Agencies
Multan
England overcame significant setbacks to reach 96-1 in reply to Pakistan’s massive 556 on day two of the first Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Ben Duckett hurt his left thumb taking the catch that ended the Pakistan innings, meaning Ollie Pope opened the batting in his place.
Pope pulled his second ball to mid-wicket, where Aamer Jamal took a stunning one-handed catch.
To their credit, Zak Crawley and Joe Root were assured in defying the lively hosts. Crawley is on 64 and Root 32, England still 460 behind.
All this at the end of another sapping day in the heat, as England’s stint in the field stretched to six sessions and Salman Ali Agha became the third home batter to register a century.
Salman survived on 15 when Chris Woakes’ spectacular boundary catch was ruled not out. TV umpire Chris Gaffaney adjudged that Woakes had a foot grounded beyond the rope in his attempt to throw up the ball and catch it again.
That would have been 420-7, England once more showing character on the true pitch, at one stage taking four wickets for 76 runs despite Saud Shakeel making 82 and nightwatchman Naseem Shah 33.
But Salman took the game away from England, dishing out some punishment to the weary visiting bowlers. He took charge with an aggressive 104 off 119 deliveries, including 10 boundaries and three sixes.
His partnership of 85 runs with Shaheen Shah Afridi propelled Pakistan to their final total of 556. Salman remained unbeaten.
England spinner Jack Leach picked up 3 wickets for 160 runs in his 40 overs.
Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse scalped 2 wickets each and Chris Woakes, Joe Root and Shoaib Bashir got one wicket each.