England 314/4 with Root unbeaten on 141.

By Abdullah Ansari (22nd July, 2016)

Toss: England won the toss, Alastair Cook chose to bat first.

Teams

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali.

England: AN Cook (c), AD Hales, JE Root, JM Vince, GS Ballance, BA Stokes, JM Bairstow (wk), MM Ali, CR Woakes, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson.

England began the day on a positive note, winning the toss and choosing to bat first on a surface that looked good to bat on. Pakistan's bowlers started off with better lines than at Lord's and there was some swing for Mohammad Amir and Rahat Ali. An Alastair Cook edge early on went through a vacant fourth slip position. After a sharp chance to Asad Shafiq off Alex Hales was put down, Mohammad Amir dismissed the opener with a late in-swinging delivery which bowled him, after making just 10.

That was the last bit of joy for Pakistan for a long time as Alastair Cook and Joe Root embarked on a mammoth partnership. They batted steadily, putting the bad balls away. The leg-spinner Yasir Shah struggled with his length, bowling a bit full and getting driven constantly as the two batsmen played him much better than the Englishmen did at Lord's. They batted through to lunch, and then through most of the post-lunch session as Alastair Cook got to his 29th Test hundred. In the last over prior to tea, Mohammad Amir broke through Alastair Cook's defence at long last as a straight-ish delivery stayed low, resulting in the England captain getting bowled for 105, ending a big partnership of 185.

Pakistan created a chance straight after tea, but Younis Khan shelled the catch at slip, meaning Mohammad Amir has already had four catches dropped off his bowling in the series so far. James Vince was the man who was dropped, but was unable to take advantage as he nicked off to Rahat Ali soon after, making just 18. Joe Root continued on his merry way, soon getting to his 10th Test hundred. Gary Ballance was circumspect, but he survived dangerously as he played and missed a couple of times, finally getting out to Rahat Ali as he chopped one onto his stumps after making 23. Joe Root was imperious, ending the day at 141* as England finished on 314/4.

Summary: A very good day for England, just what they would have hoped for after the loss at Lord's. Winning the toss was an important part of that, as England avoided the prospect of facing Yasir Shah in the fourth innings on a pitch that is likely to offer some turn in the latter stages of the match. Alex Hales was once again found wanting, but Cook and Root ensured that the opportunity to bat first wasn't wasted with a couple of excellent knocks. Pakistan will feel that if they can restrict England to under 400, they are well in the game, but with the likes of Stokes and Bairstow yet to bat, that is a big ask.

Fall of wickets:

1-25 (Hales, 6.6 ov)
2-210 (Cook, 55.4 ov)
3-238 (Vince, 63.6 ov)
4-311 (Ballance, 85.1 ov)

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