Zack Crawley, Joe Root lead fight back as England trail by 460 runs against Pakistan

Multan: The first Test match between England and Pakistan is perfectly poised after Salman Agha’s century continued the onslaught and propelled the home side’s score to 556 contained within the hole Test of the series on the Multan Cricket Stadium. The visitors fought back valiantly and scored ninety six/1 in 20 overs earlier than the end of the day’s play which saw them trail by 460 runs.

Solid centuries by opener Abdullah Shafique and skipper Shan Masood helped Pakistan finish Day One in every of the primary Test against England on 328/4 in 86 overs on the Multan Cricket Stadium on Monday. The 253-run partnership between Masood (151) and Shafique (102) ensured the day belonged to Pakistan when stumps were most often which is often known as.

Continuing from 328/4, nightwatchman Naseem Shah (Zero), and Saud Shakeel (35 now now not out) started from the crease on Day 2. The previous played his part to perfection and added 33 runs, in an innings which consisted of one boundary and three sixes, earlier than being caught by Harry Brook off Brydon Carse’s ball.

England then fought their way back into the sport and brushed off Mohammad Rizwan for a duck off Jack Leach. Salman Agha and Shakeel built a powerful 57-run partnership earlier than the latter was brushed off by Shoaib Bashir at 82. Aamer Jamal’s wicket followed three overs later to bring the score to 464/Eight.

Agha continued his onslaught from the opposite end and scored a brilliant 104 now now not out off 119 deliveries in an innings that consisted of 10 boundaries and three sixes.

Shaheen Afridi stood tall for 49 deliveries helping his batting partner take Pakistan’s score past 500 earlier than he was brushed off for 26 runs by Leach. The first innings ended soon after with Abrar Ahmed being brushed off for 3 runs by Joe Root. Pakistan ended their innings with an important 556 on the board.

With a mountain of a target in front of them, the English batters did now now not get off to the suitable start as Ollie Pope was brushed off for a duck contained within the 2d over of the innings by reason of a brilliant catch by Jamal at mid-wicket.

From thereon, England continued of their trademark Bazball fashion as Joe Root and Zak Crawley stitched up a ninety two-run partnership to take the side to ninety six/1 on the end of Day 2, leaving the visitors trailing by 460 runs.

“I are trying to keep myself ready for every ball and expect each ball to come to me. We have now bowled stump to stump since the wicket is low and slow, the more we bowl that way, the more we now have an opportunity to percent wickets. We can include a positive mindset day after as of late morning,” said Jamal on his catch contained within the post-game interview.