| 0.0 : The only fret for Pakistan would be the absence of Babar Azam who suffered a blow in the first Test. Ideally, the best chance for the visitors to win a Test series in England since 1996. Hello and welcome to our coverage of the second Test between Pakistan and England. If the form of the current players is not worrying enough, they have certain injury concerns to look after. The Three Lions have not been in their best shape in the recent past and need to up their game if they want to avoid a ser |
| TOSS - Pakistan win the toss and opt to bat first. One forced change for them as Babar Azam is replaced by Usman Salahuddin, who makes his Test debut. Continuous poor form for Mark Stoneman has given Keaton Jennings a chance to prove his mettle. The young Sam Curran, who also becomes the 7th youngest for England to play red-ball cricket and Chris Woakes too make it to the XI. Mark Wood and Ben Stokes(injured) make the bench. |
| The players come out with a guard of honor from the children who hold both countries' flags high. The English players take the field and Imam ul Haq and Azhar Ali will fight the morning session. James Anderson is given the new ball and will hope he finds some swing. Three slips and a gully to start with. Let's play! |
| 0.1 : J Anderson to Ali, What a cracker of a ball to start with! Pitches it full in search of swing and gets exactly that. It is just around off, Azhar flirts with it and almost gets a feather to it. |
| 0.2 : J Anderson to Ali, Full again, this time outside off and Azhar does the wise thing to leave it alone. |
| 0.3 : J Anderson to Ali, Drags it a tad back on a good length on that fifth stump channel, Ali lets the ball go to the keeper. |
| 0.4 : J Anderson to Ali, Full outside off, Ali shoulders arms to this. |
| 0.5 : J Anderson to Ali, Azhar Ali chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 0.6 : J Anderson to Ali, Maiden to start with from Anderson. And what a peach to end the over. Serves it outside off, it moves away after pitching, Ali plays and misses. |
| Stuart Broad to share the new ball from the other end. Three slips and a gully for him too. |
| 1.1 : S Broad to Imam, Broad starts with bowling one on a good length outside off, easy leave for Imam. |
| An early breakthrough for England? Imam is given LBW by the umpire and he decides to take it upstairs. Is there an inside edge? Height could be an issue as well. Umpire's call? Let's see... |
| 1.2 : S Broad to Imam, NOT OUT! Imam survives an early scare and height it was. Broad bowls one at a back of a length ball on middle and leg, Imam hops and misses his flick to get hit high on the pads. They appeal in unison and the umpire takes no time in raising his finger. Imam decides to take the review and replays show us that the ball would have missed the top of the stumps. |
| 1.3 : S Broad to Imam, Outside off, left alone. |
| 1.4 : S Broad to Imam, Length outside off, too far to let Imam play at it. |
| 1.5 : S Broad to Imam, Misses his line and serves this down leg, Imam goes for the flick but doesn't make any contact. |
| 1.6 : S Broad to Imam, OUT! First blow for Pakistan and just the start the Lions wanted. Stuart Broad is the man with the breakthrough. He was unlucky earlier in the over but gets his man this time. Serves it full outside off, Imam stays in his crease and reaches out for this one. Gets a thick outside edge and the ball flies to third slip where Root takes a good high catch. |
| Haris Sohail walks out next to bat. |
| 2.1 : J Anderson to Ali, Ali shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 2.2 : J Anderson to Ali, Outside off, easy leave for Azhar. |
| 2.3 : J Anderson to Ali, Length ball outside off, Ali points his bat skywards and lets it go. |
| 2.4 : J Anderson to Ali, Broad needs to get it a little straight to make Ali play these. bowls another one outside off, no trouble for Azhar. |
| 2.5 : J Anderson to Ali, On the fifth stump line, Ali lets the keeper take it. |
| 2.6 : J Anderson to Ali, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 3.1 : S Broad to Sohail, Full and just outside off, Sohail takes a half-stride and shoulders arms. |
| 3.2 : S Broad to Sohail, Full and wide outside off, well away to force Sohail play at that. Now, the umpire has a look at Broad's landing and lets him know, friendly, that he's treading the danger area. |
| 3.3 : S Broad to Sohail, Full and outside off, left alone. |
| 3.4 : S Broad to Sohail, Now Broad comes around the wickets and hurls it full and wide outside off. Sohail just lets it be. |
| 3.5 : S Broad to Sohail, Lovely! Landing just outside off, Sohail is forced to play at that. But the ball seams away just a bit to beat the southpaw all ends up. |
| 3.6 : S Broad to Sohail, Fourth maiden on the trot for England. They've kept Pakistan under a leash here. This is bowled full outside off, Sohail is stuck in the crease in his attempted drive. Gets beaten on the outside edge to make us feel he is looking a bit nervous. |
| 4.1 : J Anderson to Ali, Good length ball around off, the ball swings after pitching and Ali does not play at it. |
| 4.2 : J Anderson to Ali, The ball is too wide on the off side for Ali to make any contact. |
| 4.3 : J Anderson to Ali, First run on the board for Pakistan after 26 dot balls. A loud cheer in the crowd as Ali reaches the other end. Anderson bowls it around off and middle, could have been curtains for Ali had he not got that off the inner half. The ball goes towards mid-wicket and Azhar decides to take the fielder on. Succeeds as the shy at the bowler's end misses. |
| 4.4 : J Anderson to Sohail, Back of a length ball on off, Sohail leaves it alone. |
| 4.5 : J Anderson to Sohail, Haris shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 4.6 : J Anderson to Sohail, What was that? Banana swing! Full and outside off, the ball pitches and swings back in after the stumps. Baristow jumps to right and takes a good catch. |
| 5.1 : S Broad to Ali, Full ball around off, Ali plays it to backward point for nothing. |
| 5.2 : S Broad to Ali, The batsman fails to put bat on ball. |
| 5.3 : S Broad to A Ali, Full again, angling in, Ali gets forward and taps it to gully. |
| 5.4 : S Broad to Ali, Azhar has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 5.5 : S Broad to Ali, Length ball, Ali lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 5.6 : S Broad to Ali, Full on middle and leg, Ali flicks it away but finds the man at mid-wicket. |
| 6.1 : J Anderson to Sohail, Steams in from round the wicket and serves it outside off, Sohail shoulders his arms to it. |
| 6.2 : J Anderson to Sohail, Wide outside off stump, Haris leaves it alone. |
| 6.3 : J Anderson to Sohail, FOUR! First one of the day but not the way Pakistan would have liked it. Anderson teases Sohail with a good ball around off, Haris plays at it with soft hands and gets an outside edge. The ball sneaks through the gap between the slip cordon and gully for a boundary. Buttler did put in a dive from the latter position but failed to prevent the run flow. |
| 6.4 : J Anderson to Sohail, Outside off, perfect length for Sohail to play at but the ball just beats his outside edge. |
| 6.5 : J Anderson to Sohail, Full and outside off, Sohail plays and misses. |
| 6.6 : J Anderson to Sohail, Wide outside off stump, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| 7.1 : S Broad to Ali, Comes in from over the wicket and angles one in on middle and leg. Ali gets it off the inner half towards fine leg for one. |
| 7.2 : S Broad to H Sohail, Overpitched ball on off, Sohail drives it through covers for a brace. |
| 7.3 : S Broad to Sohail, The ball is too wide on the off side for the batsman to make any contact. |
| 7.4 : S Broad to Sohail, Full and wide outside off, too far for Sohail to make contact. |
| 7.5 : S Broad to Sohail, FOUR! Second one for Sohail. Broad comes running in from round the wicket and hurls in full around off. Haris gets forward and it goes from outside edge through backward point to the fence. |
| 7.6 : S Broad to H Sohail, FOUR! Half a chance for England but Buttler cannot hold onto it. Broad gets the edge of Sohail by bowling one wide outside off. Sohail looks to play this with a straight bat and gets a fat edge towards third slip. Buttler there, jumps high but can only get his fingers to it. The ball races away to the fence. |
| 8.1 : J Anderson to Ali, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 8.2 : J Anderson to Ali, The batsman gets an inside edge and the ball hits him on the pads. |
| 8.3 : J Anderson to Ali, Back of a length ball on middle and leg, Ali misses his flick as the ball hits him on his thigh pad. |
| 8.4 : J Anderson to Ali, Outside off, left alone. |
| 8.5 : J Anderson to Ali, Interesting. Ali jumps across to the left when the bowler is in his run up. Anderson then delivers this outside off on a fuller length, Azhar just shoulders arms. |
| 8.6 : J Anderson to Ali, Back of a length ball on middle and leg, Ali gets hit on the pads. The ball rolls towards the leg side and they take a leg bye. |
| 9.1 : S Broad to Ali, OUT! Broad gets another one in his first spell and is asking the Pakistani batsmen question. Comes in from over the wicket and bowls it fuller outside off. The ball nibs back in, Ali is beaten for pace and he strides out to block this. Misses the ball as it hits him on his leg. Broad is in celebration as he continues his celebration. The umpire raises his finger and England are jubilant. Ali thinks of a review but decides against it as he takes the long walk back. |
| 0.0 : Asad Shafiq is the next batsman in. |
| 9.2 : S Broad to Shafiq, Defended off the front foot by Shafiq presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 9.3 : S Broad to Shafiq, In line of the stumps, Shafiq gets behind the ball and blocks it well. |
| 9.4 : S Broad to Shafiq, Length ball on off, Shafiq gets a leading edge towards covers for a run. |
| 9.5 : S Broad to Sohail, Full and outside off, Sohail looks to play at it but cannot put bat to ball. |
| 9.6 : S Broad to Sohail, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 10.1 : J Anderson to Shafiq, Shafiq defends this from within the crease. |
| 10.2 : J Anderson to Shafiq, Outside off, Shafiq shoulders his arms to it. |
| 10.3 : J Anderson to Shafiq, Length ball on off, Anderson gets a little bounce on this as the ball hits him on his thigh pad. |
| 10.4 : J Anderson to Shafiq, Pushed to the cover region by Asad. |
| 10.5 : J Anderson to Shafiq, FOUR! Shot of the day and Shafiq in total control of it. Pitched up ball from Anderson around off, Shafiq gets low and drives it superbly through covers. Boundary. |
| 10.6 : J Anderson to Shafiq, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 11.1 : S Broad to Sohail, The ball is too wide on the off side for Haris to make any contact. |
| 11.2 : S Broad to Sohail, Outside off, easy leave for Sohail. |
| 11.3 : S Broad to Sohail, Better line from Broad, makes Sohail play at it but cannot make contact with the ball. |
| 11.4 : S Broad to Sohail, Plays this to the cover-point region and gets to the other end. |
| 11.5 : S Broad to Shafiq, Length in line of the stumps, Shafiq gets behind the ball and defends it. |
| 11.6 : S Broad to Shafiq, Similar ball, Asad is solid in his defense. |
| 12.1 : J Anderson to Sohail, Comes in from round the wicket and serves it full and wide down leg. Sohail misses his flick but Jonny does well to get gloves at it. |
| 12.2 : J Anderson to Sohail, Length ball way wide outside off, easy leave for Sohail. |
| 12.3 : J Anderson to Sohail, Back of a length ball on leg, Sohail looks to tuck it away but fails. The keeper collects it and appeals but was the only one doing so. |
| 12.4 : J Anderson to Sohail, On middle and off this time, Sohail blocks it solidly. |
| 12.5 : J Anderson to Sohail, Outside off, Haris shoulders his arms to this one. |
| 12.6 : J Anderson to Sohail, Anderson has not got his lines well after the first over. Bowls another one way outside off for Sohail to make any contact. |
| 13.1 : S Broad to Shafiq, Seventh over on the trot for Broad. He serves this in line of the stumps and Shafiq defends it well. |
| 13.2 : S Broad to Shafiq, Down leg, Asad still goes after it but cannot make contact. |
| 13.3 : S Broad to Shafiq, The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails. |
| 13.4 : S Broad to Shafiq, Beaten for movement. Length ball around off, Shafiq plays and misses. |
| 13.5 : S Broad to Shafiq, Full ball outside off, Shafiq opens the face of the bat and guides it towards gully. Buttler there, gets a hand to it and parries it towards covers where Bess cleans it up. The batsmen cross. |
| 13.6 : S Broad to Sohail, Jaffa! Good length ball around off, Sohail pokes at it and almost gets an edge to it. |
| The first drinks break has been taken. |
| It's time for Chris Woakes to have a go with the ball now. This is the first bowling change for the hosts since morning. Sums up the fact that Anderson and Broad bowled 7 straight overs apiece. |
| 14.1 : C Woakes to Shafiq, Begins with a delivery bowled on a length just fuller than a good length outside off. Shafiq gets half-forward and leaves it alone. |
| 14.2 : C Woakes to Shafiq, FOUR! Short, wide and put away! Back of a length outside off, there's enough room on offer. Shafiq doesn't waste the opportunity to pick up a boundary. He hops and slaps it in front of square on the off side. Gets it well over the infield and the ball goes away to the fence. |
| 14.3 : C Woakes to Shafiq, FOUR! Delightful! Full and outside off, overcorrection to the previous one. Shafiq gets his front foot to the pitch of the ball and plays a lovely cover drive. Talk about looking elegant, getting his front foot moving and that high elbow position... |
| 14.4 : C Woakes to Shafiq, Hurled outside off on a length, left alone. |
| 14.5 : C Woakes to Shafiq, Another harmless ball outside off, Asad lets it be. |
| 14.6 : C Woakes to Shafiq, Getting carried away is Shafiq! This delivery is much like 14.2. Short and wide outside off, Shafiq hops and looks to slap it yet again. Gets beaten on the outside this time. |
| First look at Sam Curran! It's a double change from the hosts. Here goes the left arm pacer, predominantly a pace bowler, says Ian Botham on air. |
| 15.1 : Sam Curran to Sohail, And Curran lives up to his billing by Mr. Botham! Runs in from over the wicket and bowls it full on off. There is that outward swing available and Sohail does well to block it. |
| 15.2 : Sam Curran to Sohail, A low full toss around middle and leg, in an attempt to bowl full to seek swing. Sohail clips it towards mid on for nothing. |
| 15.3 : Sam Curran to Sohail, Straighter ball outside off, left alone by Haris. |
| 15.4 : Sam Curran to Sohail, Lovely stroke. Full outside off, Sohail drives it through covers. Gets a couple as a result. |
| 15.5 : Sam Curran to Sohail, Hurled outside off, left alone by HS. |
| 15.6 : Sam Curran to H Sohail, FOUR! Delectable! The joy of seeing a southpaw bat against someone who can swing the cherry is immense. This is overpitched outside off, Sohail gets a stride forward and drives it superbly through covers. Nobody in the field stood a chance of cutting that off. Decent start from the newbie, apart from this last delivery. |
| 16.1 : C Woakes to Shafiq, On the pads, flicked away round the corner for one. |
| 16.2 : C Woakes to Sohail, Woakes continues over the wicket for the southpaw. Sohail watches the ball sail through into the keeper's gloves. |
| 16.3 : C Woakes to Sohail, Ahhhhhh, appeal the slip cordon! On not getting the umpire's nod, Bairstow and Root have a chat about taking it upstairs before deciding against it. To start with, it's a top delivery. Lands on a length around middle and squares Sohail up in defense. Seems to be some sound there as the ball passed the blade. Snicko shows nothing. So a good call from the hosts to not refer it upstairs. |
| 16.4 : C Woakes to Sohail, On a length around off and middle, defended from within the crease. |
| 16.5 : C Woakes to Sohail, Testing stuff. Sohail is half-forward to this length ball angled across him. Gets beaten on the outside edge. |
| 16.6 : C Woakes to Sohail, Well outside off, left alone by Haris. End of a good testing over by Woakes. |
| 17.1 : Sam Curran to Shafiq, Hurled down the leg side, Asad misses the flick. |
| 17.2 : Sam Curran to A Shafiq, A low full toss angling across, Shafiq lunges and drives it towards mid off, a mistimed one that. |
| 17.3 : Sam Curran to Shafiq, Wonderful delivery. This one nips in sharply after landing. Asad does well to get bat to that. Gets it off the inner half towards mid-wicket to rotate strike. The stand is now worth 23. |
| 17.4 : Sam Curran to Sohail, Length ball around off, kept out from the crease. |
| 17.5 : Sam Curran to Sohail, Full outside off, Sohail just times and places his off drive through cover-point. Gets a brace for the effort. |
| 17.6 : Curran to Sohail, Beauty! Curran spears this around the good length region around off. It comes back in nicely. Catches Sohail, who attempted to block it, in the crease on the back thigh pad. The ball then rolls towards the slip cordon even as the players appeal. Nope, says the umpire. |
| 18.1 : C Woakes to Shafiq, Shafiq sees this length ball in line of the stumps out with a back foot defense. |
| 18.2 : C Woakes to Shafiq, Full and down the leg side, AS misses the flick. |
| 18.3 : C Woakes to Shafiq, Another appeal! Height the factor yet again. Length delivery around off and moving in a touch, enough to beat the defensive bat of Shafiq. Raps him high on the front pad. The home side appeals to no avail. Would have missed the stumps altogether. |
| 18.4 : C Woakes to Shafiq, Full on off, defended off the front foot. |
| 18.5 : C Woakes to Shafiq, Well outside off, Shafiq lets it be. |
| 18.6 : C Woakes to Shafiq, A maiden from Woakes now. Hurls this one outside off, Shafiq lifts his blade to let the keeper do the rest. |
| 19.1 : Sam Curran to Sohail, Yorker aimed at the off pole, dug out back towards the bowler from the crease. |
| 19.2 : Sam Curran to Sohail, Sohail stands tall and defends this one with a straight bat. |
| 19.3 : Sam Curran to Sohail, Back of a length delivery angling across Sohail, he has his weight on the back foot as he opens his bat face. Gets it through point as Buttler from front of it chases it. Dives near the ropes to save a run for his side. It's taken upstairs for confirmation and the replays prove conclusive. |
| 19.4 : Sam Curran to Shafiq, Hurled on the pads, worked away through backward square leg for one. |
| 19.5 : Sam Curran to Sohail, On off, defended with a straight bat. |
| 19.6 : Sam Curran to Sohail, Nice swinging ball that starts from around middle and leg and ends up around off. Driven off the front foot to mid off. |
| 20.1 : C Woakes to Shafiq, Back of a length delivery angling in, Asad gets inside the line and taps it towards backward square leg for one. |
| 20.2 : C Woakes to Sohail, Just fuller than good length around off, Sohail gets forward and pushes it through covers for a couple. After some initial nervous moments, he seems to have settled well here. |
| 20.3 : C Woakes to H Sohail, Good fielding. Sohail drives it towards the right of mid off and thinks of a run. Broad gets to the ball quickly and stops it with a dive. Thus, the batter's plan has to be aborted quickly. |
| 20.4 : C Woakes to Sohail, Haris now covers his stumps and lets the harmless delivery pass unhindered. |
| 20.5 : C Woakes to Sohail, Very full outside off, Sohail withdraws his bat and lets it be. |
| 20.6 : C Woakes to Sohail, OUT! Talk about the commentator's curse or anything. A phase of no wickets (70 balls) has now ended. Woakes delivers the goods. This is a crucial one, reckons Wasim Akram on air. It lands on a length and angles away. All this while, it seemed as if Sohail had figured out which ones he needs to play and which he needn't. Misjudges one and that proves fatal. He had his sticks covered and then feels for this delivery. The outside edge is taken and the ball goes straight to |
| Usman Salahuddin will have the first feel of Test cricket. He makes his way to the middle with his side in a bit of a bother. |
| 21.1 : Sam Curran to Shafiq, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 21.2 : Sam Curran to Shafiq, Shafiq blocks this one from the crease. |
| 21.3 : Sam Curran to A Shafiq, Full toss in a bid to search for the swing, Asad drives it on the up to mid off. |
| 21.4 : Sam Curran to Shafiq, Wide outside off, left alone. |
| 21.5 : Sam Curran to Shafiq, Fuller outside off, driven straight to the man at covers. |
| 21.6 : Sam Curran to A Shafiq, FOUR! Streaky yet effective. Shafiq looks to punch this one off the back foot but ends up getting it off the outside edge. The ball beats gully to his left and goes away to the fence. |
| 22.1 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 22.2 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Salahuddin misses the flick and gets it off his thigh pad to the on side. A leg bye taken. |
| 22.3 : C Woakes to Shafiq, Shafiq flicks it to fine leg and crosses over. |
| 22.4 : C Woakes to U Salahuddin, Full on middle, driven to mid on. |
| 22.5 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Edged? No! On a length and climbing, Salahuddin gets into a bit of a tangle as he looks to block. The keeper takes it without much ado but the second and the third slips appeal. The on-air commentators reckon that it came off the batter's shirt. Oh hello! Everybody is mistaken as there is a spike seen as the ball passes the glove of the batsman. It makes the tiniest of contacts there. Have England missed a trick here? A slice of luck for the newbie. |
| Nasser Hussain on air talks about James Anderson's lengths. He reckons that when the pacer was new to the international circuit, he used to pitch it up. But now, when he has a glance at Anderson's pitch-map, he's seen dragging his length back. This length is ideal according to the former English skipper. He asks for Wasim Akram's opinion on air, the Pakistan great responds saying that swing will be more only when the ball is pitched up. As a result, according to him, Anderson is bowling a bit to |
| 22.6 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Outside off, left alone. |
| Stuart Broad is back for another spell. |
| 23.1 : S Broad to Shafiq, This is too wide for Shafiq to have a go at it. |
| 23.2 : S Broad to Shafiq, The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. |
| 23.3 : S Broad to Shafiq, Fuller on off, blocked with a stride. |
| 23.4 : S Broad to A Shafiq, FOUR! Authoritative! Shafiq has carried on his form from Lord's. This is banged short, he goes back and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 23.5 : S Broad to Shafiq, Fuller on off, defended off the inner half towards mid on. |
| 23.6 : S Broad to Shafiq, Lovely bowling. Full and outside off, inviting the batsman to play at it. Shafiq fails to resist pushing at it and does so. The ball moves away to miss the outside edge by not much. |
| 24.1 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Usman gets behind the line of the delivery before blocking it. |
| 24.2 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Of all the sweet things in the world, first runs in Test cricket would be something that would find a mention in the list. This is full on middle, Salahuddin flicks it through mid-wicket and gets one less than a boundary to open his account in Tests. |
| 24.3 : C Woakes to Shafiq, OUT! Oh dear! Pakistan doing as Pakistan does! Shafiq gets walking and the tourists go deeper into trouble. Woakes delivers it on a length around off, Shafiq HAD TO play at this. Looks to defend it and ends up getting a thick outside edge. The ball goes to Alastair Cook at first slip at a comfortable height. But with the kind of catching form that he is in, he juggles once before ensuring that he doesn't drop it. Second wicket for Chris, he's having a good comeback to t |
| Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed is in next. Three slips in place. |
| 24.4 : C Woakes to Ahmed, Ahmed clips this away through square leg to get going. |
| 24.5 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Fuller around off, defended off the front foot. |
| 24.6 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Well outside off, left alone. |
| 25.1 : S Broad to Ahmed, Full and well outside off, left alone by Ahmed. |
| 0.0 : Some issue with the sightscreen. Sarfraz Ahmed isn't happy with it and hence there's a slight halt in play. |
| 25.2 : S Broad to Ahmed, FOUR! Overpitched outside off, Ahmed gets a stride forward and drives it through covers. Bess gives it a valiant chase and slides, but fails to keep the ball in play. |
| 25.3 : S Broad to Ahmed, Full outside off, driven to mid off. |
| 25.4 : S Broad to Ahmed, Angling in on the pads, flicked away to fine leg for one. |
| 25.5 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Sprayed down the leg side, Usman looks to pick up some easy runs but fails. |
| Should be the last ball before Lunch. |
| 25.6 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Well outside off, Salahuddin takes a stride forward and lets it go. That's it for the session! LUNCH, DAY 1! |
| Happy English faces at the first major interval in this game! Just like the English weather in general, which is tough to predict, and often changes quickly, their bowling had two distinct phases to it. One, where they prodded the edges and beat them numerous times but ended up with not much to show and the other, wherein they extracted bounce and landed it in the right areas to send four Pakistan men back to the pavilion. |
