Manchester: Pakistan's prolific middle-order batsman Babar Azam steadied his team's ship as England took two early wickets in the first Test at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Opener Shan Masood was also near his fifty when rain forced early Tea.
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As rain interrupts play in Manchester, here's a stats treat for our fans.
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 5, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
No touring opener has faced more balls in the first innings of a match in England than @shani_official (45 not out) today since the start of 2016.#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/urUMMp5yrq
">As rain interrupts play in Manchester, here's a stats treat for our fans.
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 5, 2020
No touring opener has faced more balls in the first innings of a match in England than @shani_official (45 not out) today since the start of 2016.#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/urUMMp5yrqAs rain interrupts play in Manchester, here's a stats treat for our fans.
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 5, 2020
No touring opener has faced more balls in the first innings of a match in England than @shani_official (45 not out) today since the start of 2016.#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/urUMMp5yrq
Pakistan came into the post-lunch session having lost Masood's opening partner Abid Ali and captain Azhar Ali in the first session. Babar got off the mark in the second session with a four off the first ball he faced from James Anderson.
Babar hardly ever looked fussed throughout his free-flowing innings in the second session. England had a chance at breaking the partnership when Masood got a feather touch on a delivery that spun away from off stump from Dom Bess. Jos Buttler, however, failed to hold on to it and Masood's vigil continued.
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An absolute beauty from @JofraArcher! 🔥
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 5, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Live Clips: https://t.co/z8nFZ1IrGF#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/7ZVcO6Z5xJ
">An absolute beauty from @JofraArcher! 🔥
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 5, 2020
Live Clips: https://t.co/z8nFZ1IrGF#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/7ZVcO6Z5xJAn absolute beauty from @JofraArcher! 🔥
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 5, 2020
Live Clips: https://t.co/z8nFZ1IrGF#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/7ZVcO6Z5xJ
Two overs later, Babar got to his half-century in just 70 balls. Only one ball could be bowled by Jofra Archer in the over after that before the umpires called the players off due to bad light. Rain soon followed and early Tea was called.
Earlier, Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes bowled with venom and snared two wickets to disturb Pakistan's watchful start as they reached 53/2 at Lunch.
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We are led out by @JofraArcher and play is under way here in Manchester! 🏴🏏
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 5, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Live Scorecard & Clips: https://t.co/0GVRblMPaj#ENGvPAK #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/R4c3vDFuPt
">We are led out by @JofraArcher and play is under way here in Manchester! 🏴🏏
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 5, 2020
Live Scorecard & Clips: https://t.co/0GVRblMPaj#ENGvPAK #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/R4c3vDFuPtWe are led out by @JofraArcher and play is under way here in Manchester! 🏴🏏
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 5, 2020
Live Scorecard & Clips: https://t.co/0GVRblMPaj#ENGvPAK #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/R4c3vDFuPt
Electing to bat first, the tourists were off to a steady start as openers Shan Masood and Abid Ali put away the early threat from veteran new-ball bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
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5️⃣0️⃣ for Babar Azam 🎉
— ICC (@ICC) August 5, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
He's taken only 70 balls to reach the mark 🔥 #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/gKIi4GUO3q
">5️⃣0️⃣ for Babar Azam 🎉
— ICC (@ICC) August 5, 2020
He's taken only 70 balls to reach the mark 🔥 #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/gKIi4GUO3q5️⃣0️⃣ for Babar Azam 🎉
— ICC (@ICC) August 5, 2020
He's taken only 70 balls to reach the mark 🔥 #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/gKIi4GUO3q
England captain Joe Root introduced the slippery Archer and it worked as the gun-quick rattled Ali's stumps with a full delivery after setting him up with a barrage of bouncers in the previous over. Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali soon joined the opener as he was trapped in front by Woakes, failing to open his account.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 121/2 (Babar Azam 52*, Shan Masood 45*; Woakes 1/14) vs England
