England batsman Joe Root has said that there is a "chance" of victory on day five of the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, despite the fact that the first innings is still in progress.
England are 569-8 with a lead of 46 runs after the fourth day, and although a draw seems all but certain, Root believes that the tourists could snatch a win if they can add quick runs and put pressure on the Pakistani top order.
Root, the third-ranked batsman in the world, scored 85 of England's 569, but it was captain Alastair Cook who stood out with a knock of 263 that lasted nearly 14 hours to represent the longest-ever Test innings by an Englishman.
Speaking of Cook, Root told Sky Sports News: "He's knackered as you'd expect. He's played out of his skin for the last two days.
"It takes a hell of a lot of concentration and skill to be able to bat for that amount of time regardless of the pitch, so we're thrilled for him and it's given us hope of some sort of result in this game now.
"It's going to be very hard [to win the game]. But we've given ourselves a chance with a lead. If [unbeaten batsmen Adil Rashid and Stuart Broad] can try and edge as much as they can and get a hundred lead then you just don't know."
Cook's innings made him the second player, after Brian Lara, to bat for 12 hours or more twice in his career.
Pascal Lemesre
