England suffered a chaotic second day in Multan, watching Pakistan pile up 518 to take management of the primary Take a look at earlier than their response was undermined by a worrying thumb damage for opener Ben Duckett.
It was a day the place virtually every little thing that might go unsuitable did go unsuitable for the vacationers, who misplaced captain Ollie Pope for a duck to a world-class catch moments after he volunteered to move up the innings in Duckett’s absence.
Zak Crawley’s run-a-ball 64 not out allowed them to achieve stumps in higher form at 96 for one however there’s a lot nonetheless to do to salvage their place.
A pivotal umpiring resolution went in opposition to them as they have been combating arduous within the afternoon session, Chris Woakes finishing a one-man relay catch at long-off just for his efforts to be dominated out amid suspicions that he had nudged the boundary as he reclaimed the ball.
Replays have been inconclusive however third umpire Chris Gaffaney sided with batter Salman Agha, who compounded English frustration by going from 15 on the time to make a significant 104 not out.
When Pakistan’s innings lastly got here to an in depth after 149 gruelling overs below the Punjabi solar it ought to have been a second of hard-won aid however as an alternative it was marred by extra ill-fortune.
Duckett Damage
Within the act of catching quantity 11 Abrar Ahmed at slip, Duckett took the preliminary impression instantly on his left thumb – gamely hanging on to the ball however instantly signalling an damage that raises alarm bells.
Most infuriating for England was the truth that Duckett ought to by no means even have been uncovered, Abrar surviving a botched stumping by Jamie Smith and a dropped catch from Gus Atkinson in the last few minutes.
With the left-hander struggling a attainable fracture and in no place to start strapping on his pads, Pope stepping up from quantity three and lasted simply two balls as occasions continued to spiral.
Second Innings
Opting to go on the offensive, Pope middled a pull off Naseem Shah and would have counted on 4 morale-boosting runs till Aamer Jamal produced a sensational one-handed catch leaping up at midwicket.
The stand-in skipper departed for the pavilion ruefully, having failed to attain on the identical flat pitch that gifted centuries to Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood and Salman.
England aren’t in uncharted territory – they’ve gained twice after conceding 500 within the ‘Bazball’ period – however it can take a particular efficiency to show the tide right here.
Morning Session
Pakistan had managed the primary day of the collection due to a double-century stand between Shafique and Masood, however three wickets within the night supplied their opponents a measure of optimism.
Neither actually superior their trigger in a cagey morning session, price 69 runs and two wickets, although nightwatcher Naseem occupied the crease for 81 infuriating deliveries and helped himself to a few sixes in opposition to the English spinners.
He went on to change into Brydon Carse’s first Take a look at wicket, springing a entice at leg-slip, and Jack Leach added Mohammad Rizwan for a duck.
Afternoon Session
At 420 for six, Woakes thought he had produced the second of inspiration wanted to show the tables. Diving backwards and arching his again he intercepted Salman’s large hit down the bottom, launched the ball as he landed out of bounds and gathered his personal flick up on his manner again.
It was a wonderful piece of labor from the 35-year-old however the footage was not conclusive sufficient to steer Gaffaney it was clear.
Salman, awarded a six somewhat than paying together with his wicket, cashed in gleefully with 10 fours and two extra sixes as he motored to a fluent century.
England have been fading quick however chipped away, Carse getting Jamal lbw with one which stored low, Shoaib Bashir taking out Saud Shakeel’s off stump and Leach bowling Shaheen Shah Afridi.
However the chaos was about to start. First Smith juggled a stumping that he might have taken in gradual movement, then Atkinson fluffed a simple likelihood at midwicket.
The misses didn’t value many runs nevertheless it did hold them within the subject lengthy sufficient for Duckett to return a cropper as Abrar slashed at an surprising bouncer from Joe Root.
Hope for Day Three
Pope needs to be recommended for volunteering to face the brand new ball after greater than 5 periods main within the subject however his quick keep, and the brilliance of Jamal’s handiwork, merely continued a painful passage of play.
Issues have been less complicated for Crawley as he flourished on his return from his personal damaged finger.
He confirmed great timing in his first innings for over two months, reached his half-century in 55 balls and hitting 11 boundaries.
He was joined by Root, who scored 32 of the 71 he must overtake Sir Alastair Cook dinner as England’s main Take a look at run-scorer and is nicely positioned to take the document on day three.
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