| James Anderson and Stuart Broad have made their legend by hunting in a pair, leaving batters clueless often. They had the perfect start as well, bowling unchanged for 14 straight overs, with the latter having a couple of wickets to show. That three of the four wickets involved some safe slip catching goes on to assert the importance of that aspect, something that England lacked in the first Test. The 32-run stand was the most that the tourists could gather at one time till now. Chris Woakes and |
| Toss - it often is a factor that ends up deciding the course of the game more often than not, though it is not designed to do so. Pakistan would be wondering whether they did the right thing by batting first in this game. They would have been vindicated when the sun decided to show up to greet them onto the field. But when the English bowlers make the cherry talk, you only listen and that's what the Asian side ended up doing. Some shots that they could have done away with made their presence, re |
| ...Day 1, Session 2... |
| It was so refreshing to watch some vintage Test match action in the morning session after the overdose of Twenty20 cricket where the bat dominated the ball. Pakistan's top order lacked the skill and application, and as a result, find themselves in a precarious situation. The conditions might ease out in the afternoon, they say, but I can't see any sun to do that. Can the visitors make a comeback? Let's wait and watch. James Anderson is up and running with three slips in place... |
| 26.1 : J Anderson to Ahmed, Starts with a good length delivery in the channel around off, Ahmed gets on the back foot and punches it through the gap at cover-point for a couple of runs. Positive start to the session. |
| 26.2 : J Anderson to Ahmed, Ahead of a length outside off, Ahmed plays a mistimed drive towards the fielder at cover-point. |
| 26.3 : J Anderson to Ahmed, Shaping away from the batsman, Ahmed keeps it out on the off side off the leading half of his blade. They cross for a single. |
| 26.4 : J Anderson to Salahuddin, Angling into the batsman, on a length and skidding in, Salahuddin fails to work it away and is hit high on the pads. |
| 26.5 : J Anderson to Salahuddin, This one is very straight from Anderson, Usman tries to play at it late but misses. It goes off his pads to the leg side and they take a leg bye. |
| 26.6 : J Anderson to Ahmed, Some inward movement there, from the middle stump line, Ahmed gets across to work but misses. |
| Stuart Broad to bowl from the other end. |
| 27.1 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Around off on a shortish length, Salahuddin covers the line and blocks it to the off side. |
| 27.2 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Picks a full ball from his pads and tickles it fine on the leg side for a run. |
| 27.3 : S Broad to Ahmed, Another delivery drifting down the leg side, Ahmed tries his best to flick but misses. |
| 27.4 : S Broad to Ahmed, FOUR! Over-corrects his line there, bowls it full and wide outside off, Ahmed nicely gets on the front foot and drives it confidently through covers. |
| 27.5 : S Broad to Ahmed, Slants in a full length ball on middle, Sarfraz works it in the gap at mid-wicket and crosses. |
| 27.6 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Solidly blocked off the front foot to end the over. |
| 28.1 : Anderson to Ahmed, OUT! Stumps shattered! Anderson finally gets a wicket to his name and is all smiles. A lovely inswinging delivery, it's angled on middle and Sarfraz without covering the line has played all over it. Probably tries to work it away on the leg side but it sneaks past him to destroy the stumps after brushing his back pad. A short stay at the crease for the captain where he almost scored run a ball. Five down now with not even 100 on the board. |
| 0.0 : Shadab Khan is the new batsman. He played a handy knock at Lord's in the last Test match and Pakistan are in desperate need of one again. |
| 28.2 : J Anderson to Khan, Beaten! On a good length around off, straightening a bit, Khan feels for it and gets beaten. |
| 28.3 : J Anderson to Khan, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 28.4 : J Anderson to Khan, Movement there again, angling into the batsman on a fuller length, Shadab flicks it on the leg side but finds mid-wicket. |
| 28.5 : J Anderson to Khan, Hurls one on a length outside off, holding its line, Khan watchfully lets it go. |
| 28.6 : J Anderson to Khan, Play and a miss! Anderson plays mind games there. Bowls it wide outside off and lures the batsman to have a go. Shadab throws his bat at it but fails to make any connection. Top over by Jimmy! |
| 29.1 : S Broad to Salahuddin, A length ball around off, Salahuddin is forward to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 0.0 : Usman Salahuddin is adjudged lbw! He has referred it. Is there some bat involved? |
| 29.2 : Broad to Salahuddin, OUT! No involvement of bat and it's clipping the leg stump. Salahuddin will have to go back to the pavilion. This is quality stuff from Broad. Bowls it a bit wide of the crease and slants in a length ball around off. It moves back in sharply after landing and catches Salahuddin on the pads as he falls over a bit in his bid to keep it out. They appeal and the finger has gone up. Salahuddin wants this to be reviewed. The bowler is just fine with his landing and the Ultra |
| Faheem Ashraf is the new batsman. |
| 29.3 : S Broad to F Ashraf, A confident drive off the front foot but straight to the cover fielder. |
| 29.4 : S Broad to Ashraf, Magnificent delivery. On a good length around middle and moving away, Ashraf is opened up in defense and he gets an outside edge behind. Luckily for him it rolls towards gully. |
| 29.5 : S Broad to Ashraf, Dropped by Malan! Oh dear, Root intervened there from third slip and blinded Malan. A length ball around off, Ashraf tries to defend from the crease with a straight bat but it flies off the outside edge towards second slip. Root thought of catching it with a dive to his right but pulls out at the last moment. That put off Malan at second slip who gets low to catch it but fails to hold on. First drop in the slip cordon, till this ball they were neat and tidy. Why are thos |
| 29.6 : S Broad to Ashraf, No run. |
| 30.1 : J Anderson to S Khan, Shadab gets going with one rolling towards point off the outer half. |
| 30.2 : Anderson to Ashraf, OUT! Another one bites the dust! England seem to have had a sumptuous meal and it is showing in the way they've come out all guns blazing since then. Anderson steams in from over the wicket and lands it on a length around middle and leg. It shapes a wee bit inwards after pitching, beating the defensive bat of Ashraf. He is pinged in front of the stumps and the umpire has no hesitation in upholding the appeal. So the dropped chance in the previous over doesn't come back |
| The next man in for Pakistan is Mohammad Amir. Surely he wouldn't have dreamt of batting on Day 1 of this Test. |
| 30.3 : J Anderson to Amir, Amir stands tall and defends this one from the crease. |
| 30.4 : J Anderson to Amir, Hurled well outside off, left alone by Amir. |
| 30.5 : J Anderson to Amir, Back of a length this time, Amir has to get on to his toes to keep that out. |
| 30.6 : Anderson to Amir, FOUR! A proud way to get going for Amir. He just nonchalantly lofts this pitched up delivery over the bowler's head for a boundary. End of a successful over from Jimmy. |
| 31.1 : S Broad to Khan, Good length ball around off, shooting off the surface, Shadab pushes it and misses. |
| 31.2 : S Broad to Khan, Fullish and on middle, it's clipped away towards fine leg for a run. |
| 31.3 : S Broad to Amir, Broad delivers another gem! Full in length and nipping away from the batsman, too good for a lower order batsman. Amir tries playing but misses. |
| 31.4 : S Broad to M Amir, FOUR! Lucky boundary! Amir chances his arms to a delivery outside off and edges it over gully for a boundary. |
| 31.5 : S Broad to Amir, On a length and outside off, left alone. |
| 31.6 : S Broad to Amir, Lucky not to have edged it! Broad angles this one in from around the wicket, around off, Amir is squared up completely while trying to play at it and the ball moves away to beat the bat. Cracking stuff! |
| 32.1 : J Anderson to Khan, Ouch, that would have hurt. This one jags back into the batsman from a length around off, Khan fails to block and is hit on the box. |
| 32.2 : J Anderson to S Khan, Driven through the covers by the batsman. Two runs added to the total. |
| 32.3 : J Anderson to Khan, Some extra bounce and movement from a length around middle, Shadab fails to work it away and is hit on the thigh pad. It deflects towards square leg and they steal a leg bye. |
| 32.4 : J Anderson to M Amir, Flashes and flashes hard! Anderson delivers an outswinger outside off, Amir watches some width and goes after it. Ends up edging it behind where Buttler flies to his right at gully but fails to get any hand to it. The third man is standing up a bit, might be called a fly slip and he fields the ball. A single taken. |
| 32.5 : J Anderson to Khan, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 32.6 : J Anderson to Khan, FOUR! Anderson errs in his line and serves a full ball down the leg side. Khan just picks it off his pads and neatly deflects it down to fine leg for a boundary. |
| 33.1 : S Broad to Amir, Play and a miss! Broad continues to operate from 'round the wicket for the left-hander. Bowls an outswinger outside off, Amir throws his bat at it and misses. |
| 33.2 : S Broad to Amir, Another delivery leaving the batsman outside off, this time Amir holds on, watches the line closely and shoulders arms. |
| 33.3 : S Broad to Amir, On a good length and outside off, Amir plays at this one and taps it down to gully. |
| 33.4 : S Broad to Amir, Just a bit short in length and outside off, shaping away after landing, Amir leaves it untouched. |
| 33.5 : S Broad to Amir, Almost got through. After bowling a few outswingers, Broad decides to bring one back into the left-hander. Amir picks this one and blocks it solidly. |
| 33.6 : S Broad to Amir, Unplayable! Even for a top order batsman. Angling in around off and shaping away just a bit, Amir goes hard at it and misses. |
| 34.1 : J Anderson to Khan, Where is the ball? Khan goes for a booming cover drive but fails to middle his shot. It takes the inside edge and rolls towards square leg. They cross for a run. |
| 34.2 : J Anderson to Amir, On a length around off, defended off the back foot to the off side. |
| 34.3 : J Anderson to Amir, On and around off, a good length delivery. Amir feels for it and gets beaten. |
| 34.4 : J Anderson to Amir, Once again Anderson probes around off with a good length delivery. Amir pushes inside the line and misses. |
| 34.5 : J Anderson to Amir, Just a hint of away movement from around off, Amir once again fails to put bat to ball. |
| 34.6 : J Anderson to Amir, Amir survives! An away-swinger outside off, Amir tries driving it but misses. |
| 35.1 : S Broad to Khan, Back of a length ball on off, Shadab goes on the back foot and punches it on the off side. Not in the gap though. |
| 0.0 : Field placements amuse the viewers to no ends. Here we have Nasser Hussain having a look at the current set up. Earlier in his innings, Amir flashed hard at one and ended up getting a thick outside edge over the slip cordon for a boundary. As a reaction to that, Joe Root instilled a third man, not at the ropes but a good 15-20 yards inside it. The on-air experts feel that it's a good attacking field from the English skipper. Mr. Hussain asks Michael Holding whether he would have an 8-1 off side |
| 35.2 : S Broad to Khan, A tempter by Broad. Bowls this one wide outside off, inviting the batsman to have a go, Shadab decides not to chase it. |
| 35.3 : S Broad to Khan, Drifting down the leg side, Shadab tries to flick it off his pads but fails to connect. |
| 35.4 : S Broad to S Khan, FOUR! Nice looking shot by Shadab. He leans forward to a full ball outside off and drives it through the line. Not quite from the middle of his blade but still it races through the gap between short cover and mid off. Curran gives it the chase but fails to pull it back. |
| 35.5 : S Broad to Khan, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 35.6 : S Broad to Khan, Full and swinging back into the batsman, Khan flicks but finds the mid-wicket fielder. |
| 36.1 : J Anderson to Amir, Oohh...that went over the middle stump. Anderson hurls across a length ball just outside off and it curls back in sharply. Amir sticks back to defend but misses as it travels over the stumps. |
| 36.2 : J Anderson to Amir, Just outside off, Amir tries his best to put bat on ball but misses. |
| 36.3 : J Anderson to Amir, Shortish and outside off, Amir pokes inside the line and misses. |
| 36.4 : J Anderson to Amir, Angling into the batsman, from a length around off, Amir covers the line and blocks it safely to the off side. It rolls in the gap and they cross. |
| 36.5 : J Anderson to Khan, Slants in a length ball on off, straightening a bit, Khan defends it from the crease. |
| 36.6 : J Anderson to Khan, FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Khan chances his arms and tries to slap it over the point region. But it takes the top edge and flies over gully for a boundary. |
| Chris Woakes is back into the attack. |
| 37.1 : C Woakes to Amir, Plays it down towards point for a single. |
| 37.2 : C Woakes to S Khan, Length ball on off, Shadab gets forward to defend but it takes the outside half of the bat and rolls in the gap towards point. A single. |
| Beach ball on the field! Jennings does a favour by returning it to the crowd. The cricket game resumes after a bit of halt. |
| 37.3 : C Woakes to Amir, Shortish, targeted at the batsman, Amir helps it to square leg for a run. |
| 37.4 : C Woakes to Khan, Outside off, on back of a length, Khan forces it towards point. |
| 37.5 : C Woakes to Khan, A low full toss this time, it's been worked through mid-wicket for three runs. |
| 37.6 : C Woakes to M Amir, Great delivery, moving away to open Amir in his stance who edges it behind. It goes wide of gully and they cross. |
| 38.1 : J Anderson to Amir, Good length ball on off, punched off the back foot to covers. |
| 38.2 : J Anderson to Amir, Shortish and on off, defended off the back foot by Amir. |
| 38.3 : J Anderson to Amir, Full and around off, Amir pushes at it and gets a faint edge which doesn't carry to gully. |
| 38.4 : J Anderson to Amir, A little bit of width on offer outside off, Amir swishes and misses. |
| 38.5 : J Anderson to Amir, OUT! Gone this time! Amir was pushing his luck way too much and finally edges one behind. Anderson keeps his composure and continues to bowl in the region outside off. The seam is pointing a bit towards first slip and as a result, the ball follows that route after pitching. Out of habit, Amir throws his bat at it and gets a faint edge behind to Bairstow. He makes no mistake and Pakistan lose their eighth wicket. Interestingly, four catches have been taken in this match |
| Hasan Ali is the new man in. |
| 38.6 : J Anderson to Ali, Beaten! Anderson comes up with a beautiful outswinger outside off, Ali tries to drive but misses. A wicket maiden! |
| 39.1 : C Woakes to Khan, Good length ball around off, Shadab taps it to the off side. |
| 39.2 : C Woakes to Khan, Full ball on leg, Khan whips it towards square leg for a single. Thinks of the second but is sent back by his partner. |
| 39.3 : C Woakes to Ali, We have seen plenty of this today. Good length ball outside off, Hasan gives room and looks to poke at it but fails. |
| 39.4 : C Woakes to Ali, Angles this down leg, Hasan goes after it but cannot put any meat to it. |
| 39.5 : C Woakes to Ali, Hurls this on a good length outside off, teases Ali with it and Hasan plays at it only to miss it. |
| 39.6 : C Woakes to Ali, Similar ball to end the over. Length outside off, Ali feels at it to get beaten. |
| 40.1 : J Anderson to Khan, 8th over on the trot for Anderson. He bowled 7 in the morning and is back again with a long spell. Khan gets an inside edge and the ball hits him on the pads. |
| 40.2 : J Anderson to Khan, Played to the point region by Shadab. One run added to the total. |
| 40.3 : J Anderson to H Ali, FOUR. Fuller this time around off, Hasan cuts it uppishly over gully and the ball touches the ropes. |
| 40.4 : J Anderson to Ali, FOUR! More in control this time and Hasan will add four more to his name. Outside off, Ali carves this along the surface through backward point for a boundary. |
| 40.5 : J Anderson to Ali, Edged and just short! Length ball on middle and leg, Ali plays at it with a straight bat. He gets a soft edge which falls just short of Jennings at fourth slip. |
| 40.6 : J Anderson to Ali, FOUR! SHOT! Just a gentle push. Fuller ball on off, Ali leans forward and pushes this through mid off for the third boundary of the over. |
| 41.1 : C Woakes to Khan, The ball takes the outside edge goes through the slip region. One run added to the total. |
| 41.2 : C Woakes to H Ali, Overpitches this one and Ali drives this crisply through covers. The fielder hares from the infield and saves a certain boundary. Good running between the wickets to pick up three runs. |
| 41.3 : C Woakes to Khan, Guides this past the gully fielder for a run. |
| 41.4 : C Woakes to Ali, FOUR! Strays this down leg and Ali just helps it on its way for another boundary. More than handy runs these. |
| 41.5 : C Woakes to H Ali, FOUR! Too tough to call that dropped. Fuller ball outside off, Ali slashes hard at it and the ball goes just over the third slip fielder who managed to get finger tips to it. Not enough to stop the ball from meeting the fence. |
| 41.6 : C Woakes to Ali, The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails. |
| Sam Curran is brought back for his second spell. |
| 42.1 : Sam Curran to Khan, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. They pick up a single. |
| 42.2 : Sam Curran to Ali, The short of length delivery has been cut away through square on the off side. Single taken. |
| 42.3 : Sam Curran to Khan, Punched off the back foot by Khan. |
| 42.4 : Sam Curran to Khan, FOUR! Superb. This partnership is starting to get annoying for the English. Curran hurls this wide outside off, Khan drives this crisply through covers. |
| 42.5 : Sam Curran to Khan, Back of a length ball, Khan pushes this to the off side. |
| 42.6 : Sam Curran to Khan, Bangs this short and Khan hooks it to the leg side for one. |
| 43.1 : C Woakes to Khan, FOUR! And a boundary to start the over. This is now the highest partnership in this innings. Woakes bowls this on leg, Khan flicks this through square leg and the ball continues to flirt with the ropes. |
| 43.2 : C Woakes to Khan, FOUR! Drags this length back on off and Shadab punches this through cover-point for back-to-back boundaries. Partnership worth 42 now. |
| 43.3 : C Woakes to Khan, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 43.4 : C Woakes to Khan, Driven towards the mid off region. They pick up a single. They are doing it well so far. |
| 43.5 : C Woakes to Ali, Digs this one short, Ali does well to duck under it. |
| 43.6 : Woakes to Ali, OUT! Finally England get the breakthrough they needed. The full ball ploy has worked for them and Hasan is the one to depart. Serves this full on middle and leg, Ali is early in closing the bat face and ends up getting a leading edge back to the bowler. Woakes takes it above his head and walks back in no celebration. These two have added 43 runs and it could prove to be fatal in the course of the match. |
| Mohammad Abbas is the last man in. |
| 44.1 : Sam Curran to Khan, Khan gets behind the ball and defends it. |
| 44.2 : Sam Curran to Khan, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 44.3 : Sam Curran to Khan, FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Shadab cuts hard at it over gully. The fielder at deep backward point had no clue about it and the ball runs away to the boundary. |
| 44.4 : Sam Curran to Khan, The batsman has been struck on the pads as he looked to play that off the front foot. It rolls to the leg side and the batsmen pick up a single. |
| 44.5 : Sam Curran to Abbas, Good ball and well played. Low full toss from Curran and Abbas does well to keep it out. |
| 44.6 : Sam Curran to Abbas, Outside off, play and miss from Abbas to give Khan the strike for the next over. |
| 45.1 : C Woakes to Khan, A short delivery which has been pulled away but decides against the run. |
| 45.2 : C Woakes to Khan, FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Khan deliberately lofts it over the slip region for another boundary. The ball has crossed the ropes. The umpire signals four runs. |
| 45.3 : C Woakes to Khan, Shadab drives this through the covers. |
| 45.4 : C Woakes to Khan, FOUR! Fifty for Shadab! His third in three games and what an important knock this is. Short ball from Woakes, Shadab waits for it and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary. Takes his helmet off and kneels down to touch his forehead onto the ground, as a gesture to the Almighty. Well played, lad! |
| 45.5 : C Woakes to Khan, Hits this towards mid on. |
| 45.6 : C Woakes to Khan, Length ball on middle, Khan blocks it solidly. |
| 46.1 : Sam Curran to Abbas, Length ball outside off, Abbas looks to get bat to ball but misses it. |
| 46.2 : Sam Curran to M Abbas, Edged but well short to the keeper. Length ball around off, Abbas gets across and looks to play to it the leg side. Gets a very soft edge well short of Jonny. |
| 46.3 : Sam Curran to Abbas, The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. |
| 46.4 : Sam Curran to Abbas, Outside off, Abbas is beaten and misses the line of the delivery. |
| 46.5 : Sam Curran to Abbas, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 46.6 : Sam Curran to Khan, FOUR! Effort ball from Curran on off, Khan pulls but doesn't get hold of it. Gets just enough though as the ball trickles away to the deep mid-wicket fence. |
| Broad time! Stuart Broad is brought on to dismiss Pakistan. Can he do it? |
| 47.1 : S Broad to Abbas, Wide outside off stump, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| 47.2 : S Broad to Abbas, Abbas lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 47.3 : S Broad to Abbas, Outside off, Abbas fails to put bat on ball. |
| 47.4 : Broad to Abbas, Length ball outside off, the ball jags back and hits the the back pad of Abbas. They appeal but the umpire stays put. They think of the review but decide not to make use of it. Impact clearly well outside off. |
| 47.5 : S Broad to Abbas, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 47.6 : S Broad to Abbas, Abbas shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 48.1 : Sam Curran to Khan, OUT! Pakistan are all out for 174. Curran gets his first international wicket and gets a big hug from Root. Bowls this full on middle and leg, Khan looks to hoick this over mid-wicket. Doesn't get it off the meat and finds Jennings in the deep, who takes a simple catch. Actually the shot was on, with the angle from round the wicket enabling it. But since the ball moved in after pitching, Shadab ended up dragging it straight to the man in the deep. |
| A stubborn Pakistan tail adds 95 runs for the last three wickets to get their total close to 175. England started the day with perfect line and lengths. They got four scalps before Lunch and pegged Pakistan back. Post that the seamers continued from where they left and had the visitors strangled at 79-7. However, Mohammad Amir played his shots and Shadab Khan got to his third fifty in four Tests. He played like any top order batsman would and saw that Pakistan don't get all out well inside the s |
| Anderson and Broad silenced their critics for the time being as they rattled the Pakistan top order. Woakes gave them handy company as each of them picked up three wickets. Woakes and Broad worked in pairs at the start and Anderson did the job post Lunch. Debutant, Curran swung the ball early on but got his reward latter on. Dominic Bess was not needed for the home team so far. So, job done with the ball but now England will have to bat well to ensure they win yet another session. For Pakistan, |
| 0.1 : M Amir to Cook, Comes in from over the wicket and bowls it on a good length outside off, Cook shoulders his arms to it. |
| 0.2 : M Amir to A Cook, Ohh!!! Edged but falls short of the man at second slip. Serves this fuller on off, Cook pokes at it and gets a soft outside edge that lands just short of second slip. |
| 0.3 : M Amir to Cook, Angles this down leg, Cook works it to mid-wicket for a dot. |
| 0.4 : M Amir to Cook, PEACH! Excellent from Amir! Makes Cook play at it and almost gets his outside edge. Serves it on a good length around off, Cook plays and misses. |
| 0.5 : M Amir to Cook, Outside off, hint of away swing and Cook leaves it alone. |
| 0.6 : M Amir to A Cook, FOUR! That's the length and Cook gets an edge through the slip cordon. Full and outside off, Cook looks to defend it but gets an outside edge as the ball flies past third slip. So the former skipper gets going with a streaky boundary. |
| 1.1 : M Abbas to Jennings, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 1.2 : M Abbas to Jennings, Jennings shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 1.3 : M Abbas to Jennings, Outside off, left alone. |
| 1.4 : M Abbas to Jennings, Length ball outside off, gets it to move away a bit, Jennings is happy to leave it alone. |
| 1.5 : M Abbas to Jennings, Full this time outside off, Jennings lets the ball go to the keeper. |
