Key occasions
WICKET! Azhar lbw Leach 27 (Pakistan 290-3)
Regardless of some first rate indicators of reverse swing for Anderson, England have taken the brand new ball on the first alternative – it’s Jack Leach who has it. And he strikes along with his fifth ball! The ball skids on to entice Azhar, and the finger ultimately goes up. Pakistan evaluation, however it’s three reds. That decision makes this England’s session, imo.
eightieth over: Pakistan 287-2 (Babar 18, Azhar 26) Anderson continues with the reversing ball, and Azhar picks up 4 extra with a mild dab behind level.
79th over: Pakistan 283-2 (Azhar 22, Babar 18) Huge outdoors off from Robinson, and Babar thumps it away for 4. Pope is as much as the stumps, and he can’t cease a leg-side supply from working away for 4 byes.
78th over: Pakistan 272-2 (Azhar 21, Babar 12) Hey, Jimmy. England’s biggest is into the assault for the primary time in the present day, however Azhar reveals him little respect: the second ball of the over is full and the batter drives by the covers for 4. A number of moments later there’s a pointy bouncer, and… oooh an opportunity from the ultimate ball – Azhar’s inside edge flies, and Zak Crawley can’t maintain on with one hand at leg slip. It will’ve been a worldie.
77th over: Pakistan 267-2 (Azhar 16, Babar 12) Robinson is a contact too vast outdoors off and Azhar steers the ball to the boundary for 4. The short sends off a few bouncers in response.
76th over: Pakistan 259-2 (Azhar 9, Babar 12) Jacks actually does like to present the ball some first rate hang-time, with first rate revs on it, too. Azhar sees the stunning, crazy stuff and advances for a drive to deliver the one run of the over.
seventy fifth over: Pakistan 258-2 (Azhar 8, Babar 12) Robinson continues and Babar picks up a pair.
74th over: Pakistan 256-2 (Babar 10, Azhar 8) Tossed up by Jacks, Babar slashes with fast palms to choose up 4 by the covers.
73rd over: Pakistan 251-2 (Babar 5, Azhar 8) Stokes decides to combine issues up: it’s time for tempo. Ollie Robinson has the ball, and he angles it in in the direction of Babar’s pads. There’s some low bounce there to use for a possible lbw.
72nd over: Pakistan 249-2 (Babar 4, Azhar 8) A maiden from Jacks. Pakistan nonetheless path by 408 by the best way – even in spite of everything the great work of these two centurions.
Becky Chantry writes in: “For my last day in Cyprus I’ve upgraded to champagne with breakfast. I’m not trying ahead to heading again to the UK later in the present day however I’m inspired by the couple of wickets taken this morning. Nice begin by England!”
71st over: Pakistan 249-2 (Azhar 8, Babar 4) Babar, Pakistan’s captain and finest participant, is out within the center. And he will get off the mark with a stunning boundary, hanging again on the crease to punch by midwicket.
WICKET! Imam c Robinson b Leach 121 (Pakistan 245-1)
The top of Imam! Leach tosses it up, and the left-hander comes down the pitch for a giant hit – however he can’t get it over Ollie Robinson at long-on.
seventieth over: Pakistan 245-1 (Imam 121, Azhar 8) Jacks concedes a single from his first 5 earlier than Azhar Ali nails a sweep for 4 to wrap issues up.
69th over: Pakistan 240-1 (Imam 120, Azhar 4) Michael Atherton making notice of the Taunton connection at the moment out within the center: Jack Leach (bowling proper now), Azhar Ali and Imam-ul-Haq have all performed for Somerset.
Imam picks up a single with the ultimate ball of the over.
68th over: Pakistan 239-1 (Imam 119, Azhar 4) Jacks twirls away for an additional set, conceding seven after Azhar will get off the mark with a boundary. And that’s drinks.
Rob Lewis writes in: “Hello Taha, I don’t recall seeing you on obo earlier than. If I’m fallacious, sorry. If not, welcome aboard. I’ve a pupil referred to as Taha right here in Istanbul. It’s not you, moonlighting, by any likelihood?”
Hiya, Rob. It’s my Take a look at debut for the OBO! Nonetheless ready for somebody to current me with my cap, although. And whereas I’m a pupil, I’m in London, not Istanbul.
67th over: Pakistan 232-1 (Imam 116, Azhar 0) Imam slams a six first ball, advancing towards Leach for the large leg-side hit. Azhar Ali is in for Pakistan at No.3.
66th over: Pakistan 225-1 (Imam 109, Azhar 0) A good over from Jacks – a wicket and a few sharp flip, too. Instantly, England have one thing to work with.
