ENG vs PAK, 1st Test, Day 2 Review: Pakistan cruise with the bat; Hosts under the scanner

With decent contributions coming from most of their batsmen, Pakistan have taken complete control as it stands in the first Test against the very sturdy English contingent. Babar Azam registered a timely half-century before an injury halted his stay. The hosts find themselves under severe pressure as the lead has gone past 150.

English bowlers started off on a decent note, picking up Haris Sohail’s wicket early on the day. Azhar Ali continued his stubborn stay in the middle alongside the experience of Asad Shafiq. Shafiq got going with some boundaries here and there, with Azhar Ali blocking the other end.

He completed a well-paced half-century and was looking good for a big knock. But could add just 31 runs with Shafiq and was sent back by a genius named James Anderson, who managed to trap him leg-before. Unfortunately for the Three Lions, they had to wait for a long time to get their next wicket.

The promising youngster Babar Azam was under the pump as his Test record wasn’t as attractive as his limited overs statistics. He had a point to prove and what stage can be bigger than the Lord’s to turn things around? He chipped in with a fine knock and alongside Asad Shafiq, they took Pakistan to a decent position.

Azam and Asad pile on the agony for England

It was a brilliant batting rendition from both these gentlemen. Shafiq kept striking the ball cleanly whilst Azam too didn’t back off whenever there was a loosener. Their partnership took the game away from England and started demoralizing the bowlers. Shafiq completed a brilliant fifty and their partnership was closing in to touch the 100 mark.

Another notable thing this partnership did was it took the side past 184 runs, the total set up by England in the first innings. Just when they started taking giant strides towards a big lead, Shafiq got dismissed of Ben Stokes’ bowling. The Azam-Asad duo added 84 runs for the 4th wicket.

Skipper Sarfraz didn’t stick for a long period of time and Ben Stokes struck twice in double quick time. It was a poor shot from the experienced cricketer, who fell prey to a brilliant field set by Joe Root. A fine leg was set for the short ball and Sarfraz hit it exactly to that fielder.

Adding insult to injury, Babar was taken off the field as his injury was just getting severe. Just when they thought Pakistan might fall in trouble, young Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf added a stupendous partnership for the 6th wicket and helped Pakistan gain a huge lead in the context of the game.

Ashraf played some phenomenal cricket shots and got runs quickly. On a track where even the best batsmen struggled to score runs, he played with a strike-rate over 100 and was inching closer to a well-deserved half-century. He added 91 runs with Shadab Khan before his cameo was brought to an end by James Anderson.

Shadad kept his composure and completed his second Test fifty. Justifying his status as a brilliant middle-order batsman, he registered a fantastic inning at the Mecca of cricket. He was dismissed soon by Stokes, which was followed by another wicket of Hasan Ali in the next over. Nevertheless, the lead was over 150 and Pakistan pretty much got what they wanted. They finished the day with Mohammad Amir just about hanging in the last few overs.

The visitors ended the day on 350/8 with 166 runs ahead of total England posted in the first innings. The hosts would love to skittle the remaining two couple and put up a better show with the bat in the second innings.

Brief Scores

England 1st innings: 184 all out in 58.1 overs (A Cook 70; M Abbas 4/23, H Ali 4/51)

Pakistan 1st innings: 350/8 in 110 overs (Babar Azam 68, Shadab Khan 52, Asad Shafiq 59; Ben Stokes 3/73)

State of the Match: Pakistan lead by 166 runs in the first innings