| 1.6 : M Abbas to Jennings, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 2.1 : M Amir to Cook, Length ball on off, Cook taps it to the off side with soft hands and sprints to complete the run. Good running. |
| 2.2 : M Amir to Jennings, Jennings is up and running. Length ball wide outside off, Jennings opens the face of the bat and guides it far from the gully fielder. The fielder in the deep cuts it out and the batsmen run three. |
| 2.3 : M Amir to Cook, Frustrating for the bowlers here. Runs from the first three balls already. Cook plays this off this back foot towards point and gets another run. |
| Keaton Jennings was had a word with by the square leg umpire in the previous over. The reason was that he was deemed to be getting close to the danger area on the pitch. The opening batter is standing well outside the crease, due to which, his stride forward comes really close to the danger area. There's more to worry in the game than this for Jennings, says Nasser Hussain on air. |
| 2.4 : M Amir to Jennings, Too far for Jennings to make any contact. |
| 2.5 : M Amir to K Jennings, FOUR! Fuller ball outside off, Jennings guides it wide of gully and the ball has enough legs to get get to the rope. |
| 2.6 : M Amir to Jennings, Pushes this to the cover region and gets a single. They are running really well here. |
| 3.1 : M Abbas to Jennings, Full and outside off, Keaton leaves it alone. |
| 3.2 : M Abbas to Jennings, Length ball outside off, Jennings does not offer a shot to this. |
| 3.3 : M Abbas to Jennings, Around off, Jennings closes the bat face early and gets a soft edge towards the off side. |
| 3.4 : M Abbas to Jennings, That ball has taken the inside edge of the batsman and thudded into his pads. |
| 3.5 : M Abbas to K Jennings, Gives this ball to the gully fielder to collect. |
| 3.6 : M Abbas to Jennings, FOUR! Elegantly done! A tad full from Abbas and Jennings drives it crisply through covers to get his first boundary. A steady start so far from the home team. |
| 4.1 : M Amir to Cook, Full and wide outside off, Cook leaves it alone. |
| 4.2 : M Amir to Cook, FOUR! Playing with the field is Cook. Amir hurls this on a good length outside off, Cook opens the bat face and guides it past the fourth slip for another boundary. They are really looking good. |
| Third man in place as a follow-up to the previous boundary. |
| 4.3 : M Amir to Cook, AC lets this ball go outside his off stump. |
| 4.4 : M Amir to Cook, PEACH! On that fourth stump channel, forcing Cook to play who gets his blade out but gets beaten. |
| Interesting! Problems of being a bit too tall. Ben Stokes was sitting in the balcony to have a nice view of how his mates are going on with their batting. But his position was just above the sightscreen. As a result, Cook signaled him to bend down in order to not get distracted. He bent down and then peeped to see if the ball had been bowled, to then get up and go inside the dressing room. Tall tales! |
| 4.5 : M Amir to Cook, Cuts this towards the point region and jogs to complete the run. |
| 4.6 : M Amir to Jennings, Good length ball on off, KJ looks to have a go at it but cannot get any bat to it. |
| 5.1 : M Abbas to Cook, Played to the point region by the batsman. |
| 5.2 : M Abbas to Cook, Outside off, Cook covers his stumps and lets the ball go to the keeper. |
| 5.3 : M Abbas to Cook, Length ball on middle and leg, Cook plays this to the mid-wicket fielder. |
| 5.4 : M Abbas to Cook, In line of the stumps, the chef has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 5.5 : M Abbas to Cook, Around off, Cook gives it to the man at point. |
| 5.6 : M Abbas to Cook, Length ball on off, Cook points his bat skywards to let it through. |
| 6.1 : M Amir to Jennings, Pitched up ball on off, pushes solidly to covers. |
| 6.2 : M Amir to Jennings, On that fifth stump channel, Jennings watches the ball as it goes to Sarfraz. |
| 6.3 : M Amir to Jennings, Gets forward and drives this towards point. |
| 6.4 : M Amir to K Jennings, Just short. Shouldn't have played at that one. Jennings looks to steer this towards the slip cordon. But the ball goes off the edge and falls well short of the third slip fielder. He cannot stop the ball and the batsmen take a run. |
| 6.5 : M Amir to Cook, Outside off, Cook does not bother playing at it. |
| 6.6 : M Amir to Cook, Alastair shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 7.1 : M Abbas to Jennings, No swing for Abbas as Jennings leaves it alone outside his off stump. |
| 7.2 : M Abbas to Jennings, Outside off, left alone. |
| 7.3 : M Abbas to Jennings, Around off, Jennings covers his stumps and blocks it solidly. |
| 7.4 : M Abbas to K Jennings, Around off, Jennings pushes this to the off side. |
| 7.5 : M Abbas to Jennings, Length ball just outside off, the ball comes back in but is well watched and left by Jennings. |
| 7.6 : M Abbas to Jennings, FOUR! SHOT! Beautifully played and does not bother running for it. Overpitched from Abbas and Keaton leans ahead and drives it in the gap through covers. This partnership has now equaled their best for the year. |
| 8.1 : M Amir to Cook, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 8.2 : M Amir to Cook, FOUR! Makes it look so easy. Third one for Cook. Amir drifts this down leg and Cook flicks it away through mid-wicket. A boundary results. |
| 8.3 : M Amir to Cook, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. |
| 8.4 : M Amir to Cook, Outside off, no need to pay at these. |
| 8.5 : M Amir to Cook, In line of the stumps, Cook gets behind the ball and is solid in defense. |
| 8.6 : M Amir to Cook, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| First change for Pakistan. Hasan Ali is brought on to bowl. |
| 9.1 : H Ali to Jennings, Starts of with a good one. Good length ball just outside off, Jennings flirts with it but misses. |
| 9.2 : H Ali to Jennings, Flicked away by Jennings as Hasan misses his line. Gets it in the gap to deep square leg and they come back for the second run. |
| 9.3 : H Ali to K Jennings, FOUR! A bit short but outside off, Jennings who is well in control cuts it in the gap through backward point for his fourth boundary. |
| 9.4 : H Ali to Jennings, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 9.5 : H Ali to Jennings, Jennings takes a step ahead but gets an inside edge onto this pads. |
| 9.6 : H Ali to Jennings, Goes for the flick but misses it. The ball rolls to the leg side and they take the leg bye. |
| Faheem Asharf is introduced into the attack to bowl from the other end. |
| 10.1 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Beauty to start with. Hurls it on a good length just wide of the off pole. Jennings looks to defend it with a straight bat but gets beaten. |
| 10.2 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Wide outside off stump, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| 10.3 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Comes from round the wicket and serves it around leg. Jennings is beaten and the ball strikes his leg. The Pakistan players appeal but the umpire is quick in saying no. They have a chat and opt not to take it up. A good decision as the ball was pitched outside leg. |
| 10.4 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Lands this outside off, easier for KJ to leave it alone. |
| 10.5 : F Ashraf to K Jennings, Jeannings drives this through the covers. |
| 10.6 : F Ashraf to Jennings, The batsman gets an inside edge and the ball hits him on the pads. No damage done. |
| 11.1 : H Ali to Cook, Strays this down leg but Cook still goes after it. Does not make any contact. |
| 11.2 : H Ali to Cook, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 11.3 : H Ali to Cook, FOUR! Misses his line and duly gets punished. Bowls this wide outside off, Cook has enough time to free his arms and cuts it through point for a boundary. |
| 11.4 : H Ali to Cook, Fuller this time and around middle and leg, Cook plays it to mid-wicket. |
| 11.5 : H Ali to Cook, Gets this off the inner half towards mid on. |
| 11.6 : H Ali to Cook, Wide and outside off, it was there to be hit. Cook cuts it well but finds the man at backward point. Dot ball. |
| 12.1 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Around off, Jennings looks to play this to the off side but gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 12.2 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Keaton lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 12.3 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Outside off, left alone. |
| 12.4 : F Ashraf to K Jennings, FOUR! STREAKY! Inside edge and away to the fence. Back of a length ball on middle and leg, Jennings plays a chinese cut and the ball goes over the leg pole to the fine leg boundary. The partnership now moves to 47. |
| 12.5 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Lands this around off, Jennings plays and misses. |
| 12.6 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Outside off, no trouble for Jennings as he leaves it alone. |
| 13.1 : H Ali to Cook, Pitched up and Cook drives it for the mid off fielder to collect. |
| 13.2 : H Ali to Cook, Good leave from Cook. Ali pitches it on length, it comes back a bit and Cook watches it go through to the keeper. |
| 13.3 : H Ali to Cook, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 13.4 : H Ali to Cook, Lovely ball from Ali, forces Cook to go for the drive. The ball moves away a bit and the southpaw gets beaten. |
| 13.5 : H Ali to Cook, FOUR! Authoritative! Brings up the fifty partnership for these two and are really looking in good nick. This has come after 12 innings. Ali pitches it up outside off, Cook strides forward and creams it through covers. Incidentally, the last 100-run stand too was stitched by these two. Can they do it again? |
| 13.6 : H Ali to Cook, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 14.1 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Back of a length ball, Jennings blocks it from his crease. |
| 14.2 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Presents the full face of the bat and taps it in front of him. |
| 14.3 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Interesting leave from Jennings. This ball lands on leg, and comes back in. Keaton points his bat skywards and does not offer any shot. The players appeal but height was certainly an issue. |
| 14.4 : F Ashraf to K Jennings, That ball has taken the inside edge onto the pads. |
| 14.5 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Covers the stumps and hits it to the off side. No run. |
| 14.6 : F Ashraf to Jennings, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 15.1 : H Ali to Cook, Good length ball on middle, Cook plays and misses. |
| 15.2 : H Ali to Cook, Outside off, left alone. |
| 15.3 : H Ali to Cook, The batsman has driven it to mid off. |
| 15.4 : H Ali to Cook, Back of a length ball on middle and leg, Cook stays back and taps it to the on side. |
| 15.5 : H Ali to Cook, AC gets behind the ball and blocks it. |
| 15.6 : H Ali to Cook, Fuller ball in line of the stumps, Cook gives it back to the bowler. |
| The umpires have taken out their 8-shape gauge to check weather the ball is fine. No problem with it and the ball is given back to the bowler. |
| 16.1 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Bouncer down leg, Jennings ducks to evade it. |
| 16.2 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Shouts of two as soon as he hits it. Faheem pitches it up, Jennings flicks it through mid-wicket in the gap for an easy couple. |
| 16.3 : F Ashraf to Jennings, KJ lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 16.4 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Jennings shoulders his arms to this one. |
| 16.5 : F Ashraf to Jennings, Keaton drives it to covers straight to the man stationed there. |
| 16.6 : F Ashraf to Jennings, OUT! Pakistan finally get their man. A resolute opening partnership from Jennings and Cook is broken. For England, this is the best they have seen in a long time. Ashraf comes in from over the wicket and lands it just outside off. Jennings looks to defend it but gets an outside edge straight to Sarfraz who takes a simple catch. |
| Time for the last drinks break for the day! England, England, England! That's how this period of play post Tea has panned out. Cook's opening partner, apart from his form as well, was a much debated and talked about topic in English cricket. The current pair of Jennings and the former skipper is doing well to quell those talks. Pakistan did probe around with the new ball in the first half an hour or so but post that, they couldn't do anything significant. The wicket of the young opener just befo |
| Joe Root is in next. |
| 17.1 : H Ali to Cook, Fuller in length around middle, Cook lunges and blocks it with a straight blade. |
| 17.2 : H Ali to Cook, This time Cook pushes it defensively towards covers. |
| 17.3 : H Ali to Cook, Around off and middle on a fuller length, Alastair presents a straight bat in defense. |
| 17.4 : H Ali to A Cook, Back of a length around middle and leg, Cook goes back to bunt it. Gets an inside edge onto his thigh. |
| 17.5 : H Ali to Cook, Pitched up to the batter, AC drives it to mid off. |
| 17.6 : H Ali to Cook, That's the area you should bowl, says Michael Holding on air. Full and angling away from Cook, it lands around middle and off. Cook had to play at that. But the ball goes past the edge of the blade before going to Sarfraz. Almost similar to the way Jennings was dismissed. A wonderful maiden over to follow the one in which the opening wicket fell. |
| 18.1 : F Ashraf to Root, On a length well outside off, Root lets it go unharmed. |
| 18.2 : F Ashraf to Root, Fuller on middle, driven towards mid on. |
| 18.3 : F Ashraf to Root, FOUR! Lovely way to open your account. Ashraf yet again delivers it in a straight line. Root just flicks it away easily through mid-wicket. The ball speeds away to the fence. |
| 18.4 : F Ashraf to Root, Hurled in line of the stumps, Joe stands tall and blocks. |
| 18.5 : F Ashraf to Root, Full outside off, pushed towards covers. |
| 18.6 : F Ashraf to Root, Outside off, left alone. |
| 19.1 : H Ali to Cook, Full on off, defensively played towards covers. |
| 19.2 : H Ali to Cook, Around off and middle, Alastair defends it from the crease. |
| 19.3 : H Ali to Cook, Very full on the pads, flicked away straight to the man at fine leg. Cook is looking good so far. He got a nice half century in the first innings of the previous Test. Can he emulate or better that performance? |
| 19.4 : H Ali to Root, Superbly played. Root gets a stride forward as he executes a delectable cover drive. He bisects the gap between mid off and covers. The player from the former position hunts it down and keeps it down to two. |
| 19.5 : H Ali to Root, Back of a length delivery outside off, Root misses the defense. The ball goes off his back thigh towards point for nothing. A muted appeal follows. |
| 19.6 : H Ali to Root, FOUR! Wow! This guy can hit boundaries to all parts of the ground without being unorthodox. This time, he uses the room on offer outside off to guide it well past gully for a boundary. |
| 20.1 : F Ashraf to Cook, Cook is hanging on his back foot and hence, Ashraf slides this fuller in line of the stumps. But the southpaw gets his bat down in time to negotiate that one. |
| 20.2 : F Ashraf to Cook, Full and outside off, Cook makes sure that the ball is not in line of the stumps and lets it go. |
| 20.3 : F Ashraf to Cook, Confident stride. Full outside off, driven straight to mid off. |
| Meanwhile, Mohammad Amir is seen warming up. Could be summoned to separate this pair of Cook and Root. |
| 20.4 : F Ashraf to Cook, Full and angling away outside off, Cook lets it be. |
| 20.5 : F Ashraf to Cook, Around the good length area in line of the stumps, Cook moves back a touch and brings a straight bat down to push the ball in the direction of mid off. |
| 20.6 : F Ashraf to Cook, Full on the pads, clipped away through mid-wicket to retain strike. |
| Well, Mohammad Abbas is brought on. We saw Amir rolling his arm on the field but it's not him now. |
| 21.1 : M Abbas to Cook, Lands it on a length around middle and leg, it seams away after pitching. Cook plays it with soft hands but the ball goes off the outer edge towards gully. The man there dives and prevents a certain boundary, though he fails to prevent the rotation of strike. |
| 21.2 : M Abbas to Root, Bowled well outside off, left alone. |
| 21.3 : M Abbas to Root, FOUR! That's twice now that Root has looked in the direction towards gully. He was standing outside the crease to negate any movement on offer. On getting the width that he desired, he just steered this one to the third man fence for a boundary. Good batting this. |
| 21.4 : M Abbas to Root, Abbas straightens his line and gets closer to the stumps. Root shows the full bat face to block. |
| 21.5 : M Abbas to Root, Hit straight to the man at covers. |
| 21.6 : M Abbas to Root, Aiming at the off pole on a length, Joe stands tall and defends it with a straight bat. |
| 22.1 : F Ashraf to Cook, Hurled on a length around off and middle, Cook hops and pushes it towards mid off. Nothing gained. |
| 22.2 : F Ashraf to Cook, FOUR! Cook's balance for England in this summer has been excellent, quips Nasser Hussain on air, before Wasim Akram continues to lavish more praise on that. Such a beautiful stroke that. Ashraf lets out a full length ball slanting across the southpaw, Alastair gets his front foot nicely forward and drives it wonderfully through covers for a boundary. Moves to 30 with that. |
| 22.3 : F Ashraf to A Cook, Ashraf now comes around the wicket and bowls it around off. Cook presents a straight blade to push it to mid on. |
| 22.4 : F Ashraf to Cook, Fuller around middle, pushed to mid on. |
| 22.5 : F Ashraf to Cook, Faheem lands it on a length and gets it to nip in sharply. Cook hops to tuck but fails and wears it on the thigh pad. |
| 22.6 : F Ashraf to Cook, A bit short around off and middle, pulled away in front of square on the leg side to face the first ball of the next over. The trail now comes down to 99. |
| 23.1 : M Abbas to Cook, On a length around middle and off at 78.5 mph. Cook keeps it out to the off side. |
| 23.2 : M Abbas to Cook, Well left! Cook leaves it on length. It is landed around middle and moves in a bit. Cook withdraws his bat to let it pass. And it does so just above the stumps for Sarfraz to dive and collect that to his right. |
| 23.3 : M Abbas to Cook, Punched off the back foot straight to the man stationed at covers. |
| 23.4 : M Abbas to Cook, This is bowled on a length that is shorter than good length. Alastair gets behind it and pushes it to the on side for nothing. Umpire Bruce Oxenford has a look in the region of Abbas' followthrough. |
| 23.5 : M Abbas to Cook, Beaten on the inside! A touch fuller than the previous one, Cook anticipates it to swing away and goes for the drive accordingly. But the ball goes straight on and passes the inside edge of his bat. |
| 23.6 : M Abbas to Cook, On a length around middle and leg, Cook defends. A maiden from Abbas, a good one that. |
| Mohammad Amir is back on for another spell. |
| 24.1 : M Amir to Root, Starts with a length ball that lands around leg and slants away towards middle and off. Root stands tall and pushes it to the off side for nothing. |
| 24.2 : M Amir to Root, Length ball around middle and off, Joe guides it to gully. Post that he signals to somebody over the sightscreen to sit down. |
| 24.3 : M Amir to Root, Around middle and leg, pushed towards covers from the back foot. |
| 24.4 : M Amir to Root, A scream for nothing! Amir gets fuller in length this time but aims it around leg. A hint of inswing there. Root misses the flick and the ball goes to the on side. A leg bye is stolen as the bowler and the keeper appeal, only for the latter to then suggest to the former that it was slipping down leg. |
| 24.5 : M Amir to Cook, Hurled well outside off, AC lets it be. |
| 24.6 : M Amir to Cook, Angling in from outside off before moving away. Cook has nothing doing with it and just lets the keeper do the rest. |
| 25.1 : M Abbas to Root, Served on a length well outside off, Root walks a couple of steps down before trying to defend. The cherry nips away and beats the outside edge of the skipper, before going on the bounce to the keeper. |
| 25.2 : M Abbas to Root, Root puts his head down and blocks this towards covers. |
| 25.3 : M Abbas to Root, Straighter outside off, left alone. |
| 25.4 : M Abbas to Root, Well outside off, Joe lets the keeper take it in his mitts. |
| 25.5 : M Abbas to Root, Root gets inside the line and hits it to the man at mid on. |
| 25.6 : M Abbas to Root, Root yet again walks across before shouldering arms to this one well outside off. Another maiden over. |
| 26.1 : M Amir to Cook, Full and outside off, Cook leaves it alone. |
| 26.2 : M Amir to Cook, Well outside off yet again, a bit of shape away. Cook doesn't bother playing at that. |
| 26.3 : M Amir to Cook, Length ball outside off, Cook stands tall and opens the face of the bat to guide it square on the off side. Imam hunts it down from covers and keeps it down to one. |
| 26.4 : M Amir to Root, Jaffa! That's a lovely delivery and that's where Amir needs to be. He delivers a terrific delivery around middle that nips away after pitching. Root looks to defend assuming it to come in. Since the movement was away, he gets beaten all ends up. |
| 26.5 : M Amir to Root, Around off and middle, pushes towards covers. |
| 26.6 : M Amir to Root, Length ball moving away, Root covers the movement and blocks it to the off side. |
| 27.1 : M Abbas to Cook, Length ball on middle and leg, Cook gets behind that and pushes it back. |
| 27.2 : M Abbas to Cook, FOUR! Some days your bad balls get you wickets while on others, your good ones go for boundaries. Abbas bowls it on a length around middle and leg, Cook gets into a bit of a tangle as he looks to block it. But he ends up getting an inside onto the pads and the ball trickles away to the fine leg fence. The bowler is on his knees in disbelief. |
| 27.3 : M Abbas to Cook, Full on off, pushed towards covers. |
| 27.4 : M Abbas to Cook, Hurled well outside off, left alone. |
| 27.5 : M Abbas to Cook, On a length swinging away from Cook, too wide to interest the experienced southpaw. |
| 27.6 : M Abbas to Cook, On the pads, clipped straight to mid-wicket. 8-4-17-0 so far for Abbas. |
| Man on the hook for Root. |
| 28.1 : M Amir to Root, Beaten again! Length ball angling away from Root, he gets squared up in his attempted defense. The ball goes not too far from the outside edge of the blade. |
| 28.2 : M Amir to Root, Full outside off, Root gets his stride out and drives it through cover-point. The ball goes races over the practice pitches and allows Joe to take two. |
| 28.3 : M Amir to Root, FOUR! Pure timing. Pitched up around off, Root gets down his bat at an angle. The open-face shot makes the ball beat gully to the left and goes away to the third man fence. |
| 28.4 : M Amir to Root, Swing galore! But that's after it passes the batter. Root feels for it but gets beaten. Ahmed has to dive full stretch to his right to take that. |
| 28.5 : M Amir to Root, This time Joe stays in his crease and pushes it towards point. |
| 28.6 : M Amir to Root, A hint of shape away as Root stays in his crease. He gets behind the line and pats it towards point. |
| 29.1 : M Abbas to Cook, Bowled on the good length around middle and off. Cook lunges and blocks it towards covers. |
| 29.2 : M Abbas to A Cook, Length ball outside off, Alastair goes back and defends. But he does so with an open face of the bat after the ball comes to him. The ball rolls towards gully, where Shadab gets a bad bounce. The ball goes through him, enabling Cook to cross over. It is notable that Abbas had switched sides here. |
| 29.3 : M Abbas to Root, Outside off, left alone. |
| 29.4 : M Abbas to Root, Bowled outside off, Root shimmies a bit and drives it off the inner half back towards the bowler. Frustration for the bowler is evident as he hurls a throw to the keeper in the direction of the batter. |
| Deep backward square leg in place now. |
| 29.5 : M Abbas to Root, FOUR! A bottom hand whip, says David Lloyd on air. This is hurled fuller on middle and leg, Root flicks it nonchalantly through mid-wicket. A boundary results. |
| 29.6 : M Abbas to Root, This is well outside off to draw Joe's interest. |
| 30.1 : M Amir to Cook, Full on off, driven back to the bowler. |
| 30.2 : M Amir to Cook, Taken, but edged? Nope! Amir hurls this down the leg side. Cook aims to flick it but it goes off something to Sarfraz's right. There is some sound as well when it so happens. The keeper leaps to his right, takes it and puts in an appeal but to no avail. Snicko shows that it came entirely off the pads. |
| 30.3 : M Amir to Cook, Outside off, Cook guides it through backward point for a couple. |
| 30.4 : M Amir to Cook, Fuller in line of the stumps, whipped away to mid on. There's a slight misfield there and that allows Cook to cross over. |
| 30.5 : M Amir to Root, Amir comes from round the wicket and bowls it well outside off, Root lets it go. |
| 30.6 : M Amir to Root, Similar delivery, Root covers his stumps and leaves it alone. |
| Spin for the first time in this Test match. Shadab Khan it is. It will be interesting to see if he gets some assistance from the surface. |
| 31.1 : S Khan to Cook, Shadab starts from over the wicket and serves it outside off. Cook goes back and after the ball spins in a bit, he punches it towards covers. |
| 31.2 : S Khan to Cook, Looped up around middle, Cook whips it away to mid-wicket. |
| 31.3 : S Khan to Cook, Shorter in length this time, Cook clips it away through square leg. |
