ENG vs PAK: 1st Test – Talking points from 2nd day’s play
Pakistan asserted total domination over England on the second day of the first Test at Old Trafford, Manchester. After opening batsman Shan Masood’s extraordinary 156 helped them post 326 in their first innings, Pakistan took four quick wickets before the day’s play ended. England finished the proceedings on 92/4 with Ollie Pope (46*) and Jos Buttler (15*) at the crease. The duo will have to build a strong partnership if the hosts are to get anywhere near the Pakistani total.
England win the opening session
The first session of the second day was marked by the overcast conditions that greeted Pakistan. The visitors had a tall task in front of them with England boasting a pack of world-class blowers. Babar Azam was the first casualty of the day as James Anderson found his outside edge. Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes struck soon to leave Pakistan reeling at 176/5. Alongside opener Masood, only all-rounder Shadab Khan and rest of the bowlers were left.
Shan Masood stands tall
A special innings from Shan Masood helps Pakistan to gather 326 in the first innings#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/P4Bkta7Lgj
— 100MB (@100MasterBlastr) August 6, 2020
The Pakistan opener had struggled spectacularly against England in 2015-16. In his combined eight innings which were played in UAE and England, he totalled only 129 runs and had gone past the score of 50 only once. However, the opening batsman showed great resolve in this Test by standing tall while wickets kept falling at the other. Masood added 105 runs with Shadab to take Pakistan into a safe zone. He brought up his fourth Test century and first in England soon. Fighting till the end, he was the penultimate wicket to fall in the Pakistani innings. The side was eventually all out for 326 runs. Broad and Jofra Archer finished with three wickets each.
Pakistani bowlers rock England
We have lost three early wickets against the new ball.
Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/q1IXtTZFvR#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/LZX1S7k6KP
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 6, 2020
England suffered a disastrous beginning in their first innings. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi trapped opener Rory Burns in front of the stumps and earned the dismissal after a successful review. Abbas found Dominic Sibley LBW with an inswinger and later bowled Ben Stokes with a peach of a delivery. England were stuttering at 12/3 at this stage. Captain Joe Root played a supporting hand to in-form Pope but he too was nicked out by Yasir Shah. Pope and Buttler saw out the rest of the day out without conceding any further damage.
