Pakistan opener Abid Ali scored a half-century, but England’s seam bowlers used the muggy conditions to their advantage to restrict the visitors to 126 for five at the close of a rain-hit opening day of the second Test at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday.
Pakistan chose to bat first and were fortunate not to lose more wickets as the bounce, movement off the seam and swing through the air in overcast conditions were perfectly suited to England’s experienced seam attack.
Babar Azam (25 batting) and Mohammad Rizwan (batting on four) will resume on the second morning, seeking to rescue the innings.
Abid (60) was twice dropped at second slip, before finally being snatched by Rory Burns off the bowling of left-arm seamer Sam Curran. Burns also caught Pakistan captain Azhar Ali (20) off the bowling of James Anderson (2/35), who had earlier trapped first Test centurion Shan Masood (1) leg-before wicket.
Brief scores: Pakistan 126/5 (A. Ali 60) vs England. At stumps, Day I.
