Twitter Reactions: Mohammad Rizwan stands tall with a gutsy half-century in Southampton

England kicked off their second Test against Pakistan at Southampton by delivering impressive performance with the ball on the first day. With James Anderson providing early breakthroughs, Pakistan were left reeling with the scoreboard reflecting 126/5 on Day 1 after rain played a spoilsport.

Anderson took 2/35 from 15 overs to move to within eight wickets of becoming the first pacer with 600 Test scalps. Coming on to Day 2, Pakistan suffered an early blow as Babar Azam was dismissed on 47 by another England veteran, Stuart Broad. What followed was Pakistan losing wickets in quick succession.

Yasir Shah was dismissed off an away-shaping Anderson delivery while Shaheen Afridi had to walk back after falling well short of his crease. Afridi was run out for a duck when Dom Sibley, running round from the slip cordon, threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end.

While the Pakistan wickets kept tumbling at one end, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan ensured that they cross the 200-run mark by amassing his second Test half-century. Stitching a gritty 53 off 109, Rizwan struck 5 fours in his knock and saved Pakistan from a collapse. Rizwan was also given a lifeline on 14 when Jos Buttler dropped a difficult leg-side catch off Broad’s bowling.

Pakistan amassed 223/9 before bad light stopped the play

On the back of Rizwan’s half-century, Pakistan registered 215/8 on the board at Tea. Rizwan, in the process, became the first wicket-keeper batsman to score a half-century in the last 10 Tests of Pakistan in England. Twitter was flooded with congratulatory wishes for Rizwan as people heaped praise on his gritty innings. 28-year-old Rizwan enured more than 100 deliveries during his knock while staying at the crease on the second day.

Before Rizwan, Abid Ali had hogged the limelight on Day 1 after scoring 60 off 111 deliveries. Apart from Rizwan and Abid, no Pakistan batsman was able to tick the 50-run mark in his knock. Regarded as a modern-day great, Babar Azam also fell short of his half-century after being dismissed on 47 at the start of Day 2.

Pakistan amassed 223/9 before bad light stopped the day’s play. After suffering a defeat in the first Test, Azhar Ali and Co will be aiming to retaliate and put up a dominant show in Southampton.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Rizwan is exactly the sort of hungry player Pakistan need. Saw him bat at The Gabba against Aussies in a Test. The way he played likes of Starc and Cummins at pace was very impressive. Was given out on a ball where Cummins clearly overstepped. Pakistan must stick with him.

— Waqqas Mir (@wordoflaw) August 14, 2020

I just don't know how many more times will Muhammad Rizwan have to prove that currently he is the best TEST wicketkeeper batsman we have in Pakistan 🏏♥️

Solid stuff from KPK bud 🏏♥️
Keenly crossed Pakistan 210 with still two wickets in hand ♥️ https://t.co/BZyIBH7dyt

— Saeed Cricky 🏏 (@SaeedCricky) August 14, 2020

Seeing rizwan and the way he plays every timing gives his 100% either keeping or batting a through professional . @iNabeelHashmi @aaliaaaliya @iRashidLatif68 @shoaib100mph @DrNaumanNiaz what do you think sarfarz times as a test cricket is over ??

— Fawad Khan (@fawadi007) August 14, 2020

Excellent innings.. Muhammad Rizwan 👏👏👏🔥

— Imran Zafar 🏏 (@lazy_imran) August 14, 2020

"He is a Battler. He looks like the type of guy you want in your team." Atherton about Rizwan #ENGvPAK

— Tall Bunny ♠♛ (@mukhtiarmalik_) August 14, 2020

Michael Atherton (@Athersmike) : Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) is a real fighter. He made his debut as a specialist batsman and you can see he has plenty of ability. #PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/qoEeWzCnLs

— Thakur (@hassam_sajjad) August 14, 2020

Wait, so Pakistan crossed 200? At 8 down? And Rizwan is performing well.
Its an Independence Day miracle! #ENGvPAK

— Hoori Halwa Purri (@HooviK) August 14, 2020

Well played @iMRizwanPak ! Not easy to bat in these conditions. Showed great temperament, discipline & maturity to put in some crucial runs for Pakistan. #PAKvENG

— Azhar Mahmood (@AzharMahmood11) August 14, 2020

Super fighting knock @iMRizwanPak 👏 keep going🇵🇰 #ENGvPAK

— Muhammad Nawaz (@mnawaz94) August 14, 2020

The last 10 Tests Pakistan have played in England, Rizwan is the only wicket-keeper batsman to score a 50. #EngvPak

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 14, 2020

Fifty for @iMRizwanPak 👏 #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/x8Q22kZk0L

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 14, 2020

A really sensible knock by @iMRizwanPak – batting well with the tail & done well to give Pakistan these bonus runs #engvpak

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) August 14, 2020

And then there was a wicketkeeper who use to bat after tailenders and made sure tailender faced last ball of an impo worldcup match…And then there's wicketkeeper who faces complete over and takes single off lastball to keep wickets of tailenders safe. M Rizwan for you👏 #ENGvPAK

— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) August 14, 2020