| Short leg coming in now. |
| 31.4 : S Khan to Cook, Floated full around middle, flicked away through mid-wicket for one. |
| 31.5 : S Khan to Root, Nicely tossed up around middle and leg, the ball spins in a touch as Root blocks with a lunge. |
| 31.6 : S Khan to Root, Slower through the air around middle, flicked away to mid-wicket. Decent start from the spinner. |
| 32.1 : M Amir to Cook, Angled in on a length around off, Cook hops and blocks. |
| 0.0 : We are already into the extended half an hour of the day. 8 overs are yet to be bowled after this one. |
| 32.2 : M Amir to Cook, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 32.3 : M Amir to Cook, Full outside off, pushed off the front foot towards covers. |
| 32.4 : M Amir to Cook, Beautifully played. Amir spears it full and straight around middle and leg, such is Cook's balance that he flicks it nicely. The man from deep mid-wicket rushes to his right, tumbles and saves a couple. |
| Sorry, sorry, sorry, says Cook after he makes Amir abort his run-up. Perhaps some movement in front of the sightscreen distracted him. |
| 32.5 : M Amir to Cook, On a length outside off, punched towards covers for a quick single. |
| 32.6 : M Amir to Root, Short length ball angling away, Root goes back and pats it towards point. |
| 33.1 : S Khan to Cook, Khan comes round the wicket and loops it up around off. Cook flicks it to short leg. |
| 33.2 : S Khan to A Cook, Shadab is as generous as he can with his flight on this occasion. Cook drives it off the inner half to mid on. |
| 33.3 : S Khan to Cook, Cook goes back and turns it away to the on side. |
| 33.4 : S Khan to Cook, Flicked away through mid-wicket for a single that brings up 100 for England. They are just 74 runs away from Pakistan's first innings score. |
| 33.5 : S Khan to Root, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 33.6 : S Khan to Root, Floated outside off, Root lunges and opens the face of the bat. Gets the ball past slip for a couple. Good running that. |
| Hasan Ali is back for another burst. |
| 34.1 : H Ali to Cook, Fuller around off and middle, pushed towards mid off. |
| 34.2 : H Ali to Cook, Hurled around middle and leg, Cook gets it off the inner half through backward square leg. A single is taken that brings up the 50-run stand between the current and the former skipper of England. The former skipper is just 4 short of his personal fifty. Applause at Headingley. |
| 34.3 : H Ali to Joe Root, Full outside off, driven through covers. |
| 34.4 : H Ali to Root, Root glides this one through cover-point for one. |
| 34.5 : H Ali to Cook, OUT! Oh man! Another Test match fifty is not to be for Alastair Cook. Of all the ways of getting dismissed, the former skipper chooses the tamest of modes to go back. Hasan Ali bangs this short down the leg side. The southpaw looks at this as an opportunity to get some runs under his belt. He ends up being a bit early into the shot as a result of which, the faintest part of his gloves is taken. Sarfraz Ahmed behind doesn't miss taking that one, even as the umpire raises the |
| Dominic Bess walks in at no. 4 for England. So, they opt to go with a man, who got a fifty on Test debut, as a nightwatchman. Will he manage to see the day off? |
| 34.6 : H Ali to Bess, Hurled outside off, left alone. End of a successful over from Ali. |
| 35.1 : S Khan to Root, Floated around middle and off, bunted off the front foot. |
| 35.2 : S Khan to Root, Root gets behind this and keeps it out. |
| 35.3 : S Khan to Joe Root, Floated outside off, driven through covers for one. |
| 35.4 : S Khan to Bess, Loopy ball outside off, Bess covers the stumps and gets low to block it. |
| 35.5 : S Khan to Bess, Huge appeal! Wrong 'un around off, Bess gets low to defend for the conventional spin. But this goes the other way and hits his unmentionable area. The players appeal to no avail. Could be a painful hit as he is seen squatting now. |
| 35.6 : S Khan to Bess, Another googly around off, pushed towards covers. |
| Should be the final over of the day. |
| 36.1 : H Ali to Root, Full and slanting on the pads, clipped away through square leg for one. Up to Bess to see the day off now. |
| 36.2 : H Ali to Bess, Fuller on the pads, Bess misses the flick and wears it on the pads. A muted appeal is made which dies down on its own. |
| 36.3 : H Ali to Bess, This delivery is pushed to covers from the crease. |
| 36.4 : H Ali to Bess, That ball has struck the batsman on the thigh pad. |
| Catching mid-wicket in place now. |
| 36.5 : H Ali to Bess, Very full outside off, dug out to the cover region. Another delivery to go... |
| Last ball of the day coming up. A silly mid off in place apart from a short leg and a short mid-wicket. |
| 36.6 : H Ali to Bess, Bumper to end the day. It's aimed at Bess' head. The spinner ducks under it to let Sarfraz take that. That brings us to the CLOSE OF DAY 1! |
| Test cricket is just like life, Michael Holding had said once. You can't relax that you've done your best on one day. You need to be good over a period of five days to own the game. England will be well wary of this fact. It won't be wrong to say that this day has been theirs. After coming to Headingley 0-1 down, this is the apt beginning that they've eked out. |
| Remember, the toss didn't go the hosts' way this morning. Sarfraz Ahmed won his first toss as a Test captain and had the choice to do what he wanted. That was the only rub of the green for them, perhaps. His choice saw them end up with 174. Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings knit a 53-run stand for the opening wicket, in reply, a mark that the English reached after 12 long innings intervening. Faheem Ashraf gave Pakistan the initial breakthrough while the former England captain missed out on his |
| Both the southpaws looked assured during their stay and hence, would be ruing their missed opportunity to get significant personal scores. Joe Root is still unbeaten in the middle, with nightwatchman Dominic Bess for company. The skipper would want to get a big score on board, having missed out numerous chances to get a Test ton. Pakistan weren't all too bad with the ball as they did get significant purchase to often trouble even the seemingly set batters. The only thing is, they don't have as m |
| Although they got to do what they wanted, Pakistan were bundled out for a seemingly paltry score. This happens often to sides who come calling on English shores. It was a result of a relentless James Anderson and Stuart Broad bowling with discipline and vigour. Add Chris Woakes to the mix, the potent English trio picked up three apiece to keep the batters from the Asian side quiet. That only Shadab Khan scored over fifty has a tale to tell. The young leggie is having a ball with the bat in Tests |
| Not a bad start to the final Test, isn't it? Expect both sides to come hard with refreshed intent as they look to gain one-upmanship over the other. As the ball gets older, reverse swing comes into the picture. And who better than Pakistan to exploit that. They still have a cover of 68 runs to play with. Also, with the way the England side is shaping up, all it takes is a wicket or two to open the floodgates. Will a familiar script pan out on Day 2? Or do we have a novel concept in store for Sat |
| ... DAY TWO, SESSION ONE ... |
| Stories. They have a lesson for all readers. They give a lesson to the world. Often, folklores contain brilliances, that are made when a pushed-back-to-the-hilt situation arises. Comebacks are scripted on the basis of these. We've had such an inspirational tale here. England have been far from success in the recent past. With a series loss looming large due to the loss at Lord's, the seniors in the side (Anderson, Broad, Cook, Root) decided to take matters in their hands to hand them the advanta |
| It is weekend and you're at the right place if this is the digital mode of entertainment you've chosen. We're glad to have you with us. Alastair Cook's wicket minutes before the close of play of Friday would have been the right tonic that Pakistan would've loved. Expect them to come out rigorously today. Behind all the runs and wins that we associate with England, a great deal of callowness hides. A frail middle order holds the key. They still trail by 68 with 8 more wickets in the bank. |
| Action in England would be incomplete without some intervention from the weather around. Rains are forecast for a large part of today. We can well be braced for a stop-start kind of a game. Sarfraz Ahmed's men would not entirely loathe, if the situation thus arises, for it would provide his seamers the extra aid that they would love. An interesting wet day is on cards. Current update is that IT IS DRIZZLING AND THE SQUARE IS UNDER COVERS. Stay with us. |
| 1100 local time (1000 GMT) update - Rain, rain and only rain. Clearly, no cricket. That's what we have for you currently. The ground is covered and on that, there are puddles of water. Should take some time clearing. We'll keep you posted. |
| 1200 local time (1100 GMT) update - Well folks, we've nothing positive for you from Headingley. The mizzle continues, restricting the umpires' visit to the middle just a mere formality. We could have an early Lunch, although a confirmation to that effect is awaited. Stay tuned for further updates. |
| 1300 local time (1200 GMT) update - Time for LUNCH! Yes, a just reward, if one may put it, for playing the game - a waiting one. So rain consumes a session of this Test match. Will this please Pakistan? How would England be feeling? Perhaps you could ask your studious friend about how he would have felt, when someone who largely seemed to while away time turned out to be the topper. We'll be back with more, post the interval. |
| ... DAY TWO, SESSION TWO ... |
| 1355 local time (1255 GMT) update - Patience helps! We have good news for you. Things are starting to brighten up here. The outer covers are coming off. Post Lunch there was an inspection and there will be a further inspection at 1420 local time (1320 GMT). Don't go anywhere. |
| 1420 local time (1320 GMT) update - OFFICIAL! The wait is finally over. The players are out warming up and the covers are completely off. Play is going to start at 1445 local time (1345 GMT), that is in 25 minutes. |
| All set! The players and the umpires have made their way out to the middle. Still overcast and cloudy conditions there and a lot of wind. Pakistan will hope they get some swing to play with. |
| 37.1 : M Amir to Root, Comes in from over the wicket and pitches it full around off, just a hint of swing and Root leaves it alone. |
| 37.2 : M Amir to Root, Drags his length back and hurls it around off, Root punches it to the off side. |
| 37.3 : M Amir to Root, Better from Amir. Serves it on that good length area around off. Root goes for the drive but is beaten. |
| 37.4 : M Amir to Root, Straight in line of the stumps, defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 37.5 : M Amir to Root, Gets behind the ball and blocks it out well. |
| 37.6 : M Amir to Joe Root, FOUR! First one of the day. Not intentional but effective. Fuller ball from Amir on off, Root gets a soft outside edge and the ball flies past third slip. No thirdman and the ball runs away. The crow goes...Roooooooot!!! |
| Hasan Ali will bowl from the other end. Can he generate some swing? |
| 38.1 : H Ali to Bess, Bowls it full on middle and off, Bess is solid in defense. |
| 38.2 : H Ali to D Bess, This was intentional from Bess. Opens the face of the bat at the last moment and guides it past gully. The fielder chases it and stops the batsmen to three runs. |
| 38.3 : H Ali to Root, FOUR Byes! Strays this down leg, Root shuffles and looks to flick it. Doesn't put bat to ball, Sarfraz too cannot collect it after the dive and the ball speeds to the fine leg fence. |
| 38.4 : H Ali to Root, Delicate glance by the batsman through the fine leg region. |
| 38.5 : H Ali to Root, Full again outside off, Root drives it past backward point to get three more. |
| 38.6 : H Ali to Bess, Peach! Good length ball around off, it swings away after pitching and Bess is caught in his crease. |
| 39.1 : M Amir to Root, Nice line from Amir, Lands it on the good length area, Root plays and misses. |
| 39.2 : M Amir to Root, Overthrows! Played with soft hands by Root towards point and hares to the other end. The fielder there has an unnecessary shy at the keeper's end. Ahmed fails to collect it and the balls deflects towards mid-wicket where Faheem Ashraf too cannot hold to it. It further goes to the deep where the batsmen take two more. |
| 39.3 : M Amir to Bess, The batsman works it down the leg side. |
| 39.4 : M Amir to D Bess, FOUR! Shot of the day! England are scoring quickly already. Pitched up ball from Amir on off, Bess gets low and drives it in the gap for a beautiful boundary. |
| 39.5 : M Amir to Bess, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 39.6 : M Amir to Bess, Around off, Bess pokes at it but cannot get bat to ball. |
| 40.1 : H Ali to Root, On middle and off, Root covers his stumps and blocks it. |
| 40.2 : H Ali to Root, Fuller in length, Root taps it in front of him. |
| 40.3 : H Ali to Root, Pitched up ball around off, Root taps it in front of him and the ball lops towards covers. Shadab jumps at restricts the batsmen to just one. |
| 40.4 : H Ali to Bess, FOUR! Beautifully done from Bess! Short and wide from Ali, Bess waits for it and cuts it over backward point. No fielder in the deep and the ball meets the ropes. |
| 40.5 : H Ali to Bess, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 40.6 : H Ali to Bess, Short ball from Ali down leg, Bess tucks it to the leg side for nothing. |
| 41.1 : M Amir to Root, Touch short and into the body of Root, who does well to dabs it towards square leg for a single. |
| 41.2 : M Amir to Bess, On a goodish length angling away from the batsman. Bess leaves it for the keeper. |
| 41.3 : M Amir to Bess, Goes touch full and wide but not enough to entice Bess with a shot. |
| 41.4 : M Amir to Bess, Bangs it down the pitch, into the body and Bess tries to duck under it. The ball didn't bounce much and hit him on his right shoulder. Root checks on his player but no harm done. |
| 41.5 : M Amir to Bess, Stays low and punches the delivery to mid-wicket. |
| 41.6 : M Amir to Bess, Another delivery angled away from him and Bess gets into good position to punch it to cover-point. |
| 42.1 : H Ali to Root, Full and onto his pads. Root stays in his crease and punches the ball through wide long on. The fielder chases the ball but can't the batsman from taking three. |
| 42.2 : H Ali to Bess, Short of a length, outside off and Bess gets his bat away from the line of the delivery. |
| 42.3 : H Ali to Bess, Bowls it touch short. The batsman gets on top of the bounce and punches it from the backfoot through covers for another single. |
| 42.4 : H Ali to Root, On a fullish length and Root defends it nicely. |
| 42.5 : H Ali to Root, Similar length and the batsman is happy to let it pass. |
| 42.6 : H Ali to Root, Tad fuller and Root punches it towards cover-point and scampers for a single. |
| 43.1 : M Amir to Root, Angled away, enticing Root with the length. He goes for it but misses the ball. |
| 43.2 : M Amir to Root, Similar delivery and Root does well to defend it this time. |
| 43.3 : M Amir to Root, OUT! Amir gets his man! Huge, huge wicket for Pakistan. Root was looking good out in the middle but consistent bowling in the same channel has brought the demise of English skipper. Coming to the delivery, Amir bowls it touch full, angling away from the batsman and straightens after pitching. Root goes for the widish delivery in search of quick runs but edges this one to the keeper, who takes an easy catch. Some drama in an otherwise dull day. |
| Dawid Malan is the new man in. |
| 43.4 : M Amir to Malan, OOH! Almost another. Too good for the new man, Dawid Malan. He stays inside the line to play the good length delivery but it pitches and goes away. No chance for the batsman to get anything on it. |
| 43.5 : M Amir to Malan, Stays in his crease and feet doesn't move. Malan gets his bat on ball and gets the ball in the point region. Two runs added to the total. |
| 43.6 : Amir to Malan, No run. |
| 44.1 : H Ali to Bess, Bowls it straight on a good length and Bess misses the line of the delivery. |
| 44.2 : H Ali to Bess, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot off his pads. One run added to the total. |
| 44.3 : H Ali to Malan, Good leave this. Too close for comfort but a good leave nonetheless. Ali angles it away from the batsman and makes it jag back in from short of a good length. |
| 44.4 : H Ali to Malan, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 44.5 : H Ali to Malan, Short of a length and on his ribs, Malan punches it to the mid-wicket fielder. |
| 44.6 : H Ali to Malan, Malan goes for the wide one but misses the ball. It stayed touch low as well. |
| 45.1 : M Amir to Bess, Edge but doesn't carry. AMir is bowling it on the same probing length outside off to Bess as well. And almost gets another one. |
| 45.2 : M Amir to Bess, Angled into his body and Bess gets behind the line of the delivery nicely. |
| 45.3 : M Amir to Bess, Flicked off his pads towards the square leg region. Another run added to the total. |
| 45.4 : M Amir to Malan, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 45.5 : M Amir to Malan, He is not reading Amir's swing too well. Gets outside half of his bat off the fuller delivery but manages to keep it down. |
| 45.6 : M Amir to Malan, Similar delivery and almost the similar shot. Not easy for the new batsman in, on a gloomy day, against the fiery Amir. |
| 46.1 : H Ali to Bess, FOUR! Beautiful! How good is that from Bess? No half measures with his short making. Ali bowls it on a short of a length, angling in to the body of the batsman. Bess gets on his toes and punches the ball from the middle of the bat through covers. He got a half century in his last match. Can he better his best? |
| 46.2 : H Ali to Bess, Driven through mid on from the front foot. |
| 46.3 : H Ali to D Bess, On a full length and Bess goes pokes at the delivery and gets a thick outside edge. The ball rolls between gully and Slip cordon towards 3rd man. One run added to the total. |
| 46.4 : H Ali to Malan, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 46.5 : H Ali to D Malan, Whipped to the mid on region but finds the fielder. |
| 46.6 : H Ali to D Malan, FOUR! Too full from Ali and Malan makes full use of it. This is bowled full outside off and Malan flashes his bat from the crease. The ball races between the cover-point fielder but no chance of stopping it. |
| Mohammad Abbas gets the ball in his hand. |
| 47.1 : M Abbas to Bess, No run. |
| 47.2 : M Abbas to Bess, Not convincing this. He was inside the line to defend it but doesn't get it in the middle. The ball takes the inside half and hits him on his pad. |
| 47.3 : M Abbas to Malan, Four Leg byes! Abbas errs in line, goes too straight and on the pads of the batman. Malan tries to tickle the ball fine but didn't get anything on it. The ball hits his pad and races to the fine leg fielder. Pakistan skipper looks at the ball in agony as it goes past him. |
| 47.4 : M Abbas to Malan, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 47.5 : M Abbas to Malan, Touch too wide. The batsman leaves it for the keeper. |
| 47.6 : M Abbas to Malan, On a good length and Malan guides to the mid-wicket region. |
| Faheem Ashraf is introduced into the attack. |
| 48.1 : F Ashraf to Bess, Lands it around off, Bess takes a step forward and blocks it. |
| 48.2 : F Ashraf to Bess, Similar ball, defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 48.3 : F Ashraf to Bess, Back of a length ball on leg, Bess tucks it away to mid-wicket. |
| 48.4 : F Ashraf to D Bess, Bowls this on middle and leg, Bess hangs back and punches this in the gap towards mid-wicket. Malan responds and they complete the run. |
| 48.5 : F Ashraf to Malan, Stays in the crease, hops a bit and bunts the ball down. |
| 48.6 : F Ashraf to Malan, Serves this on leg again, Malan rocks back and works it to the leg side. |
| 49.1 : M Abbas to Bess, Outside off and goes straight. Bess gets his bat out and edges it to the third man fielder. One run added to the total. |
| 49.2 : M Abbas to Malan, Goes around the wicket for the left hander and touch too straight, on his pads. Malan tries to get inside the line but the ball misses his bat and thuds into his pad. Another run added. |
| 49.3 : M Abbas to Bess, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 49.4 : M Abbas to Bess, These straight and short of a length deliveries shouldn't create too much trouble for Bess. |
| 49.5 : M Abbas to Bess, Outside off, on a similar length and Bess defends the ball from the back foot. |
| 49.6 : M Abbas to Bess, Open the face of the bat to guide the good length delivery but finds the point fielder. |
| Drinks break has been taken. England started the play with some intent,got some quick runs but lost their captain on the way. Despite loosing his wicket, they brought the deficit down to just 15 runs. Amir looked hungry for wickets, kept the ball in the same channel and got his due in the form of Joe Root's wicket. |
| 50.1 : F Ashraf to Malan, On a fuller length, angling away from the batsman. Malan drives it from the inside half of the bat towards mid on. |
| 50.2 : F Ashraf to Malan, Short of a length and angling away from the batsman. Malan gets a bottom edge but no harm done. |
| 50.3 : F Ashraf to D Malan, A touch fuller and on the stumps. The batsman blocks it towards mid on. |
| 50.4 : F Ashraf to Malan, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 50.5 : F Ashraf to D Malan, Full and on the stumps and Malan drives it straight to the fielder at mid on. |
| 50.6 : F Ashraf to Malan, Stays in his crease and blocks it out. |
| 51.1 : M Abbas to Bess, Fuller ball on middle and leg, Bess plays it towards mid on. |
| 51.2 : M Abbas to Bess, Full in line of the stumps, Bess hits it back to the bowler with a straight bat. |
| 51.3 : M Abbas to Bess, FOUR! Lovely balance and sweetly timed! Abbas goes full again, Bess gets under the ball and pushes it gently along the surface down the ground. Even with the rain today, the outfield shows no sign of being slow. |
| 51.4 : M Abbas to D Bess, Guides this ball from around off past gully towards third man for a single. The trail now reduces to 10. |
| 51.5 : M Abbas to Malan, Full on leg, worked towards the on side. |
| 51.6 : M Abbas to Malan, Straight in line, defended from the crease. |
| 52.1 : F Ashraf to Bess, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 52.2 : F Ashraf to Bess, Play and miss! How did that miss the outside edge! Good length ball hurled around off. It moves away after pitching. Bess goes for the drive and is beaten all ends up. |
| 52.3 : F Ashraf to Bess, Even better ball reckons the on-air commentator. This one though is a little straight and maybe there's a hint of reverse swing. Lands it on that fourth stump channel, Bess looks to defend it, only to see the ball going into the gloves of Ahmed past the outside edge of his bat. |
| 52.4 : F Ashraf to Bess, Hit to the mid on region for nothing. |
| 52.5 : F Ashraf to Bess, Ohh! Pitched up ball around off, Bess gets on one knee and looks to drive it. Gets a big inside edge onto his pads. |
| 52.6 : F Ashraf to Bess, FOUR! Gets one from the middle! Ashraf bowls this on a good length, Bess stays in his crease and punches it through covers. A boundary results. |
| 53.1 : M Abbas to Malan, FOUR! Shot! Nice and easy. Width on offer from Abbas and Malan stretches forward to get to the pitch of the delivery, gets his bat in line and slashes it hard. The ball finds the middle of his willow and turned the fielders into audience as it races away between the cover-point region. Four more runs added to the total and now they trail by just two runs. |
| 53.2 : M Abbas to Malan, Played through mid-wicket region from the good length. England trail by one run now. |
| 53.3 : M Abbas to Bess, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 53.4 : M Abbas to Bess, Almost square him up but Bess does well to play it with soft hands and keep it down. |
| 53.5 : M Abbas to Bess, Scores Level! Drives the fuller delivery to covers and takes a single. |
| 53.6 : M Abbas to Malan, The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball but fails. |
| Shadab Khan is into the attack. |
| 54.1 : S Khan to Bess, Flighted delivery on off and Bess pushes it straight to the cover fielder. |
| 54.2 : S Khan to Bess, Similar loopy delivery from Shadab but the batsman fails to put bat to ball. |
| 54.3 : S Khan to Bess, Appeals from the fielding team fro LBW but umpire declines it. The batsman was looking to play the sweep but misses the ball and it hits his pad. Risky! |
| 54.4 : S Khan to Bess, Another tossed up delivery and Bess drives it to the mid on fielder. |
| 54.5 : S Khan to Bess, A touch short and outside off, the batsman goes for the square cut but finds the fielder. |
| 54.6 : S Khan to D Bess, No run. |
| 55.1 : M Abbas to Malan, Good length ball outside off, Malan takes a step forward, gets behind the ball and bunts it out. |
| 55.2 : M Abbas to Malan, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 55.3 : M Abbas to Malan, Around off on a good length,Malan is solid in defense. |
| 55.4 : M Abbas to D Malan, Almost dragged on! Length ball on middle and off, Malan looks to blocks it but gets an inside edge to it. The ball hits his back leg and dies down. |
| 55.5 : M Abbas to Malan, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 55.6 : M Abbas to Malan, Outside off, easy leave for Malan. |
