Lord’s, London – July 15: On a sensational day’s play Pakistan has almost taken control of the game. Pakistan were only able to extend their first innings to 339 but a superb spell of top class leg-spin bowling from Yasir Shah bamboozled England and left them on 253-7 at the close, still trailing Pakistan by 86 runs.
Pakistan began the day at 282-6 with Misbah-ul-Haq joined by Sarfraz Ahmed who had yet to face a ball.
Sarfraz got off to a great start with a couple of early boundaries. His third boundary brought up the Pakistan 300.
However on 25 Sarfraz cut Woakes straight into the hands of Vince, giving Woakes his first five- wicket haul in his ninth test and a place on the Lord’s honours board.
In the same over Woakes then moved one delivery away and then bowled Wahab Riaz with a ball which swung in. The score was now 310-8.
More was to follow as Broad bowled Misbah in the next over bringing to an end a marvellous innings of 114.
The pitch was looking quicker than yesterday and the innings was brought to a close when Mohammad Amir was caught at slip by Broad off the bowling of Broad after a spirited innings of 12. Yasir Shah was left not out on 11. Pakistan’s first innings total was 339 and they had survived for an hour this morning. Woakes had been the pick of the England bowlers and finished with figures of 6-70.
England’s innings began with Rahar and Amir taking the new ball. Rahat struck early and had Alex Hales caught at slip by Azhar Ali with the score at 8.
Root and Cook then recovered and by lunch had brought up the fifty partnership and taken the total to 64-1 from just 11 overs. Cook had a major scare when dropped by Mohammad Hafeez from the bowling of Amir when on 22.
After lunch England’s innings continued in the same vein. Cook brought up his 49th test fifty for England.
On 106-1 with his own score at 55 Cook was dropped by Sarfraz from the bowling of Amir again.
Shortly after mid afternoon drinks Cook and Root brought up the hundred partnership. As Cook progressed he became the high total run scoring opener in history to overtake Sunil Gavaskar.
With England seemingly in no trouble Root unexpectedly skied a catch to Hafeez with a slog sweep from the bowling of Yasir Shah and Pakistan were back in the game at 118-2. Root departed just short of his fifty with 48.
James Vince, despite a couple of sweetly-struck boundaries, and Gary Ballance were caught LBW by leg-spinner Yasir Shah and suddenly Pakistan were on top before tea. At tea England went in 153-4.
With Cook on 81 and the score on 173 Amir bowled an absolute beauty to force Cook to drag on to his stumps. The game had been transformed before and after tea.
Bairstow then counter attacked with a series of boundaries including three in six balls at one point.
With Bairstow on 29 a quicker delivery from Yasir Shah beat him for length and bowled him. The score was now 193-6 and England were in trouble.
After a period of calm with Moeen Ali on 23 Yasir Shah claimed his fifth wicket; another LBW after review. He kissed the turf as he sealed his place on the Lord’s honours board. It was his fifth five wicket haul for Pakistan in just his 13th test match. He was the first leg spinner to take five wickets at Lord’s in twenty years. The last was fellow Pakistani, Mushtaq Ahmed.
There was drama shortly before the close when there was a review of an LBW appeal by Yasir Shah against Stuart Broad. Originally given Not Out it was decided as Umpire’s call on Review by a narrow margin.
At the close England finished on 253-7.
