LONDON: Pakistan seized the early initiative in the second Test at Lord’s on Thursday as Mohammad Abbas claimed three wickets in the opening session, with Mohammad Ali then removing Harry Brook to put England under further pressure.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s decision to field first after winning the toss paid dividends as the touring side’s under-criticism bowling attack dictated the proceedings in the opening session, which was delayed due to intermittent rain here.
England’s opening pair of Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay started spiritedly and put together 21 runs inside five overs before Abbas got the latter caught behind.
The 36-year-old struck again in his next over, dismissing Duckett, who made a 20-ball 17, reducing England further to 26/2.
Following the back-to-back setbacks, England captain Joe Root joined Jordan Cox in the middle for a brief 10-run partnership until he, too, fell victim to Abbas, and walked back after mustering four off 13 deliveries.
Root’s dismissal paved the way for top-ranked batter Brook (15) to walk out, and he, alongside Cox, batted sensibly to raise a 31-run partnership for the fourth wicket before being cleaned up by Ali in the final over of the session.
Cox, who held one end firmly during England’s shaky start and has made 27 not out, will resume their innings after the break alongside Dan Lawrence, unbeaten on two.
Abbas has been the standout bowler for Pakistan, having taken three wickets for 34 runs in his eight overs, while Ali has claimed one.
Green Shirts have made a significant change to their line-up, with Babar Azam returning to the side after missing the first Test at Headingley, while stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha has been dropped.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (c), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Abbas.
England: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (c), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue.