| 56.1 : S Khan to D Bess, Loopy full toss on off, Bess drives it but finds the fielder at short covers. |
| 56.2 : S Khan to Bess, Tossed up again, Bess hits it towards backward point. |
| 56.3 : S Khan to Bess, BEAUTY! Leg break on middle and leg, spins away after pitching. Bess pokes at it but it beats him. |
| 56.4 : S Khan to Bess, Picks the ball, gets in position early and paddles it towards square leg for a run. ENGLAND LEAD BY 1. |
| 56.5 : S Khan to Malan, Played through mid-wicket by DM. |
| 56.6 : S Khan to Malan, FOUR! Floated ball down leg, Malan paddles this fine to the fine leg region. No fielder there and the ball trickles away to the ropes. Deliberately done from Dawid. |
| 57.1 : M Abbas to D Bess, Too wide from Abbas, Bess cuts it uppishly past point for a brace. |
| 57.2 : M Abbas to Bess, Full outside off, defended with an open face towards gully. |
| 57.3 : M Abbas to D Bess, Flicked away in the gap. Easy runs for Bess. Shuffles across and whips it through mid-wicket. The fielder from deep square leg mops it and prevents the boundary. Three runs taken by the batsmen. |
| 57.4 : M Abbas to D Malan, FOUR! England in control now. Abbas is too full, on off this time, Malan drives it gloriously through covers. Four more to his name and it brings up the 50-run stand for these two. It's come in quick time too. |
| 57.5 : M Abbas to Malan, The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails. |
| 57.6 : M Abbas to Malan, The batsman appears to have been struck on the thigh pad. One run added to the total. Leg byes signalled by the umpire. |
| 58.1 : S Khan to D Malan, Nicely floated outside and Malan plants his foot down to the pitch of the delivery and guides it to the mid on region for a single. |
| 58.2 : S Khan to Bess, Another flighted one. Bess defends it back to the bowler. |
| 58.3 : S Khan to D Bess, Third in a row, just outside off. Bess pushes it to the cover fielder. |
| 58.4 : S Khan to Bess, Uppish! Bess looking to guide the flighted ball through the cover-point region but doesn't get the connection. |
| 58.5 : S Khan to Bess, Played the tossed up delivery to the point region. |
| 58.6 : S Khan to Bess, Googly outside off and nicely blocked by Bess. He reads the ball nicely and plays it with a straight bat. |
| Faheem Ashraf is back into the attack. |
| 59.1 : F Ashraf to Malan, Short of a length angling across the batsman who defends it to the off side. |
| 59.2 : F Ashraf to Malan, Similar length but a touch too wide. Malan goes for the drive but doesn't get the connection. The ball goes to the cover fielder. |
| 59.3 : F Ashraf to Malan, On a good length and swinging away, Malan keeps his bat away from the line. |
| 59.4 : F Ashraf to Malan, The ball is too wide on the off side for the batsman to make any contact. |
| 59.5 : F Ashraf to Malan, FOUR! Boom! Miss, miss and middled! Lead goes up to 20. Malan is feeling the ball nicely now. Faheem bowls it full outside off and Malan presents the face of the bat. Malan gets a big stride forward, middles the ball and it races to the mid off boundary. |
| 59.6 : F Ashraf to Malan, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 60.1 : S Khan to Bess, No run. |
| 60.2 : S Khan to D Bess, Tossed up ball on off, Bess hits it to mid off. |
| 60.3 : S Khan to Malan, Wrong 'un, Bess works it to the leg side. |
| 60.4 : S Khan to Malan, Tossed up leg break, Malan gets forward and taps it to short mid-wicket. |
| 60.5 : S Khan to Malan, Some turn for Khan, gives this air on off, Malan turns his bat to the leg side and gets one. |
| 60.6 : S Khan to Bess, Another wrong 'un, Bess picks it up and plays it back to the bowler. |
| 61.1 : F Ashraf to Malan, On a good length outside off, Malan lets the ball go. |
| 61.2 : F Ashraf to Malan, A touch fuller this time and makes the batsman play, who plays at it from his crease to the off side. |
| 61.3 : F Ashraf to Malan, A bit too straight from Ashraf, on the stumps and the batsman blocks it . |
| 61.4 : F Ashraf to Malan, Another shortish delivery into his rib cage. Malan does well to block it on the on side. |
| 61.5 : F Ashraf to Malan, A short of a length of delivery just outside off and the batsman punches it back form the back foot. |
| 61.6 : F Ashraf to Malan, Shoulders his arms to the delivery outside off. |
| 62.1 : S Khan to Bess, Punches the shortish delivery from the back foot and take a single form the cover region. |
| 62.2 : S Khan to Malan, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 62.3 : S Khan to Malan, Floater from Shadab and Malan plays it from the front foot and into the ground. |
| 62.4 : S Khan to Malan, A lot of spin from outside the off. Malan tries to get to the pitch of the delivery but it misses his bat and goes down the leg side. It then goes off Ahmed's gloves towards short fine leg. |
| 62.5 : S Khan to Malan, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 62.6 : S Khan to Malan, Half tracker and the batsman flicks it off his pads for another single. |
| 63.1 : F Ashraf to Malan, Faheem comes running in from over the wicket and serves it on a good length around off. It moves away after pitching and Malan points his bat skywards to let it go. |
| 63.2 : F Ashraf to Malan, OUCH! He got hit from Hasan Ali in Lord's and again here today from Ashraf. Faheem digs it short on middle and leg, Malan goes for the pull but misses the ball. Gets hit on the back of the helmet but no damage done. |
| 63.3 : F Ashraf to D Malan, Short again, this time Malan pulls it in front of square. There's a man patrolling the deep square leg region. They cross. |
| 63.4 : F Ashraf to Bess, Played to the point region by DB. |
| 63.5 : F Ashraf to Bess, Short again from Ashraf on off, Bess stands tall and gets it off his glove into the ground. |
| 63.6 : F Ashraf to Bess, Good length ball around off, Bess covers his stumps and blocks it well. That's TEA, on DAY 2. |
| Another session goes to England! It was a late start to the day's play and everyone thought it would be difficult for the home team to bat under the overcast conditions but they have proved their critics wrong. Bess and Root were pro-active in the beginning of the session and gathered runs wherever the opportunity presented itself. They were going guns but Amir had a set plan in his mind. He kept on probing Root outside the off stump and eventually made him edge one to the keeper. |
| Dawid Malan took his place in the middle and started tentatively. Meanwhile, yesterday's night watch man, Dominic Bess was resolute to make Pakistan suffer. He, along with his left-handed partner, put the foot on the pedal and kept chipping away with runs. They have added 61 runs for the fourth wicket and steered their team to a better position. The lead has grown to 25 runs now and both the batsmen should look to bat for another session to take the upper-hand in the game. Pakistan, on the other |
| ... DAY TWO, SESSION THREE ... |
| We're back for the final segment of play. Bess' batting heroics in the last Test notwithstanding, here's playing another one here. He's ten short of his second Test fifty. Dawid Malan gives him company. There are 32 overs left in the day's play. Shadab Khan to bowl the first of those. |
| 64.1 : S Khan to Malan, Begins from around the wicket and floats it full around off and middle. Malan pushes it back towards the bowler. |
| 64.2 : S Khan to Malan, Quicker this time, worked away to the on side for nothing. |
| 64.3 : S Khan to Malan, Tossed up around off, Malan goes back and wrists it away to mid-wicket. |
| 64.4 : S Khan to Malan, 200 up for England! Malan flicks this away through backward square leg and gets to the other end to bring the landmark. The lead swells to 26. |
| 64.5 : S Khan to Bess, Flighted delivery around off, Bess blocks with a lunge. |
| 64.6 : S Khan to Bess, Slower through the air outside off, Bess lets it come to him and guides it to backward point. |
| Mohammad Amir to have a go from the other end. |
| 65.1 : M Amir to D Malan, OUT! Easy peesy! Pakistan get the breakthrough right after the break. Amir's introduction bears fruit immediately. He goes wide of the crease and angles it in from outside off. Malan is struck in his crease with his bat hanging out. The ball does the needful of taking the outside edge and flying towards first slip. Haris Sohail there makes no mistake in gobbling that up. Perhaps there was some extra bounce, as the batter's action later suggests. The lead stays at 26. |
| 0.0 : The next man in for England is Jonny Bairstow. He got a jaffa in the previous game. Amir was the bowler then, he's gonna have a go at the keeper now. |
| 65.2 : M Amir to Bairstow, Fuller on off, Jonny presents a straight defensive bat in defense. |
| 65.3 : M Amir to Bairstow, Full on off, pushed to the on side off the front foot. |
| 65.4 : M Amir to Bairstow, Fuller on the pads, Bairstow misses the flick and gets hit on the pads. The ball then rolls to the on side even as Pakistan put in a stifled appeal that is unsuccessful. Leg bye signaled as the batters change ends. |
| 65.5 : M Amir to Bess, Angling away from Bess, pushed towards covers for nothing. |
| 65.6 : M Amir to Bess, Nicely blocked off the front foot. So a wicket-maiden for Amir. |
| 66.1 : S Khan to Bairstow, Slower through the air outside off, there is a bit of spin away. Jonny reaches out and blocks. |
| 66.2 : S Khan to J Bairstow, Tossed up outside off, driven to covers. |
| 66.3 : S Khan to Bairstow, Flipper around off, Bairstow presents a straight defensive bat to that. |
| 66.4 : S Khan to Bairstow, Loopy ball outside off, Bairstow bunts it from the crease. |
| 66.5 : S Khan to Bairstow, Jonny lunges and buries it onto the ground. |
| 66.6 : S Khan to Bairstow, A touch shorter this time, Bairstow goes back and mistimes his punch to covers. |
| 67.1 : M Amir to Bess, Bess stands tall, lets the angled-away ball come to him and steers it towards point. |
| 67.2 : M Amir to Bess, Almost an action replay of the previous one. Played to point from the crease. |
| Change in field. A deep square leg in place. Bouncer coming up or a double bluff? |
| 67.3 : M Amir to Bess, FOUR! Yes, it was a double bluff! Amir delivers this one fuller and outside off. Bess has his weight on the back foot. Yet, he reaches out to this one and nails the cover drive. Gets a boundary that takes him to 44. |
| 67.4 : M Amir to Bess, Shortish outside off, cut away square on the off side for a single. |
| 67.5 : M Amir to Bairstow, Length ball on the hips, Bairstow rides that extra bounce well and tucks it to fine leg to get off the mark. |
| Late call to go up for a review from Pakistan! Perhaps Amir insisted on it. There's a huge LBW appeal against Bess which was turned down. Height seems to be the factor. |
| 67.6 : Amir to Bess, SAFE! Pitching is the problem, as it is outside leg. Amir bowls this one from over the wicket, it moves in a bit after landing. Bess misses the defense and the ball strikes him high on the front pad. The Pakistan players appeal but the umpire stays unmoved. Height seems to be a factor initially. But the Hawk Eye shows that the ball pitched outside leg. Matter over, review lost. |
| 68.1 : S Khan to Bairstow, Flatter on the pads, worked away round the corner for one. |
| 68.2 : S Khan to Bess, Floated outside off, driven to covers for none. |
| 68.3 : S Khan to Bess, FOUR! Streaky yet effective. Takes Bess to one short of his second Test fifty. Khan tosses it outside off, Dominic takes it on the full. Looks to play the cover drive but ends up getting a thick outside edge past slip for a boundary. |
| 68.4 : S Khan to D Bess, OUT! Well, well! Every run matters in cricket and every mark matters in academics. This would be a harsh realisation for Bess, who falls just one short of what would have been another half century for him. Shadab floats this one outside off, the length is a bit short. It rises a bit more than expected. Bess goes back to punch but fails to account for the extra bounce. The ball goes off the outside edge and lands in Asad Shafiq's hands at slip. Bess was brought into the si |
| Jos Buttler is in next. |
| 68.5 : S Khan to Buttler, Floated on off, defended with a lunge. |
| 68.6 : S Khan to Buttler, Tossed up outside off, driven powerfully to the man at covers. |
| 69.1 : M Amir to Bairstow, Full on the stumps, driven towards mid on. |
| 69.2 : M Amir to Bairstow, Hurled on a length outside off, left alone. |
| 69.3 : M Amir to Bairstow, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 69.4 : M Amir to Bairstow, Four Byes! That swung prodigiously! Amir spears it full and starts it from around leg. The ball tails further down the leg side, missing Bairstow's attempted flick. Ahmed behind dives but can do more than getting a finger tip to that. |
| 69.5 : M Amir to Bairstow, Worked away towards square leg from the crease. |
| 69.6 : M Amir to Bairstow, The batsman gets a bottom edge on that one. |
| 70.1 : S Khan to Buttler, FOUR! Jos Buttler is a good player of spin. He showed that to the world in the Indian T20 League, he's showing it to us now. Khan floats this one generously outside off. Buttler reaches out to that and smashes it through covers. Neither the man at covers nor did the one at mid off stood a chance of cutting that off. |
| 70.2 : S Khan to Buttler, Quicker googly on the pads, Jos misses the flick and wears it on the pads. |
| 70.3 : S Khan to Buttler, FOUR! Put down by Ali! Not someone you would want to give another chance, specially in the mood that he is in currently. Buttler clears his front leg and looks to hoick it over mid-wicket. Ends up getting it off the inner half of his bat to Ali there, who stretched to his right after kneeling down and gets a hand to it but fails to hold on. The power in that shot is evident from the fact that the ball has still gone to the fence. |
| 70.4 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Clever this time. Quicker and flatter outside off, Jos goes back and steers it through gully for another boundary. Third boundary in the over. |
| 70.5 : S Khan to Buttler, Outside off, driven towards covers. |
| 70.6 : S Khan to Buttler, Driven towards the mid off region. 12 runs off the over, with a potential wicket-taking chance gone down. |
| Hasan Ali is back into the attack. Can he make up for the drop? |
| 71.1 : H Ali to J Bairstow, Full on off, driven to mid off. |
| 71.2 : H Ali to Bairstow, Jonny stays on the back foot and blocks. |
| 71.3 : H Ali to Bairstow, Length ball outside off, Bairstow has a feel for it but gets beaten. |
| 71.4 : H Ali to Bairstow, Outside off on a length, cut away towards point. |
| 71.5 : H Ali to Bairstow, Outside off on a length, left alone. |
| 71.6 : H Ali to Bairstow, Maiden to start the spell for Ali. This is outside off, Bairstow lets it be. |
| 72.1 : S Khan to Buttler, Tossed up outside off, driven to covers. |
| 72.2 : S Khan to Buttler, Quicker and shorter in length around off. Buttler goes back and punches it to mid off. |
| 72.3 : S Khan to Buttler, Floated outside off, pushed through covers for one. Buttler moves to 13 off just 11. |
| 72.4 : S Khan to Bairstow, FOUR! Full toss is a gift. And not many reject gifts just like that. Bairstow takes it and smashes it down the ground for a boundary. Shadab perhaps is losing his control now. |
| 72.5 : S Khan to Bairstow, Flighted ball on off, defended with a lunge. |
| 72.6 : S Khan to Bairstow, Jonny goes back and punches this to mid on for nothing. |
| 73.1 : H Ali to Buttler, Fullish around off, defended from within the crease. |
| 73.2 : H Ali to Buttler, Jos keeps this one out with a straight bat. |
| 73.3 : H Ali to Buttler, Length ball well outside off. Buttler lets it be and watches it sail into the keeper's mitts. |
| 73.4 : H Ali to Buttler, Full ball on off, defended with a straight bat. |
| Footy skills! The ball rolled towards the umpire, after it became dead. Bruce Oxenford displayed his football skills by lifting it up a la rainbow style in that sport. |
| 73.5 : H Ali to Buttler, Outside off, left alone. |
| 73.6 : H Ali to Buttler, Fuller outside off, Buttler gets it off the outer half towards gully. |
| 74.1 : S Khan to Bairstow, Bairstow goes back and punches it towards covers. |
| 74.2 : S Khan to Bairstow, Floated outside off, pushed towards long off for one. |
| 74.3 : S Khan to Buttler, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. |
| 74.4 : S Khan to Buttler, Tossed up on middle and off, Buttler clears his front leg and drives it all along the ground to long off for one. |
| 74.5 : S Khan to Bairstow, This one is punched off the back foot to the off side. |
| 74.6 : S Khan to Bairstow, Served in line of the stumps, Bairstow keeps it out awkwardly. |
| 75.1 : H Ali to Buttler, Ooof! That's pinged Buttler on the back of the helmet. Thank god for that protection on the back. What's with these attacking English batters? We saw Malan get a blow on his helmet earlier and here's Jos now. Goes for the pull and takes his eyes off the ball. Misses it completely to get rapped on the helmet behind. The ball then rolls towards point. Buttler signals a thumbs up to say he's alright. |
| 0.0 : The physio is out in the middle to tend to Jos. He has some drinks and seems pretty good. He's good to go now. |
| 75.2 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, FOUR! And next up he plays a delightful stroke, Jos Buttler. Overpitched around middle and leg from Ali. Jos maintains his balance and pushes it down the ground past mid on. The timing is such that the ball goes to the fence in a trice. |
| 75.3 : H Ali to Buttler, Nice comeback. Ali lands it on a length outside off, it nibbles away ever so slightly. Buttler hangs his bat at it but gets beaten. |
| 75.4 : H Ali to Buttler, Lovely. Short ball, Buttler pulls it away through mid-wicket. Faheem from deep square leg rushes to his left, dives and makes a half-stop. The ball goes further away from him. He gathers himself and then gets to the ball and returns it. In the interim, three runs were taken. |
| 75.5 : H Ali to Bairstow, This one is kept out off the front foot. |
| 75.6 : H Ali to Bairstow, Jonny stays in the crease and blocks that one. |
| 76.1 : S Khan to Buttler, Tossed up outside off, powered straight to covers. |
| 76.2 : S Khan to Buttler, Buttler goes back and punches it off the back foot through covers for one. |
| 76.3 : S Khan to Bairstow, Googly around off, pushed down the ground through mid on for one. |
| 76.4 : S Khan to Buttler, This one is pushed straight to covers. |
| 76.5 : S Khan to Buttler, Eased away through the cover region for one more. |
| 76.6 : S Khan to Bairstow, The batsman gets a bottom edge on that one. |
| Faheem Ashraf is brought on for another burst. |
| 77.1 : F Ashraf to Buttler, Full on off, kept out with a straight bat. |
| 77.2 : F Ashraf to Buttler, Length ball around off, Jos walks down and across and flicks it through mid-wicket for one. |
| 77.3 : F Ashraf to Bairstow, Full and angling in on middle and leg, pushed towards mid on. |
| A huge Mexican wave is on at the ground. Sometimes, when the game seems to be moving monotonously, such incidents can spur everybody up. |
| 77.4 : F Ashraf to Bairstow, Jonny goes back and plays it towards point. |
| Gone? Bairstow offers no shot and is given the marching orders. But he has a chat with his partner and takes it upstairs. |
| 77.5 : F Ashraf to Bairstow, NOT OUT! Huge cheers across the ground as soon as the Ball Tracking was shown. MISSING THE STUMPS! Excellent use of the DRS. Faheem runs in from over the wicket and lands it on a length outside off. It is angled in as well. Looking at the initial landing, Bairstow decides to take a stride forward and shoulder arms. The ball, however, moves in a great deal as if there was a magnet pulling it towards it. Ends up hitting Jonny's pad's flap. The tourists appeal and umpire |
| 77.6 : F Ashraf to Bairstow, Pushed towards covers for one. |
| 78.1 : S Khan to Bairstow, Floated outside off, pushed towards covers. |
| 78.2 : S Khan to Bairstow, A forward defense displayed to this one in line of the stumps. |
| 78.3 : S Khan to Bairstow, FOUR! Floated full outside off, Bairstow gets around it and drives it crisply through covers. Hasan Ali sweeping in the deep tried to reach it but ended up being second best. |
| 78.4 : S Khan to Bairstow, Flatter on the stumps, punched towards mid on. |
| 78.5 : S Khan to Bairstow, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 78.6 : S Khan to Bairstow, Hit straight to the man at covers off the front foot. The second new ball is due in an over now. |
| 79.1 : F Ashraf to Buttler, Full outside off, Jos blocks. |
| 79.2 : F Ashraf to Jos Buttler, Short in length outside off, Buttler fetches his pull and gets it in front of square on the leg side to get to the other end. |
| 79.3 : F Ashraf to Bairstow, Length ball outside off, moving in a touch. Jonny chops it towards cover-point and shouts WAIT. |
| 79.4 : F Ashraf to Bairstow, FOUR! Easily done. Length ball outside off, Bairstow hangs back and lets it come. After that he just opens the face of the bat to guide it past gully. Once that man is cleared, a boundary it is. |
| 79.5 : F Ashraf to Bairstow, FOUR! Bairstow is just toying with the field now. A third man was in place as a response to the previous boundary. Jonny gets a length ball and he punches it through covers for another boundary. Wonderful. |
| 79.6 : F Ashraf to Bairstow, OUT! Faheem Ashraf has the last laugh! He almost got him LBW in his previous over. Now after getting hit for a couple of boundaries, he sends the English wicketkeeper back to the pavilion. He goes wide of the crease and angles it in on a length. Bairstow stands tall and looks to block. But all he manages to do is edge it straight to the keeper, where Sarfraz Ahmed doesn't commit a folly. England's lead is 14 short of getting to the triple figure mark. Well, this wicke |
| Drinks are on the field. Pakistan's drink might just taste sweeter with the latest scalp. They have managed to pick up three wickets post the Tea interval. Bairstow and Buttler looked good but they have just brought England 86 runs in front. How will the last phase before the close pan out? |
| Chris Woakes makes his way to the middle now. |
| 80.1 : S Khan to Buttler, Almost straight to the man! Khan serves it on a shortish length on the stumps, Buttler goes back to punch it through mid on. Ends up getting it off the inner half and on the bounce on mid-wicket. |
| 80.2 : S Khan to Buttler, Flatter outside off, cut away towards point. |
| 80.3 : S Khan to Buttler, Punched off the back foot through covers for one. |
| 80.4 : S Khan to Woakes, Flatter on the stumps, defended from the crease. |
| 80.5 : S Khan to Woakes, Flatter on the pads, worked away through backward square leg to get off the mark. |
| 80.6 : S Khan to Jos Buttler, Tossed up outside off, knocked through covers for one. |
| 81.1 : F Ashraf to Buttler, Pitches outside off and comes in with the angle. Jos happy to let it pass. |
| 81.2 : F Ashraf to Buttler, A touch too wide and the batsman stays away. |
| 81.3 : F Ashraf to Buttler, He is keeping it outside off for Buttler, who didn't offer a shot. |
| 81.4 : F Ashraf to Jos Buttler, Short of a length angling into the body. Buttler swivels and guides the ball to deep square leg and takes a single. |
| 81.5 : F Ashraf to Woakes, On a good length and jagging back into the new batsman. Woakes does well to guide the ball to the fine leg region for another single. |
| New ball has been taken by Pakistan. |
| 81.6 : F Ashraf to Buttler, Outside off, left for the keeper. |
| Mohammad Abbas into the attack. |
| 82.1 : M Abbas to Woakes, FOUR! Full, on middle and leg, Woakes picks it and send it to mid-wicket boundary. Abbas hasn't bowled too well in this innings and he has started again with a loose one. |
| 82.2 : M Abbas to Woakes, On a good length and the ball jags back in sharply and hits the batsman on his pads. |
| 82.3 : M Abbas to Woakes, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 82.4 : M Abbas to Woakes, Short of a length angling in to the body. The batsman gets behind the delivery and defends it. |
| 82.5 : M Abbas to C Woakes, FOUR! Outside off on a fullish length. Woakes goes hard at the ball and gets a thick outside edge. Once it goes past the gully fielder, there was no stopping it. Second boundary of the over. |
| 82.6 : M Abbas to Woakes, England's lead is 100 now. Another good length delivery and hard hands from the batsman. Gets a thickish outside edge but the fielder at third recently deployed at the boundary keeps it under one. |
| 83.1 : F Ashraf to Woakes, Outside off, Woakes gets bat to ball and collects the single from the third man region. EDGY! |
| 83.2 : F Ashraf to Buttler, The ball is too wide on the off side for the batsman to make any contact. |
| 83.3 : F Ashraf to Buttler, Too full from Ashraf and Buttler shuffles across his stumps and flicks it wide of the mid-wicket fielder. Three runs added to the total. Buttler looking better and better with every shot. |
| 83.4 : F Ashraf to Woakes, Outside off, Woakes lets it go. |
| 83.5 : F Ashraf to Woakes, The batsman goes after a wide one and misses. |
| 83.6 : F Ashraf to Woakes, OOH! This jags back in ferociously and almost kissed the off stump. Woakes thought he had it covered but the natural angle and the in swing almost made him regret his decision. IN the end, it's a good leave. |
| 84.1 : M Abbas to Buttler, Abbas brings on in to Buttler who gets an inside edge on to his pads. |
| 84.2 : M Abbas to Buttler, Goes for a wide one but misses. |
| 84.3 : M Abbas to Buttler, Keeps it outside off, Buttler is happy to let it pass. |
| 84.4 : M Abbas to Buttler, Gets behind the shortish delivery and blocks it with the straight bat. |