WICKET! Shafique c Pope b Jacks 114 (Pakistan 225-1)
Stokes decides to look elsewhere for the reply, bringing on Will Jacks. He’s too quick first ball, with Shafique rocking again to chop for 4. After which… wait… what’s this? A wicket! Jacks goes vast and Shafique’s lower goes fallacious, with an out of doors edge discovering Ollie Pope’s secure palms behind the stumps. Jacks has his maiden Take a look at wicket, and England can lastly rejoice.
sixty fifth over: Pakistan 221-0 (Shafique 110, Imam 109) I’m not likely positive how anybody’s getting out right here.
sixty fourth over: Pakistan 220-0 (Shafique 109, Imam 109) Root brings out the bouncer – and Imam pulls away for 4.
Brian Withington writes in: “Morning Taha. I’m simply questioning what number of occasions within the historical past of Take a look at cricket there have been six centurions this rapidly in proceedings?”
Anybody on the market to assist us with this one? It’s bought to be up there.
63rd over: Pakistan 214-0 (Imam 103, Shafique 109) Shafique begins with one other boundary earlier than seeing off 5 dots.
Century for Imam-ul-Haq!
62nd over: Pakistan 210-0 (Shafique 105, Imam 103) Imam goes down the pitch to attempt to go over additional cowl – he will get a thickish edge however strikes to 99. A leg-side clip then brings up the hundred, his third in Take a look at cricket – all three of them have are available in Rawalpindi.
61st over: Pakistan 204-0 (Imam 97, Shafique 105) Shafique’s ahead defence is one to marvel at, and he reveals it off for an additional over.
sixtieth over: Pakistan 204-0 (Shafique 105, Imam 97) Imam is trying barely nervy as he will get nearer to 3 figures – it feels prefer it’s been some time since he bought the center on it. England preserve tweaking the sphere as they attempt to drive one thing out of nowhere.
59th over: Pakistan 204-0 (Imam 97, Shafique 105) Imam lastly strikes off 94, reducing away for a pair. There’s the second mix-up of the day between Shafique and Imam whereas working, however they’re secure as soon as once more.
58th over: Pakistan 201-0 (Imam 94, Shafique 105) Shafique continues his enjoyable towards Root, sweeping behind sq. for a boundary that strikes Pakistan previous 200.
57th over: Pakistan 197-0 (Shafique 101, Imam 94) Imam continues to play the ready recreation towards Leach. Shafique, by the best way, is enjoying simply his twentieth first-class match – and he’s bought eight lots of. Respectable.
Century for Abdullah Shafique!
56th over: Pakistan 196-0 (Shafique 100, Imam 94) A 3rd Take a look at hundred comes up for the very, very proficient Abdullah Shafique. He advances down the monitor to smash Root for six earlier than dabbing a single into the off-side to get to the landmark.
fifty fifth over: Pakistan 189-0 (Shafique 93, Imam 94) Leach twirls them, and Imam stays affected person, seeing out 4 dots. He’ll wait a bit longer for that ton.
54th over: Pakistan 188-0 (Shafique 92, Imam 94) Root will get his first take a look at Imam in the present day, and fires in a kind of round-arm sliders, the bowling arm dropping low. Imam ends the over with a fragile dab behind level for a pair.
53rd over: Pakistan 184-0 (Imam 90, Shafique 92) A little bit mix-up between the 2 batters after a Shafique punch down the bottom, however no dramas in the long run as he picks up two. Jack Leach is up and working for the day.
52nd over: Pakistan 182-0 (Shafique 90, Imam 90) Root begins… with a bouncer! Good morning to Abdullah Shafique who geese to keep away from any harm. Shafique will get out the ahead defence earlier than clipping for a single to finish the over. He’s into the nineties.
Proper then, let’s go! Joe Root has the ball.
“It seems precisely the identical.” Athers is on Sky to present us a morning replace on the pitch – it ain’t breakin’ up.
Elsewhere, in Australia: good to see Ricky Ponting trying nicely after a well being scare.
Preamble
Morning, of us! After England completed their innings yesterday on a gargantuan complete of 657, Pakistan hit again – in their very own, extra measured method. Going at 3.54rpo (that is apparently slightly sluggish now), Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq placed on 181 earlier than stumps, with the guests nonetheless trying to find that first breakthrough. Yep, it’s actually, actually flat.
The excellent news for England? They’re nonetheless a foolish quantity forward, and so they’ve bought ample time to drive just a few errors and inject some panic into this recreation.
Shafique and Imam, by the best way, are at the moment averaging 538 as a Take a look at opening partnership on this floor. 538.