria at mid-on. So, England are "net" 181-1.

Vic Marks on TMS: "I think we can say that the treasurer of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club will be pleased that Pakistan avoided the follow-on, as it'll mean we'll see plenty of cricket today and plenty tomorrow."

1138 - Eng 3-1 (2 overs)
Mohammad Asif takes the second over, he had the ball swinging beautifully yesterday morning (earning him four lbw decisions) and could well make the ball "talk" in these cloudy conditions. Cook square-drives but that's straight to Shoaib Malik at point. He pushes the last ball for a single.

1132 - Eng 2-1 (1 over)
An early chance for Jonathan Trott to dig a huge trench down the middle of the pitch by taking guard every ball... he shoulders arms to the last ball of the over.

1130 - WICKET - Strauss c K Akmal b Aamer 0 - Eng 2-1 (0.4 overs)
Left-arm teenage speedster Mohammad Aamer takes the new cherry, and Cap'n Strauss gets England going straight away as he works a leg bye to fine leg. A fumble by Danish Kaneria at mid-on allows Cook to rotate the strike with a single - then Strauss gets an edge, it's fumbled at second slip by Umar Akmal, he then flicks it up in the air and just for once, his brother - wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal - takes a diving catch!

1125: Captain Salman Butt has Pakistan's fielders out in a "huddle", we're almost ready to go again with Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook opening England's second innings.

From BN, TMS inbox: "Hi Mark, I'm just up the road form the ground on Loughborough Road and it's just started to rain."

1119: Well, that was an entertaining cameo from Gul who finishes with 65 from 46 balls and put a few of Pakistan's "recognised" batsmen to shame. Give yourself another cheeky manual refresh for the innings details to change above.

1118 - WICKET - Asif run out (Morgan direct hit) 0 - Pkn 182 all out (54 overs)
Gul hooks Finn, that's over long leg's head for another six! Is this actually Gordon Greenidge (1984-style) wearing an Umar Gul mask or what?! I think it is, that's another massive six over square leg that nearly went out of the ground! He has 65 from 43 balls. Cap'n Strauss runs all the way from first slip to have a word with young Finn, who's in danger of being hit out of the attack here. Finn responds by firing a couple in well wide of off stump, but that doesn't stop Gul swinging and missing at both. But the innings ends in anti-climax when Gul pushes one into the covers, Asif is looking for a single to keep Gul on strike and Eoin Morgan's throw demolishes the stumps at the bowler's end.

From Martin Stewart, TMS inbox: "Stop complaining about it being a bit gloomy, I'm sat in my office in Delhi looking out over a monsoon and about three foot of water rushing down the street! Roll on 1pm GMT to get away from work and into the bar."

1112 - Pkn 170-9 (53 overs)
Anderson, bowling round the wicket to the leftie Mohammad Asif, finds the outside edge but it drops short of Kevin Pietersen at gully. While the TMS crew savour a magnificent cake that has been delivered to them, Asif safely negotiates the rest of the over.

1108 - Pkn 170-9 (52 overs)
Gul chops Steven Finn for four through the covers - Pakistan have avoided the follow-on, and killed any debate therein. The number nine then on-drives past the diving Alastair Cook at mid-on, that's four more! He then flogs a bouncer over square leg for six! ("What's going out there?" asks Aggers on TMS). Another brutal pull brings Gul his eighth four - that's his maiden Test fifty, well done him.

1103 - Pkn 152-9 (51 overs)
With men in run-saving positions on the third man and square leg boundaries, Gul bashes the first ball of the day for four past mid-on! Jimmy retaliates by firing in a brute of an inswinger which pings Gul on the thigh pad as he shoulders arms. Gul forces the fifth ball off his legs for a single - three needed to avoid the follow-on. The left-handed Asif swipes and misses at the last ball of the over. (Manually refresh your page and the "play to start at 11" will disappear from the top).

From Rob, via text: "I'm not usually a Pakistan fan but I have tickets for tomorrow, therefore I'm willing Gul and Asif to make a couple of streaky fours early on! Come on Pakistan, avoid that follow-on!"

1058: We're about ready to start - Jimmy Anderson, now aged 28 years and one day, will be bowling to Umar Gul, who smashed him for a six yesterday. Will he enter "Kapil Dev mode" and try to avoid the follow-on with a couple of mighty blows - or trust his partner Asif to survive?

From Dave, TMS inbox: "I live and work just over the bridge, a quarter of a mile from Trent Bridge. It's seriously grey, but no rain. There will be stops today, but I don't suspect a prolonged downpour."

Former Somerset and England off-spinner Vic Marks on TMS: "I'd enforce the follow-on if I could - as in these conditions I'd be confident of knocking Pakistan over for 250, knock off the remaining 50 runs and get on the road. But the modern way appears to not enforce the follow-on. A couple of glorious cover drives by Umar Gul, and the choice could be irrelevant."

1053: Good news - Blowers says if there's no more rain, we should start on time. But we can expect the odd shower and plenty of cloud.

From Simon, TMS inbox: "We live in Wymeswold, the mid point between Leicester and Nottingham. I just took the recycling out because rain looks imminent. Good day to bowl?"

1045: The familiar sound of "Soul Limbo" by Booker T and the MG's can mean only one thing - Test Match Special is under way. Henry Blofeld notes that the floodlights are on, as it's "pretty gloomy" - Blowers has heard rumours that England may not enforce the follow-on, but the weather could make them think again.

1040: A few umbrellas going up in the crowd. Ominous. By the way, a quick reminder - if you're texting us today, please put "CRICKET" as the first word - as otherwise they may get lost among all the texts coming in for Sam "The" Lyon's text commentary on the F1 Hungarian Grand Prix (where final practice is under way).

From rich1uk on 606: "I am almost always an advocate of enforcing the follow-on if it's available as I think it's the best way to make sure you win a game. I hate seeing a team decide to bat again and then bat too long before declaring and not leave themselves enough time to bowl the opposition out as happened against WI last year."

1033: Of course, being a Saturday, I know many of you will be dashing away from your computer at some point and hoping to dodge the rain showers long enough to play cricket yourselves today (good luck to the Idlers for their Hampshire League match at Lymington) - but remember that you can follow the latest scores and the live text on your mobile, so there's no excuse not to stay in touch. Looks a bit overcast at Trent Bridge, by the way. Swing bowlers will be licking their lips.

1025: Morning, everyone. After some excellent swing bowling by Mohammad Asif and birthday boy Jimmy Anderson yesterday when 15 wickets tumbled, the first Test is intriguingly poised with three days to go. Pakistan are 147-9 in their first innings, still eight runs away from avoiding the follow-on, although Umar Gul is going great guns and belying his modest Test batting average. However, the weather may quash England's hopes of wrapping up the game today - the BBC weather forecast for Nottingham predicts light rain showers, but I'd like to hear from any of you in the vicinity of Trent Bridge - please keep us posted on the weather front.