BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan reached 52/2 at stumps on Thursday after England built a commanding 320-run first-innings lead on the second day of the third Test at Edgbaston.
Ollie Robinson struck twice in the first over of Pakistan’s second innings, dismissing returning opener Saim Ayub and No.3 Abdullah Shafique for ducks to leave the visitors reeling at 0/2 after just four balls. Persistent rain forced an early closure of the second day of the third Test at Edgbaston.
At the stumps on the second day, the visitors were 52/2 with the left-handed duo of Azan Awais and Shan Masood unbeaten on 29 and 21, respectively.
With a daunting 320-run deficit to counter, Pakistan had a disastrous start to their second innings as Robinson dismissed returning opener Saim Ayub and No.3 Abdullah Shafique, both ducks, in the first over.
Following the horrendous start, Masood joined Awais in the middle, and the duo batted sensibly to put together an unbeaten 52-run partnership to ensure the Green Shirts did not suffer further setbacks.
Earlier, the home side resumed their first innings after the lunch break on the ongoing second day from 299/6, added 154 more to their total to ultimately finish at 453 all out in 89 overs.
Wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson, who resumed England’s first innings after the break, stretched their seventh-wicket partnership to 68 runs until Mohammad Imran picked up his maiden Test wicket by dismissing the latter, who made 19 off 36 deliveries.
Smith was then involved in another handy partnership for England – a 41-run stand for the eighth wicket with Ollie Robinson – until debutant pacer Razaullah got him caught and bowled. He remained a notable run-getter for the home side with an 84-ball 69, featuring nine fours and a six.
Robinson then added further to Pakistan bowlers’ frustration with a blistering half-century, making a 47-ball 50, while fellow lower-order batters Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue also chipped in with 32 not out and 15, respectively.
Razaullah spearheaded Pakistan’s bowling charge in the first innings with four wickets for 148 runs in his 23 overs, followed by Imran and Mohammad Ali with two each, while Mohammad Abbas made one scalp.
The pulsating second day of the ongoing fixture got underway with Harry Brook and Dawn Lawrence resuming England’s first innings from 156/4 in response to Pakistan’s 133 all out.
Brook and Lawrence ensured England extended their dominance over Pakistan by stretching their overnight fifth-wicket partnership to 86 runs until the former got run out and walked back in agony. He remained the top-scorer for England with a brisk 75 off 97 deliveries, studded with six fours.
Lawrence was then joined by Smith in the middle, and the duo raised 64 runs for the sixth wicket until Mohammad Imran struck big for Pakistan, dismissing the set batter, who made an 82-ball 65, comprising nine fours.
Following the dismissal of both set batters, Smith batted cautiously alongside Atkinson and could only add six runs to their budding seventh-wicket partnership until the conclusion of the opening session of the second day.
Razaullah has been the standout bowler for Pakistan in the first innings, having taken two wickets, while Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali and Imran have picked up one apiece thus far.
