Pakistan and England are competing in the second Test of the three-match series at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. Pakistan would wish to win this match in order to keep the series alive as the hosts have already won the series opener.
Coming back to the match, the visitors have won the toss and opted to bat first. But they started really bad as England’s all-time great James Anderson drew the first blood in his second over. He trapped opener Shan Masood in front and sent him back to the pavilion for just 1 run.
The English bowlers kept things tight and didn’t give any opportunity to Pakistan batters to score runs freely. In fact, pacers did produce some magic to dismiss opener Abid Ali, but, the hosts’ slip cordon made blunders.
During the fourth over of Pakistan’s first innings, speedster Stuart Broad invited Abid for a drive and got a healthy edge. The ball flew to Dom Sibley’s left and then burst out of his fingers.
Later, in the 14th over, English all-rounder Chris Woakes bowled a back of a length delivery outside off stump. Abid tried to jab the ball, it carried a thick outside edge which went straight to second slip where Rory Burns dropped the catch.
Not only Abid, fortune also blessed Pakistan captain Azhar Ali. It all happened in the 12th over of the innings when Woakes bowled a nip-backer and Azhar played all round it. He got beaten on the inside edge and the ball struck on his back thigh. Seconds later, the ball rolled back and kissed the stumps, but the bails remained unmoved, and Azhar survived.
Here is the video:
SO CLOSE!
Woakes into the attack and he hits the stumps second ball – but the bails stay on!
Azhar Ali survives and Pakistan are 30-1. 🏴🇵🇰🏏
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