The much-anticipated Test series between England and Pakistan got underway yesterday with Pakistan holding an upper hand over the hosts after the end of the first day’s play. Pakistan ended Day one with a score of 139-2 thanks to a fluent innings from the Babar Azam and gritty innings from Shan Masood. The fans expected the visitors to carry on this form onto day two of the Test match, on the back of an expected three-figure innings from their star batsman Babar Azam. But English veteran James Anderson shattered the Pakistani dreams by dismissing Babar in the first over of day two with outstanding delivery.
Ahead of the day two’s play, the much focus was on star Pakistan batsman Babar Azam who impressed on Day one with a fluent 69 of 100 balls. His flamboyant innings included 11 boundaries as well. His innings came at a time when Pakistan was struggling after the loss of two quick wickets. This led to cricket pundits and fans all around the world heaping praise on the young batsman with some even predicting him to go beyond the three-figure mark quite easily on day two.
But contrary to all expectations, he fell trap to an outstanding delivery from English veteran James Anderson on the very first over of day 2. It was a well-directed fullish delivery and Babar backed his strength and tried to drive it, only to take a thick edge to send the ball flying to England captain Joe Root at slips. This ended a well-stitched partnership between Babar and Shaan Masood.
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Even though Babar got out early in the day, Pakistan went onto hold the upper hand over the hosts, courtesy of gritty innings from Shan Masood. As wickets started falling at the other end he held his nerves and went onto play gritty innings of 156 runs from a well-fought 319 balls. Shadab Khan who scored 45 of 76 balls was his only longstanding partner, while the rest of them were dismissed for single-digit scores by the English bowling attack.
Pakistan closed their first innings on 326 runs, as wickets started tumbling down after the fall of Shadab Khan’s wicket. Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad topped the bowling charts with three wickets each.
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