Zak Crawley (run-a-ball 64) and Joe Root’s circumspect (32 off 54) helped England rebound their innings after skipper Ollie Pope went without scoring against Pakistan on the second day in the first Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on Tuesday.
After Pakistan’s brilliant run with the bat, England lost Pope as Naseem Shah removed him. But Crawley and the experience of Root ensured to not let the slide downward and showed solid resistance to end the day on a high.
Though, England are still trailing by 460 runs. But they will look to dismantle Pakistan’s bowling attack, whose confidence is quite dampened after the recent shortcomings against Bangladesh.
Pakistan will, however, look to contain the solid England batting lineup as early as possible.
For Pakistan, Shah (1-29) bagged one wicket.
Abrar Ahmed (0-31), Shaheen Shah Afridi (0-24) and Aamer Jamal (0-12) remained wicketless.
Earlier, Saud Shakeel and Naseem Shah ensured to tick all the boxes as the host were bundled out for mammoth 556 on the second day.
Pakistan were bundled out in 149th over. Shakeel and Shah continued to move the scorecard forward following the centuries scored by captain Shan Masood (151) and Abdullah Shafique (102).
Shakeel and Shah stitched a 64-run partnership off 129. The partnership was broken, when Carse got rid of Shah. Shah scored resilient 81-ball 33, lacing with one boundary and three sixes.
Shakeel was looking, but it was Bashir who removed him on 177-ball 82.
It was Salman Agha, who scored a brilliant unbeaten century to ensure Pakistan reach the 500-run mark. He clobbered 10 boundaries and three sixes in his 119-ball 104.
Shaheen Shah Afridi had ably supported Agha in the crucial partnership to ensure Pakistan posted a mammoth total in the first innings against England.
For England, Jack Leach (3-160) grabbed three wickets. Hus Atkinson (2-99) Brydon Carse (2-74) and Gus Atkinson (2-99) bagged two wickets apiece.
Joe Root (1-25) and Chris Woakes (1-69) took a scalp each.