| 84.5 : M Abbas to Buttler, Full and outside off, defended with authority. |
| 84.6 : M Abbas to Buttler, On a good length, just outside the off stump. Buttler drives it straight to the mid on fielder. |
| 85.1 : M Amir to Woakes, On a short of a length angling away from the batsman who stands tall and defends it. |
| 85.2 : M Amir to Woakes, Angled away on a good length. Woakes fails to get bat on that. |
| 85.3 : M Amir to Woakes, Punched off the back foot to point. |
| 85.4 : M Amir to Woakes, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 85.5 : M Amir to Woakes, Punches the good length delivery on the up to the cover fielder who doesn't collect it cleanly. The ball rolls wide of mid off and the batsmen change strike. |
| 85.6 : M Amir to Buttler, Chooses to leave the ball outside off. |
| 86.1 : M Abbas to Woakes, Beaten! Just outside off and on a good length. Woakes hangs his bat and gets beaten. |
| 86.2 : M Abbas to Woakes, Woakes gets forward to keep out the fuller ball. |
| 86.3 : M Abbas to Woakes, Guides the good length delivery to point. |
| 86.4 : M Abbas to Woakes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 86.5 : M Abbas to Woakes, On a good length outside off, Woakes is happy to let it go. |
| 86.6 : M Abbas to Woakes, On a good length, swinging into the batsman who misses to get bat on ball from the front foot. The ball thuds into his pads, appeal from behind the wicket but the umpire is unmoved. |
| 87.1 : M Amir to Buttler, On Buttler's hips, who does well to flick it to square leg and takes a single. |
| 87.2 : M Amir to Woakes, Pitches on length and jags back in with pace. Woakes tries to get something on the delivery but fails to do so. The ball hits his thigh pad and drops on the off side. |
| 87.3 : M Amir to Woakes, FOUR! Full and on middle and leg, Woakes goes at it with hard hands and manages to get a thick bottom edge. He gets enough on the ball as it races to the mid-wicket boundary. The fielder form short mid-wicket and square leg gave it a chase but they were never going to stop it. |
| 87.4 : M Amir to Woakes, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 87.5 : M Amir to Woakes, Full and outside the off stump, Woakes punches the ball to the off side. |
| 87.6 : M Amir to Woakes, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 88.1 : M Abbas to Buttler, On a good length outside off, Buttler lets it go pass to the keeper. |
| 88.2 : M Abbas to Buttler, Walks down the track and punches the ball to covers. He is trying to counter the swing with his movement. |
| 88.3 : M Abbas to Buttler, Stays tall and punches the short of a length delivery to the off side. |
| 88.4 : M Abbas to Buttler, Bumper form Abbas, Buttler shuffles and swivels and guides it to the fine leg fielder. Another run added to the total. |
| 88.5 : M Abbas to Woakes, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 88.6 : M Abbas to Woakes, OUT! Woakes looked edgy through his little cameo and finally managed to get one to the keeper. Abbas bowls it on a good length, angling it into the batsman and straightening it from middle and off. Woakes hangs his bats at it from the crease and gets a faint edge. Sarfraz takes an easy catch behind the wicket and England looses their seventh wicket. Can Pakistan finish the tail quickly? |
| Debutant Sam Curran is the new man in. |
| 89.1 : M Amir to Buttler, Fuller ball outside off, Buttler plays across the wrong line and gets beaten. |
| 89.2 : M Amir to Buttler, Outside off, this time an easy leave for Jos. |
| 89.3 : M Amir to Buttler, Length outside off, Buttler shoulders his arms. |
| 89.4 : M Amir to Buttler, Pitches it up again, Buttler pushes it to mid off. |
| 89.5 : M Amir to Buttler, Outside off, too far to make Buttler play at it. Pakistan need to try and keep Sam on strike. |
| 89.6 : M Amir to Buttler, Maiden for Amir. Bowls it outside off, Buttler does not play at it. Sam Curran will face the next over. |
| 90.1 : M Abbas to Curran, On a good length just outside off and the batsman gets behind the line of the delivery to defend it. |
| 90.2 : M Abbas to Curran, Similar length, gets into the three stumps and the batsman blocks it. |
| 90.3 : M Abbas to Curran, Widish delivery, the batsman shoulders his arms. |
| 90.4 : M Abbas to Curran, Gets behind shortish the delivery and guides it straight to the point fielder. |
| 90.5 : M Abbas to Curran, Looks to defend the good length delivery but the swing takes it away from him and beats his bat. |
| 90.6 : M Abbas to Curran, On a good length outside off, Curran tries to play the delivery from his crease but fails to put ball on bat. |
| 91.1 : H Ali to Buttler, That ball has struck the Buttler on his thigh-pad. |
| 91.2 : H Ali to Buttler, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 91.3 : H Ali to Buttler, That ball has taken the inside edge of the Buttler's bat and onto his pads. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 91.4 : H Ali to Sam Curran, Curran gets an inside edge and the ball hits him on the pads. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 91.5 : H Ali to Buttler, Buttler drives it through mid on region |
| 91.6 : H Ali to Buttler, Defended off the front foot by Buttler presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 92.1 : M Abbas to Curran, Curran gets hit on his thigh pad. |
| 92.2 : M Abbas to Curran, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 92.3 : M Abbas to Curran, Driven through covers by Curran. |
| 92.4 : M Abbas to Curran, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. |
| 92.5 : M Abbas to Curran, Sam plays it to the point region. |
| 92.6 : M Abbas to Curran, The ball has taken the inside edge of Curran's bat and goes down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 93.1 : H Ali to Curran, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 93.2 : H Ali to Curran, Stays back in his crease and defends it. |
| 93.3 : H Ali to Curran, Curran misses the line of the delivery and gets beaten. |
| 93.4 : Ali to Curran, Does well to keep the yorker at bay. |
| 93.5 : H Ali to Curran, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total. |
| 93.6 : H Ali to Buttler, Buttler chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 94.1 : M Abbas to Curran, A bumper outside off from Abbas which goes well over head height. Curran sways away to let it pass. |
| 94.2 : M Abbas to Sam Curran, FOUR! Streaky but these count. Bowls a good length delivery outside off, Curran goes for the booming drive from his crease. He gets an inside edge and the ball races away for a boundary behind the wicket. |
| 94.3 : M Abbas to Curran, Bangs in and misses his radar with his line. The ball goes way down the leg side and Sarfraz jogs to his right to collect it. |
| 94.4 : M Abbas to Curran, BEAUTY! Bowls from around the wicket, angling into the batsman and straightens after pitching. The left-hander tries to block the delivery from his crease but it whizzes past his outside edge. |
| 94.5 : M Abbas to Curran, Full and outside off, Curran pushes it to the cover region and steals a single. |
| 94.6 : M Abbas to Buttler, Shuffles down the pitch and lets one through to the keeper. |
| 95.1 : H Ali to Curran, Shows the full face of the bat to the shortish delivery and blocks it from the back foot. |
| 95.2 : H Ali to Curran, Short of a length angling into the batsman and Curran gets behind the delivery nicely to defend it. |
| 95.3 : H Ali to Curran, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 95.4 : H Ali to Sam Curran, FOUR! This is some shot from the debutant! Ali won't be too happy. He bowls it short into the body and Curran gets on top of the bounce and pulls the trigger. The ball barely touches the ground as it zipped to the square leg boundary. The lead is getting dangerous for Pakistan now. |
| 95.5 : H Ali to Curran, FOUR! He is no rookie, mind you! First, he tackles the short ball with some skill and now, he puts the full ball with another authoritative shot. Ali backs the short ball with the fuller one on the stumps but doesn't get the result he would have hoped for. Curran presents the full face of the bat and punches it through mid off, the fielder there had no chance of stopping it. The lead swells to 128 with just one ball remaining in the day. |
| 95.6 : H Ali to Curran, Curran defends the good length delivery, just outside off and ends another day's play. STUMPS ON DAY 2! |
| Another day which belongs to the hosts. Nobody got big scores but it was enough to take their lead to 128. Rain washed away the entire first session today. Just when we thought we wouldn't get any more action, it started to ease and the patient fans got their penny's worth. Root and Bess countered from the beginning and were looking good. The skipper once again threw away a start, missing out narrowly on a fifty. Malan then gave Bess company, getting 62 runs together. The latter who was on cours |
| Pakistan were not all that bad with the ball. They picked up wickets at important phases and didn't allow England to build a daddy partnership. They got the skipper early and in the last session got 4 wickets to claim one piece of the pie. Amir was perfect with the old ball and he got it to swing, picking up 2 scalps. Ashraf too, bagged a brace and the rest chipped in with a wicket each. |
| So, even though we had rain at the start, it was an interesting day's play. Pakistan will hope that they clean up the tail and come out to bat within the first session itself. England will like Buttler continues to toy with the visitors. Overcast conditions on Day 3 as well. We just hope the rain gods have other plans. Join us on Sunday at 1100 local (1000 GMT). Goodnight and cheers! |
| ... DAY THREE, SESSION ONE ... |
| A journalist had written that he had heard Sarfraz Ahmed tell Hasan Ali to be alert for a catch and then, fluff! Ali had let a chance soon go abegging. Jos Buttler was on 4 then, he's unbeaten on 34 now. Just one of those things that didn't go Pakistan's way on Day 2. Welcome to our coverage of the third day's play of this second and final Test match between England and Pakistan on at Headingley, Leeds. |
| The start of play was marred by rain yesterday, at the moment there's no rain but we're hearing that it is very dark out there. England have a 128-run advantage to begin with. Buttler and promising debutant Sam Curran would aim to extend it big. It is interesting to note that no English batter has yet scored a fifty in this innings. This means that Pakistan haven't been all that bad with the ball. |
| Often termed as the moving day, today might actually end up showing us which way the game could be headed. One of the most fascinating things in cricket is to watch Pakistan operate with the ball. We surely have more of that as starters. How long will they be on field today? Wish we had an answer to that immediately. For now, let's hope the weather permits play and we have a worthwhile Sunday filled with some riveting action. |
| The players and the umpire are out in the middle. Gloomy pictures greet us this morning. Michael Holding on air reckons that Pakistan should enjoy these conditions to bowl. Jos Buttler will face the first ball of the day from Mohammad Abbas. Here we go... |
| 96.1 : M Abbas to Buttler, Huge appeal straightaway! Abbas runs in from over the wicket and lands it on a length outside off. Buttler moves across and looks to defend but misses. The ball strikes him on the pads which sets off Pakistan in an appeal. The umpire stays unmoved. Sarfraz has a chat with his bowler but doesn't go upstairs. Good call in the end as it would have gone over the top of the stumps. Part reason could also be attributed to the fact that Buttler was down the track a bit. Good s |
| 96.2 : M Abbas to Buttler, Length delivery on off, blocked from the crease. |
| 96.3 : M Abbas to Buttler, Fuller this time outside off, a hint of movement away. Buttler goes back to block but gets it out of the outer half towards point. |
| 96.4 : M Abbas to Buttler, First run of the day. Short ball, pulled away to deep square leg for one. |
| 96.5 : M Abbas to Curran, Birthday boy Curran pushes this fullish ball around off from the crease to the off side. |
| 96.6 : M Abbas to Curran, Cruel ball! Angling away on a length, Curran looks to push it sans any feet movement. Gets beaten on the outside. Not what he would have wanted as a birthday present. |
| Mohammad Amir, as expected, will have a go from the other end. Coupled with overcast conditions, this seamer could be hard to contend with for the hosts. |
| 97.1 : M Amir to Buttler, FOUR! Some swing right away for Amir. He strays on the pads with that and Buttler just tickles it away fine down the leg side for the first boundary of the day. Immediately after he delivered that, Amir clutches his left shoulder in pain. He's down on his knees writhing. Not sure if this is a new injury or something that he has carried on. He is good to go for now though. |
| 97.2 : M Amir to Buttler, Fuller in line of the stumps, pushed back to the bowler. Amir gets low in his followthrough to his left and stops it. Still has a flinch on his face as that left shoulder seems to be stinging. |
| 97.3 : M Amir to Buttler, FOUR! One of the classiest fours you will see in the sport. Full and outside off, Jos takes a stride forward and caresses it through covers for a boundary. He's got moving quickly this morning, moves to 43. |
| 97.4 : M Amir to Buttler, Four Leg Byes! Amir strays on the pads and pays the price again. Fuller and on the pads, Buttler misses the flick. The ball goes off his pads to the fine leg fence, even as the bowler and the keeper put up an unsuccessful appeal. Pitching outside leg, says Hawk Eye later. |
| 97.5 : M Amir to Buttler, Fuller and outside off, left alone. |
| 97.6 : M Amir to Buttler, Another one going to the keeper, Jos lets it be. 12 runs off the over. |
| 98.1 : M Abbas to Curran, Around middle and leg, defended from the crease. |
| 98.2 : M Abbas to Curran, FOUR! It's my birthday and I'll have my own party, says Sam Curran. Gets a full delivery outside off, he gets forward and executes a beautiful looking cover drive. The ball rushes through cover-point and gets to the fence in a trice. This gets Nasser Hussain on air beaming about his batting, saying his highest score in First Class cricket is 96. |
| 98.3 : M Abbas to Curran, Beauty to come back from Abbas. Lands it on a length around off and middle, it jags back in. Beats Curran, who looks to defend, on the inside. |
| 98.4 : M Abbas to Curran, This ball is blocked from the crease. |
| 98.5 : M Abbas to Curran, Length ball on off, punched off the back foot to the off side. |
| 98.6 : M Abbas to Curran, Nice ball to end the over. Angling away from over the wicket, Sam has a feel for it but gets beaten on the outside. |
| 99.1 : M Amir to Buttler, Full and outside off, left alone. |
| 99.2 : M Amir to Buttler, Length ball on middle and leg, Buttler stays put in the crease and defends. |
| 99.3 : M Amir to Buttler, There's something about being a bowler that you will have to find out for yourself, says Nasser Hussain on air. Amir is visibly in pain yet dishes out this jaffa. Lands it on a length around middle and gets it to move away viciously. Buttler just has a tame poke at it and fortunately for him, doesn't edge it. |
| 99.4 : M Amir to Buttler, This ball is blocked from the crease with a straight bat. |
| 99.5 : M Amir to Buttler, Another unplayable delivery! Length ball starting from around leg, beating the defensive blade of Buttler and landing in the gloves of Ahmed. Oh these narrow escapes! |
| 99.6 : M Amir to Buttler, Jos stands tall in the crease and blocks. |
| Is that it for the birthday boy? Curran has edged one to second slip. Shafiq dives and takes it but isn't sure if it carried. Hence signals the same to the umpire who take it upstairs. The soft signal given is Not Out... |
| 100.1 : M Abbas to Curran, OUT! End of the newbie's stay in the middle! Not a memorable birthday for Sam Curran with the bat. First up, it's a good ball. All through the previous over, Abbas was beating the outside edge of Curran's bat. Here yet again, he doles one full and slanting away. Sam cannot resist playing the drive. He ends up getting a thick outside edge that barely carries towards second slip. Asad Shafiq at that spot gets low to his left and takes it with a tumble. Even as his mates r |
| 0.0 : Stuart Broad walks in next. |
| 100.2 : M Abbas to Broad, Length ball on the pads, Broad misses the flick and gets hit on the pads. An appeal from the visitors is turned down. |
| 100.3 : M Abbas to Broad, On a length around middle and leg, Broad gets going with one as the ball takes the inner half of the blade and rolls through backward square leg. |
| 100.4 : M Abbas to Buttler, Fuller on the stumps, Buttler walks down and across and flicks it away through mid-wicket for one. |
| 100.5 : M Abbas to Broad, Outside off, left alone. |
| 100.6 : M Abbas to Broad, Broad hops and pushes it to the off side for nothing. |
| Faheem Ashraf to have a bowl now. |
| 101.1 : F Ashraf to Buttler, Outside off, left alone. |
| 101.2 : F Ashraf to Buttler, Length ball outside off, Jos gets across and blocks. |
| 101.3 : F Ashraf to Buttler, Fuller outside off, Buttler looks to work it to the on side. Ends up getting it off the leading edge towards mid off. |
| 101.4 : F Ashraf to Buttler, Fuller and angling in from outside off, Buttler works it away through square leg to get to the other end. |
| 101.5 : F Ashraf to Broad, Lovely drive for nothing. Full and slanting away, Broad gets low and plays it to covers. |
| 101.6 : F Ashraf to Broad, Back of a length delivery, nipping in. Stuart misses the clip. The ball goes off the front pad to the off side. |
| Can Buttler complete his fifty in this over? Will he become the first batter from England to hit one in this innings? There have been 3 40s so far including Jos'. |
| 102.1 : M Abbas to Buttler, Full and outside off, Buttler walks across and aims to defend it. But the ball doesn't climb and goes from under the bat to the keeper. |
| 102.2 : M Abbas to Buttler, On a length outside off, pushed towards covers from the crease. |
| 102.3 : M Abbas to Buttler, FOUR! Make Buttler's score as 49 in your records! This is as good a shot as he has played all throughout his stay. Gets a nice half-volley outside off, he walks into the stroke. Plays the drive and bisects the gap between mid off and covers. |
| 102.4 : Abbas to Jos Buttler, SIX! What a way to get to a 8th Test fifty, his second consecutive one! Abbas bangs it short and that's enough for Jos. He swivels and pulls but ends up getting it off the top edge. The ball sails over fine leg for half a dozen. Gee, I envy how people manage to predict some things. Just before the over began, my colleague commented that Buttler will get to the 50-run mark with a biggie. He does. |
| 102.5 : M Abbas to Buttler, Fuller on middle and leg, flicked away through mid-wicket for one. |
| 102.6 : M Abbas to Broad, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 103.1 : F Ashraf to Buttler, In line of the stumps, Buttler walks down and hoicks it through mid-wicket for one. |
| 103.2 : F Ashraf to Broad, Back of a length delivery, pushed to the off side. |
| 103.3 : F Ashraf to Broad, Nasty bouncer! It is in line of the stumps, Broad has done well though. He keeps his eyes on that and jumps to evade it. |
| 103.4 : F Ashraf to S Broad, Ashraf follows the short one with a full one. Broad is hanging on the back foot and ends up getting an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 103.5 : F Ashraf to Broad, Full and swinging away, Broad looks to play it through the off side but gets beaten. It swings further on the way to Sarfraz. |
| 103.6 : F Ashraf to S Broad, Full on off, driven straight to covers. |
| Hasan Ali to have a go now. |
| 104.1 : H Ali to Buttler, Buttler's intent is crystal clear. He clears his front leg and clubs it through mid-wicket. Just gets one that takes England's lead to 161. |
| 104.2 : H Ali to Broad, Fuller in line of the stumps, Broad hangs on the back foot. Hops and blocks. |
| 104.3 : H Ali to S Broad, Length ball going away from off, Broad camps back and carves it through backward point for one. Huge cheers accompany the run. |
| 104.4 : H Ali to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Despatched! Short in length around off and middle, Buttler hangs back and executes the pull. Rolls his wrists over that to ensure that it stays grounded and travels to the deep backward square leg fence. |
| 104.5 : H Ali to Buttler, FOUR! Beautifully done. Fuller outside off, Buttler gets to the pitch of the ball and drives it just past mid off. He has done so off the meat of the blade. He's looking unstoppable at the moment, as he moves to 66. |
| 104.6 : H Ali to Buttler, Almost gone! Buttler looks to smash it over mid on bit gets it off the inner half. Lands just short of the man there. |
| 105.1 : F Ashraf to Broad, OUT! Apple and knife - when they come together, the former has to get cut. In a similar vein, when a bouncer and Broad come face to face, the latter has to depart more often than not. Ashraf bangs this short, Stuart goes for the pull. Makes a decent-enough contact. Abbas from fine leg takes some steps to his right and takes a nice low catch getting forward. Remember, these aren't easy ones. The lead stands at 170 at the moment for a side that isn't Pakistan. |
| 0.0 : James Anderson is the last man walking in. Can he give Buttler some company, long enough for him to reach a ton? Or till England's lead reaches 200? |
| 105.2 : F Ashraf to Anderson, Length ball angling away, Anderson has a feel for it but misses. |
| 105.3 : F Ashraf to J Anderson, Anderson looks to play it away from the body but gets a thick outside edge to third man for one. |
| 105.4 : F Ashraf to Buttler, FOUR! Chance gone down? Maybe half or just short. Buttler whips it from the crease off the inner half off his blade. It goes aerially towards deep square leg. Salahuddin gets to his right and then dives. But the ball lands just short and deflects it off his hands to the fence behind. |
| 105.5 : F Ashraf to Buttler, SIX! Ho, ho, ho! It's a magnificent strike! Full length ball is all Buttler requires. He clears his front leg and banishes it straight over the bowler's head for half a dozen. 350 up for England. New ball please... |
| Since the ball had gone out of the stadium, a replacement has been brought in. Can Pakistan deny Buttler the strike for the next over? |
| 105.6 : F Ashraf to Buttler, FOUR! It's a boundary but Pakistan won't mind, one guesses. Buttler succeeds in finding the gap through covers and gets a boundary. Importantly for Pakistan, Anderson will face the first ball of the next over. 15 runs and a wicket off this one. |
| 106.1 : H Ali to Anderson, FOUR! Who wants Buttler on strike when Anderson can accumulate runs! A low full toss outside off, Anderson just opens the face of the bat to slice it through point for a boundary. |
| 106.2 : H Ali to Anderson, OUT! That's all! Now you know the value of having a proper batter on strike instead of a tailender. Angled across him on a length, Anderson can do nothing but edge it. He gets squared up in an ugly manner. The ball goes straight to Haris Sohail at first slip, who makes no mistake. England getting bundled out means that, after both the sides have batted once, ENGLAND HAVE A 189-RUN ADVANTAGE! |
| Poor Jos Buttler, he runs out of partner before he can better his Test best score, let alone a ton. He batted brilliantly and sent the Pakistan bowlers on a leather hunt, thereby helping his side extend the lead. The vitality of his innings wouldn't have been much if not for the platform that most of the earlier batters set. The scorecard will tell you that nobody apart from him got a big score. But the 40s from Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Dominic Bess are as important in the context. |
| Dominic Bess, what a start this bloke has had to his Test career. It's hard to believe that bowling is his primary skill. Walking out as a nightwatchman, he stroked his way to 49 before being undone by a Shadab Khan beauty. But the leggie has just that one scalp to show. Faheem Ashraf was largely disciplined and succeeded in picking three to his name. The other seamers chipped in with a couple each. |
| 0.1 : J Anderson to Ali, FOUR! WOW! Perfect from Azhar Ali. No need for sighters, no need to check whether the ball is swinging. Nothing. Anderson pitches it up around off, Ali uses his feet, gets forward and creams it through covers for a boundary. This will give him a lot of confidence. |
| 0.2 : J Anderson to Ali, Taps this to cover-point and sets off for the run. The fielder there has a shy at the stumps at the striker's end but misses. Imam was in though. Good intent shown from the Pakistan batsmen. |
| 0.3 : J Anderson to Imam, Slants this on leg, Imam works this down the leg side to get off the mark. |
| 0.4 : J Anderson to Ali, Four Leg Byes. Anderson angles this into Ali. Azhar looks to flick it away but it hits his thigh pad and runs away to the fine leg fence. |
| 0.5 : J Anderson to A Ali, Guides this one to the gully fielder. |
| 0.6 : J Anderson to Ali, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| Stuart Broad, as he does, will share the new ball along with his vintage partner, James Anderson. |
| 1.1 : S Broad to Imam, Comes in from over the wicket and bowls it outside off, Imam shoulders his arms. |
| 1.2 : S Broad to Imam, Jaffa! Peach of a delivery from Imam. Hurls it on middle and off, Imam has to play at it and the ball almost takes his outside edge. |
