Shoaib Malik joined forces with Asad Shafiq to put Pakistan in a strong position by end of Day 2.

By PakPassion.net Staff (14th October, 2015)

Pakistan: overnight score 286-4 (Shoaib Malik 124* , Hafeez 98)

Day 2: Pakistan 523-8 dec (Shoaib Malik 245, Shafiq 107) , England 56-0 (Cook 39*)

First Session: Pakistan began the first session on Day 2 picking up right where they left off the previous day. They had to make sure not to lose early wickets and Shoaib Malik and Asad Shafiq both saw out the new ball and looked comfortable against the spinners. They extended the Pakistan total to 389-4 at lunch. Shoaib Malik passed his highest Test score during the session while Asad Shafiq crossed yet another fifty score. The pair added 103 runs to their overnight score to completely deflate the English attack.

Second Session: Malik and Shafiq put up another strong show in the second session with Malik reching the first double hundred of his First Class career. The partnership between the pair also crossed the 200 mark and went past the previous best 5th wicket partnership by Pakistan against England by Javed Burki and Nasim-ul-Ghani. Shafiq brought up his 8th Test hundred with a boundary to continue his remarkable success at number 6.

The home team dominated and controlled yet another session scoring 110 runs and progressing to 499-4 at tea.

Third Session: Pakistan lost Shafiq straight after tea as he attempted to pull one off Wood and was wrapped on the pads. Pakistan crossed 500 as Sarfraz Ahmed walked in to join a well set Shoaib Malik in the middle. Malik was exhausted and experienced cramps, resulting in him looking to score in boundaries. Sarfraz Ahmed didn't last long and was caught off the leading edge for 2 as Pakistan lost their 6th wicket for 514. Malik followed soon after as he tried to heave one over mid-wicket. He missed out on his 250 and was dismissed for a fabulous 245.

Pakistan declared the first innings on 523-8 and gave England a few tricky overs to face at the end of the day.

Moeen Ali and Alastair Cook opened the batting for England and started off cautiously. Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq shuffled his bowlers around and brought Zulfiqar Babar on early. Wahab Riaz went past the bat quite a few time and bowled with good pace but without any luck. England took off 56 off the deficit without loss and were 467 runs behind at close.

Summary: Pakistan dominated most of the day putting up a massive first innings total with the help of a double hundred from Shoaib Malik and hundred from Asad Shafiq. The home team declared on 523-8 and gave the visitors a few overs to play till the end which England managed without losing a wicket. An exciting day 3 awaits us tomorrow where Pakistan would be looking to get wickets and put England on the backfoot. 

Fall of wickets: 

Asad Shafiq 5-499 (144.3 overs)
Sarfraz Ahmed 6-514 (147.6 overs)
Shoaib Malik 7-521 (149.3 overs)
Zulfiqar Babar 8-523 (151.1 overs) 

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