England vs Pakistan 2nd Test, Day 3 Highlights: England Tighten Grip, Extend Lead To 357 Runs
England vs Pakistan Highlights, 2nd Test Day 3: England extended its lead over Pakistan in the second Test to 357 runs after reaching 177-7 by the end of a rain-hit Day 3 at Lord's when only 24.5 overs were possible.
England vs Pakistan Highlights, 2nd Test Day 3: England extended its lead over Pakistan in the second Test to 357 runs after reaching 177-7 by the end of a rain-hit Day 3 at Lord's when only 24.5 overs were possible. England's bid for victory was thwarted with no play possible on Saturday morning at the home of cricket because of showers. The hosts eventually resumed in the afternoon, on 81-3, and Dan Lawrence raced to 50 not out off 66 balls by the time more rain came 14 balls following the resumption after a late tea. The teams never got back out, with play eventually abandoned for the day at 6.30 p.m. local time because of bad light. England lost four wickets - Emilio Gay (31), Harry Brook (34) and Jamie Smith (7) in the second session, all to Mohammad Abbas (3-48), and then Gus Atkinson (7) lbw to Mohammad Ali after tea - while adding 96 runs. Lawrence and Ollie Robinson (2 not out) were in the middle at the close. England scored 290 in its first innings before dismissing Pakistan for 110. England won the first Test by an innings at Headingley last week so it is looking to clinch the three-match series. (Scorecard)
Pakistan Cricket Team
England Cricket Team
Babar Azam
Joe Root
ENG vs PAK 2nd Test, Day 3 Highlights
We are back for the all-important run chase. The umpires are out in the middle and so are the players of England. Azan Awais will open the innings for Pakistan, with former skipper Shan Masood alongside him, given Imam-ul-Haq's absence. Ollie Robinson is all set to start proceedings with the ball. Let's go...
... FOURTH INNINGS ...
A tough challenge awaits Pakistan - In the passage of play we had this morning, we did not see any evidence of the uneven bounce, but there was still enough in the surface to keep the pacers interested even with the older ball. England’s four-pronged pace attack will relish the prospect of bowling in these conditions. The Asian side has not yet reached 175 in any of their three innings in the series so far, while the longest they have batted is 48.1 overs. The numbers make for grim reading, but Pakistan will have to show plenty of resolve with the bat if they are to even take this game into Day 5.
Building on the lead - 31 runs added to the overnight score by England, and while they would have loved to go past 400, this is already a daunting total for a side that has struggled right through with the bat this series. 4 of England’s top 6 got starts, but only Dan Lawrence was able to convert his into a fifty, his second successive fifty-plus score since making a return to the Test side. One of the stories of the innings was Joe Root once again being trapped in front of the stumps, which has become a pattern for the great man and one he has not quite found a fix for yet.
First job done - 40 minutes is all it took Pakistan this morning to wrap up the remaining three wickets, leaving them needing 389 for the win. There have not been too many highlights for Pakistan on this tour, but Mohammad Abbas getting his name on the honours board is certainly one of them. He is a bowler who goes under the radar when the world’s best are discussed, but this is a timely reminder of the quality and skill he possesses.
OUT! JOSH TONGUE IS RUN OUT! Babar Azam hits the bullseye and even lets out a smile as Pakistan bowl out England for 208 runs. Mohammad Ali pitches the ball on a good length, around the top of off. Jofra Archer hits it straight to mid off and sets off for the single. But there's hesitation from Tongue and that's his downfall. Babar moves to his left and fires in a throw at the keeper's end, hitting the stumps. Tongue is well short and England end up with a second inning's lead of 388 runs.
A length ball on middle, darts back in sharply. Archer misses the flick by a long way, and the ball also misses the pad, brushing the calf and rolling down to fine leg. The batters pick up two leg byes.
Good length on middle, elegantly flicked away through mid-wicket for a single by Jofra.
Straight up in the air, but it lands perfectly between the two fielders. Fuller one at the stumps, looking to shape it away. Tongue flicks it but off the leading edge and back over the bowler's head, between mid off and mid on for a single.
An outswinger now, fairly wide of the off stump. Tongue goes after it but is well beaten.
Lovely delivery! Pushed a smidge fuller than a good length and in the channel around off. The ball holds its line and zips past the outside edge of Tongue's bat.
Too full and straight, Archer leans on and drives it to the left of long on for a single.
Mohammad Rizwan moves back to the normal standing position.
FOUR BYES! How has that missed the stumps? Length ball on middle, nips back in. Jofra Archer swings wildly across the line and is beaten on the inside edge. The ball bounces over the leg pole and goes quickly past the keeper to the fine leg fence. 200 UP FOR ENGLAND.
FOUR! That is a freebie, and Josh Tongue isn't missing out on that one. A full toss on off, Tongue leans on and punches the drive back past the bowler for another boundary. Really handy runs these, for England.
FOUR! Slightly uppish but in the gap. Length ball again, in and around off, Tongue is early into the square drive and gets it off the outer half of the blade through the vacant gully region for a boundary. England now lead by 375 runs.
Good length on off, blocked off by Tongue.
A huge appeal for LBW, especially from the bowler, but the umpire turns it down. Seems to be just sneaking down leg, but Babar Azam takes the review in hope. Mohammad Ali goes wider on the crease and jams in a really full ball at the toes. Josh Tongue plays all over it and gets hit on the pads. The third umpire has a look at it - there's no spike on UltraEdge and Ball Tracking shows that it is comfortably missing the stumps. The on-field decision of Not Out stands, and Pakistan are out of reviews.
Length ball in the channel, nips away nicely, Tongue ends up playing well inside the line.
Good length on off, straightens a bit. Tongue looks to go after it but decides against it and just keeps it out. Also, a No Ball is called for overstepping. According to the on-air commentators, this is Mohammad Ali's 8th No Ball of the match.