| 1.3 : S Broad to Imam, You beauty! Similar ball from Broad and he is due to get one edged now. Serves another one on a good length around off, Imam looks to block it but misses it completely. |
| 1.4 : S Broad to Imam, Driven towards the mid on region. |
| 1.5 : S Broad to Imam, Fuller ball outside off, no need to play at that but Imam still goes for the booming drive. |
| 1.6 : S Broad to Imam, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 2.1 : J Anderson to Ali, FOUR! Ali is looking good. Pitched up ball on off, Ali stands tall and punches it down the ground. The mid off fielder chases it but comes second best. |
| 2.2 : J Anderson to Ali, Ali chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 2.3 : J Anderson to Ali, Length ball outside off, Ali goes for it but does not make contact. |
| 2.4 : J Anderson to Ali, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 2.5 : J Anderson to Ali, Full again on leg, Ali flicks it in the gap towards deep square leg for a brace. Some quick runs for the visitors. |
| 2.6 : J Anderson to Ali, No run. |
| 3.1 : S Broad to Imam, No run. |
| 3.2 : S Broad to Imam, The ball is too wide on the off side for Imam to make any contact. |
| 3.3 : S Broad to Imam, Imam ul Haq lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 3.4 : S Broad to Imam, FOUR! Confidence booster for Imam. Overpitched ball from Broad outside off, Imam waits for it and drives it crisply through mid off for a boundary. |
| 3.5 : S Broad to Imam, Down the leg side this time, Imam goes for the flick but cannot make any contact. |
| 3.6 : S Broad to Imam, Full outside off, Imam leaves it alone. |
| 4.1 : J Anderson to Ali, Outside off, left alone. |
| 4.2 : J Anderson to Ali, Huge appeal for a caught behind, turned down! Angled in from outside off, Azhar looks to defend with his bat close to his front pad. The ball goes off his pads and Bairstow takes it low to his right. Then England appeal vociferously for a caught behind but the umpire stays unmoved. Root ponders about DRS but decides not to take it, after having a long chat. Good call in the end as the Snicko didn't detect any spike when the ball passed the blade. It went only off the pad. |
| 4.3 : Anderson to A Ali, OUT! Knocked him over! What a delivery from the premier swing bowler from England. He bowls it full on off and middle and gets it to move in a touch. Ali looks to play the drive sans any feet movement. Misses the ball completely to find his woodwork shattered. Anderson is ecstatic and leaps to make it known. He was criticised in the first innings for not being full enough and not attacking the stumps. Here he has done both and that has borne fruit. Yet again Pakistan's op |
| Haris Sohail is the next man in. |
| 4.4 : J Anderson to Sohail, On a length around middle and leg, Sohail clips it off the inner half through square leg for one. |
| Ian Botham analyses the slip cordon. He compares England's cordon to that of New Zealand. He observed that the Kiwis cover more space with the same amount of fielders than England do. The reason is that the slip fielders stand very close to each other while the Kiwis stand a bit further apart. Fair point. |
| 4.5 : J Anderson to Imam, Fuller on off, defended solidly. |
| 4.6 : J Anderson to Imam, On the pads again, worked away through square leg for a couple. End of a successful over from Jimmy. |
| 5.1 : S Broad to Sohail, Length ball on middle and leg, Sohail stays back and hits it to short mid-wicket |
| 5.2 : S Broad to Sohail, Beauty! Really good from Broad. Making the ball talk. Hurls this on the fourth stump channel, Sohail feels for it but gets beaten. |
| 5.3 : S Broad to Sohail, Full this time outside off, good leave from Haris. |
| 5.4 : S Broad to Sohail, Similar line from Broad, Sohail covers his stumps and leaves it alone. |
| 5.5 : S Broad to H Sohail, Pitched up from Broad on off, Sohail gets behind the ball and drives it through mid off. The ball won't go all the way as the 35 year old, Anderson hare after it. Parries it to the 20 year old who gives it back to the bowler. The batsmen take three. |
| 5.6 : S Broad to Imam, Strays this down leg, Imam looks to work it to the leg side but misses the ball. |
| There seems to be some problem at the bowling crease. Two ground staff run out, put some mud on it and do the leveling job real quick. Anderson has a look and is happy with it. |
| 6.1 : J Anderson to Sohail, Fuller from Anderson, Haris hits it for the mid off fielder to collect. |
| 6.2 : J Anderson to Sohail, Outside off, HS chooses to leave it alone. |
| 6.3 : J Anderson to Sohail, No need to play at these. It is Anderson, you need to see off the new ball. Sohail goes fishing outside his off stump and gets beaten. |
| 6.4 : J Anderson to Sohail, FOUR! Easy runs for Pakistan. Anderson misses his line, angles it down leg and Sohail helps it on its way towards fine leg for a boundary. |
| 6.5 : J Anderson to Sohail, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 6.6 : J Anderson to Sohail, OUT! Bess takes a beauty to send Sohail for an early shower! He has done it with the bat, now in the field. Only thing left for him is to get wickets. Anderson runs in from over the wicket and bowls it full outside off, Sohail is early in his drive and ends up chipping one towards mid off. Dominic there takes a couple of steps to his leg and dives to grab it with his weaker arm. The ball sticks and Haris stands there in disbelief. Anderson gets his second and Pakistan |
| Asad Shafiq is the new man in. |
| 7.1 : S Broad to Imam, The ball is too wide on the off side for the batsman to make any contact. |
| 7.2 : S Broad to Imam, Pitched up ball from Broad, Imam drives this through covers and will get two runs for it. |
| 7.3 : S Broad to Imam, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 7.4 : Broad to Imam, Loud shout again but the umpire is not interested. Length ball outside off, Imam points his bat skywards thinking the ball will move away, but it doesn't. It comes back in and hits Ul Haq on his pad. The English players appeal but the umpire says Not Out. No review taken from the fielding side. |
| 7.5 : S Broad to Imam, The ball is too wide on the off side for the batsman to make any contact. |
| 7.6 : S Broad to Imam, NO BALL FOUR! Broad oversteps and serves it down leg, Imam flicks it upishly towards the fine leg region for a boundary. Five runs for Pakistan. |
| Broad to Imam, And again! No shot offered and the ball goes on to hit the leg of Imam. Length ball around off, Imam leaves it alone and gets hit on his leg. This time a low appeal as it looked like it would miss the stumps. |
| 8.1 : J Anderson to Shafiq, Outside off, left alone. |
| 8.2 : J Anderson to A Shafiq, FOUR! Edged and through the slip cordon for a boundary. Shafiq edges one from outside his off stump. The ball falls short of second slip and runs away to the third man region. Boundary. |
| 8.3 : J Anderson to Shafiq, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. They pick up a single. |
| 8.4 : J Anderson to Imam, Full ball in line of the stumps, Imam plays it back to the bowler. |
| 8.5 : J Anderson to Imam, Ul Haq shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 8.6 : J Anderson to Imam, Length outside off, easy leave for Imam. |
| 9.1 : S Broad to Shafiq, Fuller on middle, flicked away to mid-wicket. |
| 0.0 : Is that it for Shafiq? Dear o dear! Shafiq misses the flick and it goes off something to the keeper. Bairstow takes that and puts in a not-so-confident appeal. Root asks him and the bowler if there were two noises. On getting the affirmation, he takes it upstairs. |
| 9.2 : S Broad to Shafiq, OUT! Three of the Pakistan batters are out to have an early Lunch at Leeds! England are on a roll here, courtesy an excellent use of the Decision Review System. Broad steams in from over the wicket and spears it down leg. Shafiq would have flicked these ones nine times out of ten to the boundary. This turns out to be the tenth occasion. The ball seems to have gone off something to Bairstow behind. He takes it forward and puts in an appeal. Seeing no response from the umpi |
| Usman Salahuddin is the next batter in. |
| 9.3 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Full on middle and leg, flicked away through mid-wicket to get off the mark with a brace. |
| 9.4 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Well outside off, left alone. |
| 9.5 : S Broad to Salahuddin, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 9.6 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Salahuddin fails to put bat on ball. A wicket and a couple of runs off this one from Broad. |
| Sam Curran to bowl, what should be the last over before Lunch. |
| 10.1 : Sam Curran to Imam, FOUR! Starts by bowling one very full. Had the same trouble in the first innings. Angles this down leg and it is an easy flick for Imam. He hits to the deep square leg region to get four to his name. |
| 10.2 : Sam Curran to Imam, Bowls this full outside off, Imam leaves it alone. |
| 10.3 : Sam Curran to Imam, Short ball on middle, Imam does well to evade it. |
| 10.4 : Sam Curran to Imam, There is swing on offer. Bowls one on a good length, it moves away from Imam, who does not bother playing at it. |
| 10.5 : Sam Curran to Imam, Driven through the covers by the batsman. |
| 10.6 : Sam Curran to Imam, Good length ball outside off, Imam stays back and punches it to covers. That will be LUNCH on Day 3! |
| A wonderful session for England. They got quick runs with the bat and now have sent three of the Pakistan batsmen back in the hut. The Asian side came out to bat with great intent. Azhar Ali played some good shots earlier on and everyone thought it was the perfect mindset for Pakistan to wipe out the trail. He, along with Imam Ul Haq, played and missed on numerous occasions in the process. |
| James Anderson and Stuart Broad, like they did in the first innings, troubled the batters enough and got three wickets to give England more than the upper hand. They were criticized before this game for not striking frequently and here they are replying in kind. Earlier on, Buttler ran out of partners and missed scoring his first Test ton. The tail couldn't last for more than an hour as the visitors got the job done soon enough, but not before conceding a lead of 189. |
| Pakistan have a big job on their hands. They have to first make 141 more runs and then set England a target. With already 30 percent of their side back, things look uphill. It will be interesting to see their approach post the break. The hosts will look to get as many wickets today so that they won't have too much to do the next day. Take your break and be with us at 1340 local time (1240 GMT). |
| We are back from our break! We hope Pakistan have had some thoughts along with their Lunch. They need to show some confidence and play some gritty cricket. England will hope that their speedsters will do the damage ASAP. Imam ul Haq and Usman Salahuddin stride out to bat. Stuart Broad will bowl the first over of this session. Three slips in place. |
| 11.1 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Beauty to start with! Gets lovely movement off the surface. Comes in from over the wicket and lands this around off, it moves away and Usam plays and misses. |
| 11.2 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Once again catches Salahuddin off guard. Perfect length, forcing Usman for a drive. He feels for it and gets beaten. |
| 11.3 : S Broad to Salahuddin, This one is a bit too far to make Usman play at it. |
| 11.4 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Bowls this in line of the stumps and Salahuddin gets behind the ball and blocks it well. |
| 11.5 : S Broad to U Salahuddin, Fuller in line of the stumps, Salahuddin goes for the drive but gets it off the inner half back to the bowler. |
| 11.6 : S Broad to U Salahuddin, FOUR! Streaky! Full from Broad around off, Salahuddin pokes at it and gets a fat edge past the third slip. No third man and the ball rolls to the fence. |
| James Anderson bowl from the other end. |
| 12.1 : J Anderson to Imam, Down leg, Imam goes after it but cannot make any contact. |
| 12.2 : J Anderson to Imam, Better line from Anderson. Darts this around off, Imam attempts to put bat on ball but fails. |
| 12.3 : J Anderson to Imam, Nicely done from Imam. Fuller in length from James on middle and leg, Ul-Haq gets ahead and flicks it through mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep mops it up and restricts the batsmen to two. |
| 12.4 : J Anderson to Imam, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 12.5 : J Anderson to Imam, Imam ul Haq defends it from within the crease. |
| 12.6 : J Anderson to Imam, Down the leg side from Jimmy to end the over, Imam tries flicking it but to no avail. |
| 13.1 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Usman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 13.2 : S Broad to Salahuddin, In line of the stumps, Salahuddin is solid in defense. |
| 13.3 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Wide outside off stump, Salahuddin leaves it alone. |
| 13.4 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Broad pitches it up, Salahuddin covers his timber and bunts it down. |
| 13.5 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Played with an open face bat towards covers. They pick up a single. |
| 13.6 : S Broad to Imam, That ball has taken the inside edge of the batsman and thudded into his pads. |
| 14.1 : J Anderson to Salahuddin, FOUR! Short and wide from Anderson. Salahuddin opens the bat face and cuts it over backward point. The ball runs away to the deep backward point fence. A bit of Mohammad Hafeez in that shot says my partner. |
| 14.2 : J Anderson to Salahuddin, Usman works it down the leg side towards square leg for a single. Anderson goes down on his knees as his landing was not up to his liking. |
| 14.3 : J Anderson to Imam, Comes in from round the wicket now, Imam shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 14.4 : J Anderson to Imam, Lands this on middle and off, Imam blocks it well. |
| 14.5 : J Anderson to Imam, Imam has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 14.6 : J Anderson to Imam, In line of the stumps, Imam bunts this down with a straight bat staying within his crease. |
| The landing area from where the previous over was bowled is getting some serious attention. Anderson was seen being anything other than happy with that. As a result he even switched sides. Wary of landing his left leg there, he hobbled on one leg after delivering 14.2. Now the leveling has been done and play resumes. |
| 15.1 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Fuller ball on the fifth stump channel, Salahuddin watches the ball go through. |
| 15.2 : S Broad to U Salahuddin, Pitches this up again, this time on that off pole, Usman does not time it well enough and gives it to covers. |
| 15.3 : S Broad to Salahuddin, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 15.4 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Broad serves this full on middle and leg, no movement off the ball and Usman hits it to mid on. |
| 15.5 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Full again on leg, Usman flicks it away through square leg. The ball does not meet the fence but Pakistan get three easy runs to their total. |
| 15.6 : S Broad to Imam, Defended off the front foot by Imam presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 16.1 : J Anderson to Salahuddin, Runs in from over the wicket and hurls one down leg, Salahuddin misses this flick and the ball goes through to the keeper off his thigh pad. Bairstow does not collect it cleanly but no byes taken. |
| 16.2 : J Anderson to Salahuddin, Usman Salahuddin has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 16.3 : J Anderson to Salahuddin, Length on middle, Usman is good in his defense. |
| 16.4 : J Anderson to Salahuddin, Around off, Usman gets forward and blocks it. |
| 16.5 : J Anderson to Salahuddin, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 16.6 : J Anderson to Salahuddin, In line of the stumps, US hits it to mid on. |
| Bowling change! Chris Woakes is into the attack. |
| 17.1 : C Woakes to Imam, Starts by bowling one on a good length on that fourth stump channel, Imam hops and bunts it down from within the crease. |
| 17.2 : C Woakes to Imam, Similar back of a length ball around off, Imam gets up to his toes to play that one and tucks it behind square. They cross. |
| 17.3 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, On middle and leg, this is pushed further past backward square leg for easy two runs. |
| 17.4 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, The short of length delivery has been cut away through square on the off side. Dot ball. |
| 17.5 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Unlike Anderson and Broad, Woakes is happy to bowl a bit back and not the fuller length. Lands this around off, Usman taps it in front of him. |
| 17.6 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 18.1 : J Anderson to Imam, Anderson continues round the wicket and bowls it full around off. Imam presents a straight bat and defends it back. |
| 18.2 : J Anderson to Imam, This time Imam stays back and defends it to the off side. |
| 18.3 : J Anderson to Imam, Well outside off, left alone. |
| 18.4 : J Anderson to Imam, On a length just outside off, it moves away after pitching. Imam takes a stride forward and lets it be. |
| 18.5 : J Anderson to Imam, Straighter in line this time, Imam gets his bat down at an angle and pushes it towards mid on. |
| 18.6 : J Anderson to Imam, Hurled on a length around off, pushed towards covers from the crease. A maiden from Anderson. |
| 19.1 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Back of a length ball on leg, Salahuddin tucks it into the ground. |
| 19.2 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Usman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 19.3 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Fuller this time, around off, Salahuddin tries to block this but gets a soft edge to gully. |
| 19.4 : C Woakes to U Salahuddin, Gets this past gully for a run! Similar ball and similar shot, only this time will get a run for it. |
| 19.5 : C Woakes to Imam, FOUR! Overpitched ball around off, Imam drives it solidly along the turf towards mid off. A stiff looking Jimmy Anderson puts it a dive there but the ball goes through him. |
| 19.6 : C Woakes to Imam, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total. |
| 20.1 : J Anderson to Imam, Imam has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 20.2 : J Anderson to Imam, Length outside off, Imam plays this to the point region. |
| 20.3 : J Anderson to Imam, Back of a length ball on off, Imam stays back and punches it through the covers. Buttler chases it and pulls it just before the rope. They get three runs. |
| 20.4 : J Anderson to Salahuddin, Short ball from Anderson, Usman ducks under it to let it go through. |
| 20.5 : J Anderson to Salahuddin, Another good looking shot from Salahudin! Drives this through covers and jogs back to complete the second run. |
| 20.6 : J Anderson to Salahuddin, The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball but fails. |
| 21.1 : C Woakes to Imam, Did we say stiff Anderson in the previous over? This one was for the haters. Woakes pitches it up on middle and leg, Imam shuffles across and flicks it through mid-wicket. Anderson from the infield hares behind it and does extremely well to pull it back in time. Saves a certain boundary but not the three. |
| 21.2 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 21.3 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, It's been driven superbly to covers to the man. |
| Keaton Jennings is off the field and is seen wearing the shin guard! Preparing to field at bat-pad? Maybe, Joe Root is thinking to bring in Dominic Bess from the other end with both the current batsmen looking quite composed against pacers post Lunch. |
| 21.4 : C Woakes to U Salahuddin, Pitched up again, Salahuddin hits this for the mid on fielder to collect. |
| 21.5 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 21.6 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Drags this length back and Salahuddin punches this off his back foot. |
| Yo! We were right! It's time to witness some off spinners from Dominic Bess. A slip and short leg in place. Let's see whether he gets some spin going straightaway. |
| 22.1 : D Bess to Imam, FOUR! The batsman has taken him straightaway and does not allow the ball to spin. Bess gives this air on on middle, Usman dances down and hits it down the ground for a boundary. |
| 22.2 : D Bess to Imam, Tossed up around off, Imam leans forward and blocks it. |
| 22.3 : D Bess to Imam, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 22.4 : D Bess to Imam, Loopy ball on off, Imam gets forward and bunts it. |
| 22.5 : D Bess to Imam, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| Is it the first Test wicket for Bess? He has got the wicket of Imam. But the batsman has decided to review the LBW. Looks out though. |
| 22.6 : D Bess to Imam, OUT! YES! Dominic Bess gets his first Test wicket! Good work from Root, goes to his spinner and the young lad does not disappoint. Bowls a regular off spin on middle and off, gets good spin on it and wraps Imam on his pad as he misses his defense. A loud and confident appeal from the fielding side and the umpire takes no time in raising his finger. Imam has a word with his partner and decides to take the review. Replays roll and shows us that the ball would have gone to cli |
| Sarfraz Ahmed, the skipper, walks out to bat. He has a job in his hands. Meanwhile, England are not happy with the shape of the ball and give it to the umpire to check it. The umpires agrees with it and calls for a change in ball. |
| 23.1 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, An outswinger, landing outside off and shaping away, Usman watches the line closely and feels no need to play at it. |
| 23.2 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Ufff...that shoots up from a length around off and takes the debutant by surprise. Salahuddin immediately goes on the back foot, plays it with a loose bottom hand and defends it down safely. Good technique. |
| 23.3 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Serves it just beyond the length area outside off, Usman drives it wide of mid off and crosses for a run. |
| 23.4 : C Woakes to Ahmed, Pitches it full and around off, Sarfraz takes a half stride forward and defends it watchfully right under his eyes. |
| 23.5 : C Woakes to Ahmed, Uses his feet this time to smother the movement and gets it away from the outer half of his bat. It goes safely down to third man and they take a single. |
| 23.6 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Aahhh...extra bounce once again and Salahuddin is taken aback once more. Stands back, takes his bottom hand off the handle as it goes off his gloves to square leg. The pitch playing all kinds of tricks and it's only going to get worse. |
| 24.1 : D Bess to Ahmed, FOUR! Use of the feet, that's something all the Asian batsman like to do. Sarfraz is to the pitch of the delivery in a flash as he drills it through the line. Woakes at mid off tries to stop it with a dive but fails in his attempt. |
| 24.2 : D Bess to Ahmed, An off spinning delivery has been worked with the spin on the leg side. It's in the gap at mid-wicket and they pinch a single. |
| 24.3 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Tossed up ball on middle, played down to short leg. |
| 24.4 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Plays this one with soft hands, goes with the turn and defends it on the leg side. |
| 24.5 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 24.6 : D Bess to Ahmed, Floated and on middle, defended on the leg side. |
| 25.1 : C Woakes to Ahmed, A length ball outside off, Ahmed drives it on the up but finds the cover fielder. That's frustrating for the batsman. A good shot has fetched him nothing. |
| 25.2 : C Woakes to Ahmed, This time the bowler brings his length back and serves it around off, Ahmed stays back and leans a bit to tap it towards point. |
| 25.3 : C Woakes to Ahmed, Oh dear, Sarfraz. No luck whatsoever. He unfurls a beautiful straight drive this time which goes on to hit the stumps at the other end. It then reflects towards 'that' cover fielder. Two excellent shots but he remains on 6! |
| 25.4 : C Woakes to Ahmed, Angling down the leg side, Ahmed plays it down off his pads, towards square leg and jogs across to the other end. |
| 25.5 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Full and outside off, driven down to mid off. |
| 25.6 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Outside off, left alone. |
| 26.1 : D Bess to Ahmed, Flighted and full, Sarfraz skips down and pushes it to long on for a run. |
| 26.2 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Tossed up on off, it's played with the spin to mid-wicket. |
| 26.3 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Lands this one on a fuller length outside off, turning back in, Salahuddin lunges and blocks. |
| 26.4 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Very full and on off, it's kept out. |
| 26.5 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Tries playing across the line but it takes the leading half of the blade and rolls back to the bowler. |
| 26.6 : D Bess to Salahuddin, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| Nasser Hussain (on air) making a point on Dominic Bess. He found out that he holds the ball in a different way than the regular off spinners. When he bowls, the seam of the ball is pointing more towards square leg while usually the likes of Swann and Lyon bowl with the seam directing towards first slip. It's not a criticism as Nass just wanted to point out that he is different and wants to give him time. |
