Buttler and Bess fight back vs Pak

Buttler and Dominic Bess shared a spirited century stand to save England from a humiliating innings defeat by Pakistan in the first Test at Lord’s on Saturday.

The pair came together with the hosts reeling at 110 for six, 69 runs behind the touring side and heading for their first loss in a May Test at the home of cricket inside three days.

Buttler, recalled to the side, and debutant Bess calmly added 125 runs in the evening sunshine to put England 56 runs ahead and take the match into a fourth day, although Pakistan should still complete a deserved victory on Sunday.

They added 13 runs to their overnight 350 for eight to extend their lead to 179 and quickly started running through England’s brittle batting line-up.

Alastair Cook, who top-scored with 70 in the first innings, was trapped lbw by Mohammad Abbas for one and Mark Stoneman, under severe pressure for his place in the team, made a scratchy nine before he was bowled by leg-spinner Shadab Khan before England limped to lunch at 37 for two.

Captain Joe Root batted patiently for his 50 before Mohammad Amir took centre stage with two wickets in one over. Pakistan’s left-arm seamer found the edge of Dawid Malan’s bat to dismiss him for 12 and two balls later Amir produced a brilliant inswinging delivery to bowl Jonny Bairstow and leave England in deep trouble at 91/4.

BABAR OUT OF TOUR

Babar Azam will miss the remainder of the two-match series after fracturing a bone in his left forearm. The 23-year-old top-scored with 68 but retired hurt before the close of play on Friday after being struck by a Ben Stokes delivery.

Brief scores: England 184 all out and 235/6 (Jos Buttler batting 66, Dominic Bess batting 55; M Amir 2/35, M Abbas 2/36); Pakistan 363 all out (Babar Azam retd hurt 68, Asad Shafiq 59, Shadab Khan 52; Anderson 3/82, B Stokes 3/73)