England vs Pakistan Highlights, 3rd Test Day 2: Azan Awais, Shan Masood Steady Pakistan Before Rain Forces Early Stumps
England vs Pakistan Highlights, 3rd Test Day 2: Rain forced early stumps on Day 2 of the third Test between England and Pakistan at the Edgbaston.
England vs Pakistan Highlights, 3rd Test Day 2: Rain forced an early end to Day 2 of the third Test between England and Pakistan at Edgbaston. Azan Awais and Shan Masood steadied Pakistan in their second innings after Ollie Robinson struck twice in the first over to dismiss Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique, both for ducks. Azan and Masood added an unbeaten 52-run stand for the third wicket after captain Babar Azam demoted himself in the batting order. Earlier, England were dismissed for 453 on the second day of the match to take a first-innings lead of 320, threatening to wrap up victory in double-quick time. England rattled along on a sunny morning in Birmingham, with Dan Lawrence reaching his half-century off just 47 balls, hitting eight fours. Their progress was checked when Harry Brook needlessly ran himself out for 75 when in sight of an 11th Test century. (Scorecard)
England Cricket Team
Pakistan Cricket Team
Joe Root
Babar Azam
ENG vs PAK, 3rd Test Day 2, Live Updates
Pakistan have work to do - We are yet to see a hundred scored in this series, and there is no better time for one to come from a Pakistan batter than now. They are 268 runs behind, but they will be better off not looking at that number and instead taking it session by session. A testing phase awaits them first thing on the morning of Day 3, with the English pacers raring to go. The first ball on Day 3 will be bowled at 10 am GMT, so we look forward to having your company then. Cheers!
England turn the screw - The hosts began the day with a lead of 23 runs and had their sights set on pressing home the advantage, and that is exactly what they did. They added 297 runs across the first 2 sessions, scoring at just under 6 an over to pile further misery on Pakistan. The tourists managed to produce the odd ball that troubled the English batters, but could not string enough of those deliveries together to build sustained pressure. Razaullah took a bit of a tap but came close to a 5-wicket haul on Test debut. He eventually had to be content with 4 wickets. There would also have been some personal disappointment for the likes of Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence and Jamie Smith, who looked on course but could not bring up three-figure scores.
4.32 pm GMT - STUMPS ON DAY 2 - That will be that for the day. Even though the rain has eased a bit, the ground staff will need a fair bit of time for the mop-up work, if and when the rain stops, and it will not be possible to resume within the cut-off time. Building on the good work done on the opening day, England have strengthened their position in the game. Pakistan have it all to do, but they will look to replicate fight shown by Azan Awais and Shan Masood after being rocked early in the second dig.
4.14 pm GMT - More covers are being brought on, which could suggest the ground staff are expecting more rain. The radar does seem to suggest so. We are hearing that the cut-off time to get back on the park is 5.08 pm GMT, so we do still have some time.
4.07 pm GMT - Are we going off? Indeed, we are. The rain has got heavier, and the umpires have asked for the hover cover to be brought on. Mark Butcher points out that this is heavier than the rain we had during the first break, and it has got darker as well. The square covers have been rolled out as well.
Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage
Much fuller, on middle, Shan Masood rolls his wrists and flicks it past the short mid-wicket fielder and gets a couple of runs.
Back of a length, over off, Shan Masood pulls it down with control but finds the square leg fielder.
Short of a length, on middle and off, Shan Masood dabs it down the track.
FOUR! SHOT! On a good length, on middle. Shan Masood rocks back, hops a bit and tucks it through square leg for four runs. Pakistan go past 50, and they now trail by 270 runs.
Jofra Archer switches ends. The drizzle has returned, and Mark Butcher reckons that we will have another stoppage soon.
Pitches it up in line with the off stump. Awais lunges and defends it out solidly.
Angles it in on a good length at 138 kph, on middle. Awais nudges it to mid-wicket.
We are all set for the resumption. The light is still not great, though, so it remains to be seen how long we can go for. The two umpires and players are back on the field. Gus Atkinson is at the top of his mark. Azan Awais is on strike. Let's go...
4 pm GMT - It has stopped raining, and the hover cover is also coming off. We could get back underway soon.
3.55 pm GMT - The rain has picked up, and the players are heading off. The ground staff were primed for this and wasted no time in getting the hover cover on. The radar has proved accurate, with rain forecast around this time, and it has arrived right on cue.
Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage
INSIDE EDGE, FOUR! Atkinson switches to around the wicket. It is the scramble seam ball, on a back of a length, around off. Awais stays back to punch it away, but the ball jags back in to catch the inside edge. It races down to the deep fine leg fence.
It has started to drizzle.
Not all that short and not that wide either. Masood shapes up for the cut but chops it down wide of cover for a single.