Welcome to the complete updates of 2nd Test match of England vs Pakistan at Rose Bowl in Southampton:
Shambolic In The Slips: Close-In Catching Continues To Haunt England:
The English slip cordon consisting of Dom Sibley, Rory Burns, and skipper Joe Root all looked at sea from the very beginning of the first session if an edge came flying at them. In the opening session, James Anderson had trapped Shan Masood lbw off the 14th ball of the innings to put Pakistan on 6/1 and under real pressure, but the abysmal showing in the slips let them off the hook.
Day 2 Weather Forecast:
Day 2 of the second test at The Rose Bowl is also likely to be disrupted by rain as a moderate shower and the weather is forecast to be largely cloudy. With regard to rain, the forecast for the first two days was in the range of 40%-45%. Although for Day 3 the same decreases to around 15 per cent, there is a small rise (30-35 per cent) for the remaining two days. And if rain comes on a couple of occasions it shouldn’t affect the whole match.
Gloomy In Southampton:
Not a great news coming from Southampton as we await the start of Day 2. It was a turbulent morning but it is supposed to get better. No change as of now in the start of the day.
Delayed Start:
Rain has stopped but due to poor light and damp outfield this is a delayed start to the second day in Southampton. The Rose Bowl covers are on.
Covers Are Off:
We’ve got some good news in there. The cover is off. The groundmen clear the field and mop up on the way. The next inspection is expected to take place at 4:20pm IST (11.50 BST).
Further Delay:
Only the hover cover is on, and the light has significantly improved in Southampton. However, it looks like yet another delay to the start. The first inspection indicates a half-hour wait for another.
Day 2 To Kickstart Soon:
Play to begin at 5 pm IST (local time 1230). Light has improved and the cricketers are finally getting ready to continue the day’s play. Lunch is set for 6 pm IST.
Day 2 Begins:
Day 2 kickstarts eventually in Southampton after a 1.5 hour wait. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan take the crease on 126/5 as PAK resume. James Anderson is back in the attack.
Good Start By Azam:
Babar Azam looks in form this morning, compensating for the time lost by looking in charge and hitting a few boundaries in the first few overs. Babar Azam has twenty times faced this multitude of balls in a test innings; only once did he leave a higher proportion of his deliveries alone than the 25 percent that he has managed in this knock so far.
Stern Resistance By PAK:
Here Pakistan provides stern resistance. Conditions are tough, with the ball swinginging (at 1.6 °) more than this Test has in any session. Effective batting from Rizwan and Babar as the duo hold the hosts at bay.
Lunch:
It was a steady first hour for the visitors as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan brought Pakistan at lunchtime to 155/5, adding 29 runs for no more wickets to lose. On 44*, Babar Azam bat well, and Rizwan on 12*.
OUT:
Shortly after lunch Stuart Broad refused Babar Azam, leaving for 47. Wide angled one into the man and the length was fine. With Jos taking the pick, Babar just feathered it in. That’s a big wicket on Day 2 for England and now the visitors look in trouble. Yasir Shah enters to bat. PAK is 158/6.
WICKET!:
Yasir Shar walks 5. Anderson notices Yasir Shah’s outside edge and Jos Buttler does not make any error behind stumps. England is up in the neck, PAK 171/7. This was the third in this innings for Anderson and in total 593rd in Tests. Shaheen Afridi is going down on the crease.
Pakistan Hang On:
Woakes returns to assault. Shaheen Afridi plays 18 balls without scoring but he doesn’t give off any edges, especially for Pakistan. On the other end Rizwan holds a lot of Pakistan ‘s hopes of passing 200. Sam Curran starts at the other end, following his Abid Ali dismissal yesterday, trying to pick up a wicket. At 74 PAK 175/7.
Run Out:
Shaheen Afridi is tired. Goes for an unnecessary run, he’s spotted by the fielder from his crease, and Pakistan No 9 runs out mindlessly. He annoyed England for a long time but after a brainfade he loses his wicket. A standard dismissal for a tailender. Rizwan is looking to shield his partners, batting with confidence, but at the other end, he needs a bit more composure. Rizwan finishes off the over with a swat on the leg side for four. He will get runs anywhere they come now. PAK 180/8, 19:41 (IST), 75.
Rizwan Takes PAK Closer To 200:
Rizwan goes down for four to third man on his knees and upper cuts to Curran. Remarkable fired, considering that for the most part Curran went for a full length. Rizwan is taking Pakistan closer to 200-mark. Moves into his 40s and maintains strike over for the Woakes. As simple as possible, Abbas holds a bat in defense to see which balls he has to match. PAK 197/8: 79.
PAK Cross 200:
Broad returns for the 80th bowl over. England is getting the second fresh ball straight on. With it Woakes continues. With some sloppy work from England and Pakistan, four byes run down, passing 200. In the next Rizwan also keeps the score moving in singles. Turns to 47. Abbas ducks and the bacll hit his guard in the elbow. PAK 205/8: 82.
Players Go Off Due To Bad Light – Tea Taken:
Abbas survives an edge as the ball falls inside the slips just short of Joe Root. Rizwan manages to direct those innings. The umpires are getting a word out with the light meters. And what bad luck! The gamblers are off. PAK 215/8: 84.3. An early Tea break taken.
9th Wicket:
England get their ninth off after the break as play restarts. Abbas was there for the plumb. Go for a valiant 2 off 20 balls. Stuart Wide earns his 4th wicket. Last man Naseem Shah is joined by Rizwan. 216/9 PAK.
Bad Light Forces Players Off Again:
Rizwan starts going for a few of his shots – creams Broad for four into the covers – with some extra license as Naseem is at the other end. The umpires get together at the end of the next over. The light meter is out again. And off the players go again. Pakistan 223/9 after 86 overs.
