A stunning 156 by opener Shan Masood has guided Pakistan to a commanding position by close of play on day two of the first Test against England at the Ageas Bowl.
After rain affected the opening day’s play on Wednesday, Pakistan resumed their innings on 139-2. The English bowlers made quick inroads by removing the dangerous Babar Azam within the first over before Asad Shafiq and Mohammad Rizwan departed cheaply.
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Pakistan were in a spot of bother at 176-5, but Masood and Shadab Khan regrouped with a 105-run stand as the opener brought up a brilliant century in the process.
A few quick wickets by Dom Bess and Jofra Archer sparked Masood into life as he went on the attack to accumulate as many runs as possible with the tail.
He would eventually depart, having reached his maiden 150 in Test cricket, before last batsmanNaseem Shah was dismissed with Pakistan bowled out for 326.
It meant England had to face a tricky period before stumps were called. They found themselves in immediate trouble when openers Rory Burns and Dom Sibley were sent packing by Shaheen Afridi and Mohammed Abbas, respectively.
Abbas then struck a telling blow when he knocked over the resilient Ben Stokes for a duck as England slumped to 12-3.
England are in early trouble with the bat. The Pakistan bowlers are on top in the final session.
pic.twitter.com/q6se3R8cTz— SA Cricket Magazine (@SACricketmag) August 6, 2020
Captain Joe Root and Ollie Pope started to rebuild a little but Root was undone by spinner Yasir Shah for 14.
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Pope (46) and Jos Buttler (15) will resume England’s innings on 92-4 on Friday.
England: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Woakes, Dom Bess, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
Pakistan: Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali (c), Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah.
