A BAD day for England turned into a very good one for Somerset, as Dom Bess and Jos Buttler spared the hosts' blushes on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan at Lord's.
Somerset spinner Bess ended the day unbeaten on 55 and Taunton-born Buttler, who departed the County Ground for Lancashire in 2014, made 66 not out to ensure England would not suffer an innings defeat.
That grim outcome had certainly looked possible before the duo came together, as England - having finally ended Pakistan's first innings at 363-9 - lost wickets regularly.
Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Amir and Shadab Khan took two wickets apiece as Alistair Cook (1), Mark Stoneman (9), Jonny Bairstow (0) and Ben Stokes (9) all fell for single-figure scores.
Hard to look at this England batting line-up and think it wouldn't be improved by a player with 43 First Class tons who happens to be bang in form...
— Paul Martin (@CGazettePaul) May 26, 2018
Whether this will prompt a batting reshuffle for the next Test, with in-form Somerset man James Hildreth surely a contender to come in, only time will tell.
Captain Joe Root resisted well, but when he fell for 68, England had collapsed from 91-3 to 110-6 in just six overs.
HOLDING BACK THE TIDE: Jos Buttler in action for England against Pakistan. Pic: PA Wire/Alex Davy
All hope seemed lost... but at this point Buttler and Bess came together, and after surviving a nervous first few overs before tea, they began to find their flow.
Buttler cracked six fours in his 66, while Bess was arguably even more impressive with eight fours in his 55 - giving him a half-century on his England Test debut, as vital for his country as it is no doubt special for the 20-year-old Devonian.
England ended the day on 235-6, giving them a lead of 56 runs.
The odds may still be against them, but it's only thanks to Bess and Buttler that they have any chance whatsoever going into day four.
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