England versus Pakistan 3rd Test 2nd Day: England in driver’s seat at end of day 2

 

Thanks to a brilliant batting effort and James Anderson brilliant bowling put England in a dominating position at the end of day 2 played at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton on Saturday.

Starting on the overnight score of 332 for 4, Jos Buttler and Zak Crawley began off steadily against Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Abbas before rain stopped play with the scorecard reading at 336 for 4. After a rain break, the Pakistani captain Azhar Ali called for a review with 2 seconds left. The decision remained not out as the ball was going above the stumps.

After little play, rain arrived with the scorecard reading at 336 for 4. Zak Crawley struggled with his timing and got the first runs of the morning with a lovely boundary. Mohammad Abbas was outstanding with his accurate line and length. Jos Buttler was given out by the umpire for caught behind but decided to review the decision. The umpire reversed the decision as there was clear daylight between the ball and bat. The wicket-keeper batsman reached his 2^nd Test century off 189 balls.

Naseem Shah was bought into the attack replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi and troubled Crawley. At the end of the rain-curtailed first session, England scored 373 for 4.

After the lunch break, Crawley and Buttler played cautiously initially before putting sustained pressure on the lacklustre bowling line up. Crawley reached his maiden double century off 331 balls. It was an amazing batting performance from Buttler and Crawley who kept piling on the runs. Yasir Shah could not provide any breakthroughs with his wayward bowling. Naseem Shah also struggled with his bowling.

Pakistan was not up to the mark with their bowling. The part-timer Asad Shafiq finally got the breakthrough by dismissing Zak Crawley down the leg stumping by Mohammad Rizwan. Crawley and Buttler added a record 359 runs stand for the 5^th wicket. Chris Woakes looked out of sorts with his batting. England went into the tea break in a commanding position at 490 for 5.

After the tea break, Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler looked in complete command putting the tired Pakistan bowlers under pressure. Buttler reached his 150 off 307 balls. Fawad Alam dismissed Buttler with a simple caught and bowled. Buttler and Woakes added 44 runs for the 6^th wicket. Woakes also perished trying to hit a big shot was caught by Yasir Shah.

Stuart Broad and Dom Bess enjoyed the party adding quickfire 36 runs for the 8^th wicket. After the dismissal of Broad by Shaheen Shah Afridi, England declared their innings on a massive score of 583 for 8.

In reply, Shan Masood was given out by the umpire for LBW, the decision had to be reversed as it was outside off stump. James Anderson got the wicket of Masood and this time the decision was upheld. Anderson struck again as he dismissed Abid Ali with a good low catch by Dom Sibley at slips to leave Pakistan in tatters.

Jofra Archer replaced Stuart Broad and bowled with serious pace. Stuart Broad troubled the Pakistani batting. Before the end of the play, Anderson got the wicket of Babar Azam and reduced visitors to 24 for 3.

Pakistan 24 for 3 in 10.5 overs ( Babar Azam 11, James Anderson 3/13) trail England 583 for 8 in 154.4 overs ( Crawley 267, Jos Buttler 152, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2/121, Alam 2/46) by 559 runs.

 Crawley and Buttler put England in complete control at the end of day 2 of the 3rd Test