Published: Jul 24, 2016, 02:14 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 30, 2016, 07:09 PM (IST)
Greetings Everyone! Welcome to CricketCountry’s live cricket blog for Day 3 of the second Test between England (ENG) and Pakistan (PAK). Day 2 at Old Trafford, Manchester was ‘total domination’ from the hosts. Joe Root carried on along with England’s middle and lower order batsmen. He reached his double-hundred and finished at 254, but only after he had given his team a massive advantage. England declared at 589-8, came out to bowl and withered the Pakistan top-order to 57-4. The in-form, Chris Woakes bagged 3 wickets. Out of the four wickets that England took, 3 players were not even allowed to reach double-figures. Stay tuned as we bring you the live action. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs England, 2nd Test at Old Trafford
With a huge task at hand to keep the hosts at bay, Shan Masood and Misbah-ul-Haq will be out to continue proceedings. For Pakistan, Mohammad Hafeez’s poor form in the tour with the bat continued. He was Woakes’ first victim. Azhar Ali, veteran Younis Khan and night watchman Rahat Ali departed in succession. Shan Masood has played well for his 30, but things might just get more difficult for the Pakistan batsmen on Day 3.
England after their loss at Lord’s put in a solid batting performance after winning the toss. A century from Alastair Cook and a double-hundred from Root absolutely made things fall in England’s favour. Woakes, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow contributed as well. But Root’s special innings would have been a delight to watch for the English fans.
Pakistan on the other hand, didn’t take their chances while they bowled. The bowlers bowled well in patches. Left-arm pacers Mohammad Aamer and Rahat Ali took 2 wickets each. The star of the last Test, leg-spinner Yasir Shah could take just one wicket and went for many. Wahab Riaz however, took 3 wickets but even he went for plenty.
England Playing XI: Alastair Cook (c), Alex Hales, Joe Root, James Vince, Gary Ballance, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
Pakistan Playing XI: Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Aamer, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali
LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD AND COMMENTARY: Pakistan vs England, 2nd Test at Old Trafford