| 27.1 : C Woakes to Salahuddin, Short and wide outside off, Salahuddin uses the width and runs it behind point. It's stopped by the third man fielder in the deep and they take three runs. |
| 27.2 : C Woakes to Ahmed, Full and angling in around off, it's pushed off the front foot to mid off. |
| 27.3 : C Woakes to Ahmed, Played to the point region by the batsman. No run. |
| 27.4 : C Woakes to Ahmed, Goes on the back foot to a shortish length ball and plays it down to point again. |
| 27.5 : Woakes to Ahmed, OUT! That's trapped in front! Sarfraz straightaway walks to the pavilion and didn't think about taking the review. He knows how dead he was in front of the sticks. Woakes gets a length ball to move back sharply into the batsman from around off. Ahmed has his weight on the back leg as he half-heartedly tries to play it across the line. Misses and is pinged on the pads. They appeal and the finger goes up immediately. Would have crashed middle and leg. Pakistan struggling big |
| Shadab Khan is the new batsman. |
| 27.6 : C Woakes to Khan, In the channel outside off, Khan makes a leave to end the over. |
| Sam Curran is back into the attack. |
| 28.1 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, A bit short and in line of the stumps, Salahuddin defends it on the leg side. |
| 28.2 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Salahuddin has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 28.3 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, This one is angled across the batsman, it's wide outside off and Salahuddin has an easy leave to make. |
| 28.4 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Continues to probe in the corridor of uncertainty, Usman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 28.5 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, A rising delivery, around the rib cage, Salahuddin goes on his toes and works it in front of square leg for a run. |
| 28.6 : Sam Curran to Khan, A cracking shot and a cracking stop! James Anderson it is. Curran delivers a short ball just outside off, Shadab, the batsman in form, rocks back and pulls it firmly across the line. Anderson at mid-wicket makes a superb stop, although it's partial one. A single to end the over. |
| Dominic Bess is back on. Change of ends for him. Hmm... he took a wicket from the other end. Wonder what prompted this... |
| 29.1 : D Bess to Khan, Tossed up delivery on off, driven off the front foot. |
| 29.2 : D Bess to Khan, Flighted and full outside off, it has been driven through covers for a couple of runs. |
| 29.3 : D Bess to Khan, A full toss on off, Shadab forces it down towards mid off where Root makes a tumbling stop. Cannot stop the single though. |
| 29.4 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Full toss again, on middle, hit across the line but straight to mid-wicket. |
| 29.5 : D Bess to U Salahuddin, And one more full toss, struggling with the landing, Bess. Salahuddin however fails to make any use of it again. Pushes it down towards mid on. |
| 29.6 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Hits the yorker mark on this occasion, Salahuddin digs it out to end the over. A strange one, had three full tosses and a yorker. Very little attempt to spin the ball. |
| 30.1 : Sam Curran to Khan, On and around off, it's on a length, Khan sticks back and defends it to the off side. |
| 30.2 : Sam Curran to S Khan, OUT! Edged and gone! Zero footwork shown by Shadab as he goes fishing at this delivery. It's angled away from him on a length and is leaving him after pitching. Needless poking by the batsman and he ends up edging it straight into the hands of Cook at first slip. This is one aspect of being in good form. You want to play every ball. This should have been left alone with ease but Shadab wanted to score off it. No heroics from him with the bat this time. Pakistan starin |
| Faheem Ashraf is the new batsman. |
| 30.3 : Sam Curran to Ashraf, A low full toss on off, it's dug out to mid off. |
| 30.4 : Sam Curran to Ashraf, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 30.5 : Sam Curran to Ashraf, Full and on middle, kept out on the leg side. |
| 30.6 : Sam Curran to Ashraf, Driven through the covers by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| 31.1 : D Bess to Ashraf, A hint of away spin from around off, Faheem gets forward to defend but it takes the outer half of his bat and rolls to point. |
| 31.2 : D Bess to Ashraf, This time spin and extra bounce, outside off, Faheem drives it in the air and is lucky it goes in the gap at covers. A single taken. |
| A leg gully in place now. |
| 31.3 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Flighted and on middle as Bess comes from 'round the wicket to Usman. The batsman however easily defends it towards mid on. |
| 31.4 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Loopy and on off, Salahuddin has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| Shout of a run out. Referred upstairs. |
| 31.5 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Not out! Now, we know why! Direct hit was the need of the hour. Ball - A flighted full ball on the pads, Usman flicks it to the right side of the mid-wicket fielder and calls his partner for a quick single. Faheem responds and scoots to the other end as the fielder fires his throw at the striker's end. Bairstow collects it and breaks the stumps. They appeal and the square leg umpire goes upstairs. The replays show that Ashraf is safely in and a direct hit would have b |
| 31.6 : D Bess to Ashraf, Flatter and shorter just outside off, Ashraf cuts from the crease but finds the point fielder. |
| 32.1 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, A nicely timed flick shot by Salahuddin but once again Anderson is excellent in the field. Stops the ball cleanly and keeps the batsmen to their respective ends. |
| 32.2 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Shortish and on off, defended back to the bowler. |
| 32.3 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 32.4 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Fullish and on off, it's driven off the front foot but straight to mid off. |
| 32.5 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Another good looking drive from the bat of Salahuddin. But once again the placement is not good. This time it's straight back to the bowler. |
| 32.6 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Shortish and on off, Salahuddin defends it by covering the line. He has grown in confidence in this innings. Making a conscious effort to get behind the line. |
| 33.1 : D Bess to Ashraf, Full and flighted outside off, driven straight to covers. |
| 33.2 : D Bess to Ashraf, Leans forward to a full ball and blocks it down. |
| 33.3 : D Bess to Ashraf, Driven through the covers by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| 33.4 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Fires it full and on the pads, Salahuddin flicks but finds the short leg fielder. |
| 33.5 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Played through mid-wicket by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| 33.6 : D Bess to Ashraf, Loopy and full outside off, Ashraf drives it off his front foot to covers. |
| 34.1 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, A good length ball on middle, Usman helps it through backward square leg for a run. |
| 34.2 : Sam Curran to Ashraf, Good leave. On a length just outside off, shaping back in a bit, Faheem covers his stumps and shoulders arms. |
| 34.3 : Sam Curran to Ashraf, Curran gets very full this time, around off and moving away a bit, Ashraf drives it to mid off. |
| 34.4 : Sam Curran to Ashraf, Gets on the front foot this time and pushes it with an angled bat to point. |
| 34.5 : Sam Curran to Ashraf, Angling into the batsman this time, around middle on a fuller length, Faheem is right behind the line as he blocks it back to the bowler. |
| 34.6 : Sam Curran to Ashraf, Hits the yorker mark around off, Faheem keeps his eyes glued to the ball as he digs it out on the leg side. |
| 35.1 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Flighted and around leg, it's played off the pads to short leg. |
| 35.2 : D Bess to Salahuddin, A shade quicker through the air, on the shorter side around off, Usman gets back and cuts it to point for a single. |
| 35.3 : D Bess to F Ashraf, Floated delivery, full and just outside off, Faheem takes a good stride forward as he drives it to mid off. |
| 35.4 : D Bess to Ashraf, Almost hit the stumps! A straighter one just outside off, Faheem commits himself on the front leg as he looks to defend it with the spin. But it skids through to beat the inside half of his bat. Bairstow fails to pick that one either and as a result, they cross for a bye. |
| 35.5 : D Bess to Salahuddin, Strides forward to a full ball and blocks it on the leg side. |
| 35.6 : D Bess to Salahuddin, This one is on the pads and it has been eased behind square leg for a single. |
| 36.1 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Fullish and on off, it's blocked back to the bowler. |
| 36.2 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Curran goes full again, around off, Salahuddin defends it back. |
| Wasim Akram (on air) is impressed with the bowling action of Sam Curran. However, he wants him to work on his followthrough. |
| 36.3 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Was that edged? A length ball angling down the leg side, Salahuddin tries to flick but fails to middle his shot. It goes behind and there is some sound, however, the keeper fails to pouch it. The replays though show that it brushed the thigh pad and there was no wood involved. Bairstow will be a relieved man. |
| 36.4 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Just short! Full and angling away from the batsman, Usman slices his attempted drive and it goes on one bounce to gully. Bess collects it. |
| 36.5 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Length ball on off, defended back to the bowler. |
| 36.6 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Fullish and on off, blocked back to finish the over. |
| 37.1 : D Bess to Ashraf, OUT! Nelson strikes! Bess gets his second wicket. A poor shot attempted by Faheem. Tries slogging a full ball across the line but it spins away to catch the top edge. The ball balloons in the air and Dawid Malan at backward point takes the skier with ease. Going against the spin wasn't the smartest of choices by Faheem. England three away from a win now. |
| 0.0 : Mohammad Amir is in next. |
| 37.2 : D Bess to Amir, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 37.3 : D Bess to Amir, Presses forward to a full ball and drives it down to mid off. |
| 37.4 : D Bess to Amir, Skidding back into the batsman from around off, Amir lunges to defend but it takes the inside edge and rolls towards short leg. |
| 37.5 : D Bess to Amir, Just short! Bess tempts the number 9 with a nicely flighted ball outside off. Amir jumps down the track and goes hard at it. Fails to get any timing and it goes aerially past the left side of one of the two short cover fielders. There was a confusion over a run also but no harm done eventually. |
| 37.6 : D Bess to Amir, Flighted and full outside off, stroked to covers. |
| 38.1 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Fullish and around leg, it's eased down through mid-wicket. Broad chases it down from mid on and they take a couple. |
| 38.2 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 38.3 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Shortish and on middle, Salahuddin gets back to defend it with a soft bottom hand. |
| 38.4 : Sam Curran to U Salahuddin, Curran delivers it full and outside off, Usman drives but finds mid off. |
| 38.5 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, Played to the point region by the batsman. |
| 38.6 : Sam Curran to Salahuddin, On a length around off, shaping in, Salahuddin defends it safely. |
| Stuart Broad is back into the attack. |
| 39.1 : S Broad to Amir, A length ball angling down the leg side, from around the wicket, Amir works it in the gap at mid-wicket and takes a single. |
| 0.0 : Square leg drops back. Short stuff for Salahuddin? |
| 39.2 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Lands it on a length just outside off, moving back in a shade, Usman is forward in defense. With two batsmen back for the hook shot, Broad wants to keep the batsman guessing... |
| 39.3 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Beaten! Again, the length is not short as Broad hurls it on a good length around off. It moves away a bit after landing, Usman pushes inside the line only to get beaten. |
| 39.4 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Sound defense on this occasion. Salahuddin is nicely forward to this delivery and brings down a straight bat in defense. |
| 39.5 : S Broad to Salahuddin, Fuller in length and outside off, Usman defends it off his front foot. |
| Deep square leg comes back in. Playing mind games. Will Broad drop one short now? |
| 39.6 : S Broad to Salahuddin, The answer is no. It's been bowled full again, outside off, Usman pushes it off his front leg to covers. End of the over where he kept waiting for the bouncer. |
| Change of ends again for Dominic Bess. |
| 40.1 : D Bess to M Amir, Fuller and on middle, flicked away through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 0.0 : Now that the spinner has come back, the batters from the Asian side would be aiming to somehow survive till Tea. Perhaps that could be the right way forward, take one thing at a time. |
| 40.2 : D Bess to Salahuddin, OUT! Soft dismissal! Bess switching ends and picking wickets. He has three wickets, of which, two have come from this end and one from the other. Salahuddin after showing a lot of patience and resilience finally loses it. An inviting delivery, tossed up and around middle, Usman tries to pump it over the bowler's head but mistimes his shot straight into the hands of Root at mid on. All the hard work done goes down the drain. He lasted for 102 balls and should be credit |
| Hasan Ali walks in next with his side trailing by 74 runs. |
| 40.3 : D Bess to Ali, SIX! What was he doing in the dressing room! First ball he receives his half and he has dismissed it over mid-wicket. With the spin he goes and has cleared the fence with utmost ease. There was a fielder in the deep but he was a mere spectator. |
| 40.4 : D Bess to Ali, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 40.5 : D Bess to Ali, Bang on the helmet! That's a nasty blow! No, the spinner has not bowled a bouncer and hit the batsman. It's the batsman who has played a full-blooded sweep shot which has crashed into the helmet of Jennings at short leg. The fielder was looking to duck and cops a blow on his helmet. He is looking a bit rattled. |
| Physio comes out. He has a look at Jennings, who has a cut on his nose. Going off the field and rightly so. Should check for concussion. Jordan Thomson is the substitute fielder. Meanwhile, it's Alastair Cook who is standing at FSL now. |
| 40.6 : D Bess to Ali, Stretches forward and pushes it through mid on for one. |
| 41.1 : S Broad to Ali, Bouncer! The batsman ducks under the bouncer at the last moment. |
| 0.0 : DRS time! The appeal for an lbw against Hasan Ali is not upheld by the umpire and Joe Root opts for the referral. Looks to be missing leg. Let's see... |
| 41.2 : S Broad to Ali, Another bumper and Hasan is holding himself back. Ducks again. |
| 41.3 : S Broad to Ali, Missing leg! Broad angles in a shortish length delivery, landing around middle and sliding down. Ali clears his front leg and attempts for a big heave across the line. Misses and is hit on the back leg. They appeal but to no avail. England review but the Hawk Eye shows it to be missing leg comfortably. A review lost for the home team. |
| 41.4 : S Broad to Ali, Short and outside off, Ali decides to go after it this time. Tries to pull but ends up flat-batting it towards mid off. More like a tennis forehand. |
| 41.5 : S Broad to Ali, Gets across the stumps and works it on the leg side for a single. |
| 41.6 : S Broad to Amir, Digs in a short ball, Amir defends it from the back foot. |
| 42.1 : D Bess to Ali, Aerial but safe! Hasan aims to clear mid-wicket again. Goes down on one knee but the line is outside off and he has to drag it from there. As a result, he ends up mistiming it in the air. The fielder runs forward from the deep but the ball lands safely in front of him. A single picked. |
| 42.2 : D Bess to Amir, That spun big! It landed outside off and kept on turning away from the batsman, Amir initially shows interest to play at it but then pulls out after seeing the excess spin. |
| 42.3 : D Bess to Amir, Fullish and on middle, knocked down to mid on. |
| 42.4 : D Bess to Amir, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 42.5 : D Bess to Amir, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 42.6 : D Bess to Amir, Tossed up ball on off, driven back to the bowler. |
| 43.1 : S Broad to Ali, OUT! That's a super grab, Chef! A good length ball is angled into the batsman from wide of the crease. It probably straightens a bit after hitting the deck as Hasan without any footwork has a tame push inside the line. Gets a thick outside edge which flies behind and Cook at first slip dives across to his left to take a brilliant catch. The keeper could have gone for the catch but Bairstow didn't move at all. Good for England and they are now one wicket away from leveling t |
| 0.0 : Mohammad Abbas is the last batsman for Pakistan. |
| 43.2 : S Broad to Abbas, Good length ball again, angling in with some extra bounce, Abbas fails to get it away and it goes off his pads to the leg side. He wants a single but it's not on. |
| 43.3 : S Broad to Abbas, Abbas has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 43.4 : S Broad to Abbas, Bouncer! The batsman ducks in time to let that one go over him. |
| 43.5 : S Broad to Abbas, Gets on the front foot and defends it to the off side. |
| 43.6 : S Broad to Abbas, Wow, a big swing and a miss! A length ball outside off, shaping away from the batsman, Abbas winds up for a big heave-ho across the line but fails to make any connection. |
| 44.1 : D Bess to Amir, Shortish and close to the off stump line, Amir cuts it to cover-point. |
| 44.2 : D Bess to Amir, Pitches it full and around off, Amir drives it down to mid off. |
| 44.3 : D Bess to Amir, FOUR! A flighted ball landing just outside leg, Amir clears his front leg and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 44.4 : D Bess to Amir, Beaten! Amir aims for another slog sweep but this time the ball spins away after landing on off and beats the outside edge of the bat. |
| 44.5 : D Bess to Amir, Quicker and flatter on off, cracked off the back foot but straight to point. |
| 44.6 : D Bess to Amir, Four byes! That one probably hit the footholes. It spins big after landing around off, beats the swinging bat of Amir and goes past the keeper and first slip. Cook attempted to catch it by stretching his right hand but fails. Bonus runs but that's only going to narrow down the defeat margin. |
| 45.1 : S Broad to Abbas, Fuller and on off, Abbas covers the line and blocks it back. |
| 45.2 : S Broad to Abbas, Alters his length and goes short. Bangs it in around off and Abbas sits underneath it. |
| 45.3 : S Broad to Abbas, This one is too straight in line and it has been tickled behind square leg for a single. |
| 45.4 : S Broad to Amir, Back of a length ball angling down the leg side, Amir turns it through square leg and picks up a single. |
| 45.5 : S Broad to Abbas, Late swing and it's so late that it swings after beating the bat of the batsman. Broad angles in a length ball on off, Abbas pushes inside the line and misses. |
| 45.6 : S Broad to Abbas, OUT! That will do! ENGLAND WIN BY AN INNINGS AND 55 RUNS! Broad slants in a back of a length ball on middle, Abbas sticks back inside the crease to fend it off but it takes the shoulder of the bat and flies straight to Root at third slip. The English skipper makes no mistake and the hosts finally taste some success in Test cricket, after 8 matches. Smiles all around, the players are shaking hands and thanking the crowd as well. A neat performance to end the series 1-1. |
| What a turnaround it has been for England. Down and out at Lord's, redemption at Headingley. An abject surrender like the one we've just had was just not expected. Well, they say expect the unexpected from Pakistan and that's what it has been. Just three of their batters entered double figures and that says it all. |
| Talking about redemption, James Anderson and Stuart Broad have bowled themselves back into form and England to victory. What it also does is paint a sad picture that if they fail to strike regularly, the side struggles. The duo began in the right manner in this innings as well. Teasing and beating the outside edge of the blade, they sent back Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail and Asad Shafiq pretty early. That exposed the frail middle order of Pakistan. |
| In a wicket-taking fest, Dominic Bess, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes joined the party. The spinner picked up three to go with his effort with the bat and the stunner that he took to get rid of Haris Sohail. There's pretty much nothing to write about Pakistan's show (or no show) in this innings apart from the 42-run stand between Imam ul Haq and Usman Salahuddin. |
| Earlier in the game, sunny conditions forced Sarfraz Ahmed to win the toss and chose to bat. But like it was playing hide and seek, it went into a hiding. With that for help, England's seamers made merry to keep the tourists quiet and strangled them to a low score. Pakistan could perhaps thank Shadab Khan for dragging their score above 150. |
| They say bat once and bat big in Tests. England set out in that earnest. Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings strung together a 50-run opening stand, doing so for the first time after 12 innings. Cook, Joe Root and Dominic Bess got into the 40s, but couldn't go beyond that. Then it took a Jos Buttler brilliance for England to stretch their lead to a good hefty 189. The ODI wicketkeeper couldn't find company for him to get to an elusive Test ton. That lead proved a bit too much for Pakistan who ende |
| Jos Buttler is the Man of the Match. He says it's great to be back in the Test side and to contribute to the win. Reckons that the conditions were such that the bowlers were always in the game. Adds that they looked like picking wickets with each delivery. Lauds his side for coming here and turning things around after a tough week at Lord's. He talks about playing as per the situation, when asked if he decided to have fun when Stuart Broad walked out to bat. Statest that it feels good when someo |
| The Man of the Series award goes to Mohammad Abbas. He is mainly adjudged so as he helped Pakistan win the Lord's Test with his bowling. Wasim Akram joins in as the translator for the youngster. The young seamer begins thanking the Almighty. He says that he feels disappointed to not help his side win the series. Talks about focusing on landing the ball in right areas. Adds that irrespective of the success you get or not, he strives for the same. States that he didn't panic when the opposition ba |
| Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan skipper, asserts that even though batting first was right, the batters let them down. Credits the opposition for bowling well in the first couple of sessions. States that they weren't as disciplined as they were in the first Test. Iterates that dropping catches are a part of the game and would look to improve on that. Reckons that with a young side at hand, it's always a learning curve and the process is in place. Ends saying that he is proud of his side, specially wi |
| The England captain, Joe Root, says that they spoke as a group after the loss in the first Test and talked about playing with pride and enjoying. States that they learned pretty quickly and that resulted in this turnaround. Reckons that his two swing bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad didn't let them down and were ably backed up by the others. Reasons that the nature of the pitch resulted in no tons being scored in the series. As a result, he credits the ground staff for preparing good wic |
| Now, both Joe Root and Sarfraz Ahmed pose with the trophy on the podium. Sharing is a good habit, as taught in schools. With a win and loss each for both the sides, they may well have to share the silverware. The effect of franchise cricket is seen here as well, as the players from either sides chat with each other. Fakhar Zaman and Jos Buttler were seen having some talk while the two emerging youngsters, Shadab Khan and Dominic Bess, were seen hanging out as well. Perhaps they'll be planning th |
| Trophy shared. Tour ended. Pakistan's stay in Europe ends. How often have you seen no century scored in a Test series? We'll let you find that out. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, goes Newton's third law of motion. England though, have given more than that. After being tamed at Lord's inside four days, they've retaliated in such a way that Pakistan were handed an innings defeat inside three days. Opposite, yes, but equal? Maybe not. Well, our company with you ends with this note |
Google +
Facebook
Twitter
Whatsapp