England are slight favourites - Strauss

LEEDS, England, Aug 7 (Reuters) Andrew Strauss believes England are slight favourites to win the third test against Pakistan tomorrow and clinch the series.

''I would make us just favourites,'' the England captain told a news conference after the fourth day at Headingley. Strauss scored a century in England's second innings of 345 to set Pakistan 323 to win on the final day.

''Either way, one team is going to have to play well to win it, it's not a foregone conclusion.

''I just hope the pitch deteriorates a bit more. There's enough in the pitch to believe there are 10 wickets out there if we bowl well, but there are also runs out there if we don't.

''It's going to be a good day's cricket and it's going to be challenging. The balance between attack and defence is going to be important.'' Only two sides have ever scored more than 300 in the final innings to win a test at Headingley.

England won the second test at Old Trafford to go 1-0 up in the four-match series. They have not beaten Pakistan in a home series since 1982. No match has been drawn at Headingley in the last seven tests at the venue.

''The team that plays better tomorrow will win the game,'' Strauss added. ''The seamers will obviously have a big role to play but there was also turn for (Pakistan spinner) Danish Kaneria.

''If Monty Panesar can bowl like he did in the first innings there's no reason why he can't take three or four wickets.'' Left-arm spinner Panesar took three wickets in the first innings after only one wicket had fallen to an England spinner in the previous 10 years of test cricket at Headingley.

Pakistan made 538 in their first innings.

REUTERS DH RK0030