Pakistan 340/6 at Stumps on Day 2, lead by 12 runs.

By Abdullah Ansari (12th August, 2016)

Toss: England won the toss, Alastair Cook chose to bat first.

Teams

Pakistan: Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Asad Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz.

England: AN Cook (c), AD Hales, JE Root, JM Vince, GS Ballance, JM Bairstow (wk), MM Ali, CR Woakes, SCJ Broad, ST Finn, JM Anderson.

Pakistan started Day 2 under a good deal of pressure after they were dealt a major blow at the end of Day 1 due to the loss of Sami Aslam. Azhar Ali began gingerly, but nightwatchman Yasir Shah was eager to play his strokes. That almost worked for England as he offered a simple chance to Hales at gully, who made a huge mess of it and grassed it. Yasir continued frustrating the English bowlers, lasting an hour until he was finally dismissed for 26 as Root juggled a catch at slip off Finn. Shafiq came out next, earning himself a promotion above veterans Younis and Misbah, batting positively. That had its perils, as he flashed one past the slips, which will go down as a dropped chance, however, he continued playing his shots. Azhar Ali was typically resolute but he offered a tough caught and bowled chance to Finn, which was grassed as well, as England's horror show in the morning session continued. Pakistan went to Lunch at 97/2.

Shafiq continued positively after Lunch and Azhar played a few shots as well, but he ultimately fell for 49 as he went for a sweep off Moeen Ali, gloving it straight up for a simple catch for Bairstow, given out after a review. Younis Khan was the new batsman and he looked more comfortable than in the previous matches straight away, as he made a conscious attempt to keep a more upright stance. It paid off, and the two batsman played excellently in the afternoon session, wearing down England's bowlers and putting the bad balls away. Shafiq continued his refreshing, positive innings though he played and missed a few towards the end of the session as Pakistan finished at 196/3 at Tea.

Pakistan came out after Tea in a very positive manner as Younis Khan finally started to gain some rhythm. Asad Shafiq continued on his merry way and hit a six once into the nineties, but England tried to shut down his avenues of scoring, resulting in him being stuck at 99 for a bit, but he finally got to an impressive hundred. Younis was the aggressor at this point and continued hitting frequent boundaries. Shafiq finally fell for 109 as he was caught brilliantly while pulling a short ball from Finn. Misbah and Younis negotiated the period until the second new ball, with the latter reaching the 90s. However, Misbah soon perished to the 2nd new-ball as Woakes had him caught at gully. The debutant Iftikhar did not last long, top edging a pull up into the air and getting caught. Sarfraz, however, helped Younis first reach his hundred and then play out the rest of the day as Pakistan finished at 340/6, a lead of 12 runs.

Summary: A good day for Pakistan as they hold a slight advantage in the match. England have ensured with the late wickets that the tourists haven't been able to run away with the game, but the match is nicely poised, and Pakistan will hope that Younis and Sarfraz can extend the lead to a good amount, and that they can avoid a repeat of the Edgbaston Test thereafter.

Fall of wickets:

2-52 (Yasir Shah, 17.3 ov)
3-127 (Azhar Ali, 39.2 ov)
4-277 (Asad Shafiq, 75.3 ov)
5-316 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 84.1 ov)
6-320 (Iftikhar Ahmed, 84.5 ov)

Discuss!