UTV | COLOMBO – England took three wickets in the final session before rain stopped play, reducing Pakistan to 126/5 at stumps on the rain-curtailed opening day of the second Test in Southampton on Thursday.
Pakistan’s top-scorer Abid Ali (60 runs) was the first one to depart after the tea break with Asad Shafiq and Fawad Alam following him in quick succession. While Shafiq scored five runs, Fawad Alam, who was playing his first Test match in 11 years, departed without troubling the scorers.
Stuart Broad, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes accounted for the three dismissals in the final session that derailed Pakistan’s innings. Overall, James Anderson was the pick of the English bowlers, picking up first two wickets.
Earlier in the day, Azhar Ali won the toss and opted to bat but Pakistan got off to a poor start as they lost opener Shan Masood cheaply.
England fast bowlers bowled probing line and lengths causing the visitors a lot of trouble. However, Abid Ali and Azhar Ali somehow managed to keep England bowlers at bay, helping Pakistan reach 65/1 at lunch. James Anderson got rid of Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali after lunch, who toiled hard for his 20 runs. (NDTV Sports)