PAK vs ENG: Nauman Ali and Abrar Ahmed grabbed 3 wickets on day two

• Nauman Ali and Abrar Ahmed took three wickets between them on day two.
• Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope put on 50 for the second wicket in Pakistan.
• England hit 88 sixes in men’s Tests in 2022, breaking India’s record.

PAK vs ENG:  Nauman Ali and Abrar Ahmed got three wickets between them to open the third Test on the second morning. England resumed on 7-1 after Abrar trapped Zak Crawley lbw for a fifth-ball duck and scored 133 for the cost of three wickets in the morning.

Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope looked comfortable in their 50-run second-wicket stand on the second day. Mohammad Wasim, making his debut, conceded three early boundaries and was replaced by Mohammad Rizwan, who captained for the first hour with Babar Azam sick.

Faheem Ashraf bowled one over before Nauman and Abrar bowled for an hour. Pope nudged singles and punched both sides of the wicket, while Duckett swept regularly and brought up a 50 partnership by lofting Abrar over his head for a six.

Left-arm spinner Nauman broke through. He spun sharply outside Duckett’s off stump, trapping him on the pad as he hung back. He was given out and reviewed the on-field decision, hoping the ball hit him outside off stump, but ball-tracking technology provided a ‘umpire’s call’ ruling on impact.

Joe Root’s tour woes continued as Nauman struck again. From around the wicket, he bowled a full ball that turned away from Root’s bat, and Root’s cautious push went to slip. He saved a low, crisp chance, leaving England 58 for 3.

Harry Brook carefully worked the hat-trick ball to the off side and made his intentions apparent by skipping down the pitch to the sixth delivery he faced, smashing Abrar for six.

Brook survived a lbw review when trapped on the crease by Abrar, but Pakistan’s legspinner was unfazed. Pope lost his off stump after reaching his third half-century of the tour. Hanging back to contest the low bounce, he was beaten by Abrar’s fizzing legbreak.

Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s team reached another milestone when Brook hit Abrar for six in the same over. England hit 88 sixes in men’s Tests in 2022, breaking India’s 2021 record (where data is available).

Stokes and Brook ripped through Wasim’s off side for boundaries before lunch, with Stokes on 25 off 31 and the partnership worth 42 in 52 balls.

Also Read

Pak vs Aus: Nauman Ali shines as first Pakistan-Australia Test heads for draw

RAWALPINDI: Despite Nauman Ali taking four wickets on the fourth day of...