Pakistan England Test Series
Second Test Played at Ageas Bowl Southampton (Aug 13-17, 2020)
Brief Score at Stumps of Day-2
Pakistan 1st Innings 223/9 in 86 Overs (Abid Ali 60, Mohammad Rizwan 60*, Babar Azam 47, Azhar Ali 20, James Anderson 3/ 48, Stuart Broad 3/56SM Curran 1/44, CR Woakes 1/55)
Pakistan Won the Toss and Elected to Bat
On a hot humid muggy second day yet again rain made possible only 40.2 of allotted 98 overs play. On a wicket seaming, swinging and showing uneven bounce Pakistan in stop start sessions batted brilliantly taking the score to 223/9 at stumps.
Rizwan’s defying unbeaten 60* and his partnership of 39 with Abbas rescued Pakistan from total collapse. On a wicket where bowlers would dictate terms Pakistan has very well returned in the match. Another 25-30 runs on day three at the last wicket may prove match winning who knows. Whatever Pakistan achieved by no means is still competitive.
It is late summer, heat and humidity got to highest level. Cloud cover assisted English bowling, wicket also developed uneven bounce. English bowlers Anderson and Broad cherish such condition. Some persons raised some concerns about form of past master Anderson. How beautifully he responded taking 3/ 48. His able partner Stuart Broad (3/56) also proved why history will remember them as one of the greatest pace bowling pair?
When Pakistan could resume batting after rain delays situation and circumstances was not at all in their favor. Yet highly talented Babar Azam was looking good till he was undone by Broad at 47. Pakistan was looking disarray at 6/158. Yasir and Shahin leaving soon made it 8/178. Ball was seaming and swinging prodigiously. Match was getting interrupted too often. Yet Rizwan and Abbas fought with back to the wall. 39 runs 9th wicket partnership took Pakistan to reasonable safety before the stubbornness of Abbas was curtained by Broad. When rain and bad light stopped play for the last time of the day Rizwan was still there at 60. Nasim Shah with him. If on day three Rizwan can add 25-30 runs farming the strike 250 can be winning first innings score as Abbas, Shahin and Nasim would also b asking questions on this wicket. Yasir would also cherish the uneven bounce. More dramas awaits in this test if not weather has the final say.
BDST: 1230 HRS, AUG 15, 2020
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