Pakistan vs England: 2nd Test, Day Two - Joe Root and Alastair Cook instrumental in England's fight back
After ending the day on 284/4, Pakistan added 94 runs to the total to end their innings at 378 after a lower order collapse. Asad Shafiq, who added a hundred-run partnership with captain Misbah, scored 83 before falling to Mark Wood.
England didn’t have the most ideal of starts with Moeen Ali and Ian Bell falling cheaply with just 14 on the board. Cook and Root were instrumental in restructuring the innings as they put up a 113 run partnership between them lasting over 200 balls.
The pitch did favour the spinners towards the later part of the innings with Yasir Shah and Shoaib Malik proving unplayable for the English batsmen. After the fall of Cook’s wicket, Root and Bairstow played cautiously to finish the day at 182/3 at the end of 51 overs.
At tea England had steadied the ship with the score at 105/2. Cook carried his form from the previous game and looked dangerous. He looked like he was set to score another century as he paced his innings with Root to partner him, was equally cautious, but fell to Yasir Shah on a turning ball.
After the fall of Cook’s wicket, Bairstow and Root, playing with caution, put up a 50 run partnership and did not lose any wicket before bad light cut the game short with only 51 overs of the England’s innings being bowled.
England will begin Day 3 at 182/3 with Joe Root and Johnny Bairstow at the crease.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 378 (Misbah 102, Shafiq 83; Wood 39/3)
England 182/3 ( Cook 65, Root 76; Shah 59/1)