Masood ton helps Pak to 326 in 1st Test

MANCHESTER: Opener Shan Masood struck a stylish unbeaten century as Pakistan capitalised on some poor England bowling to score 326 in the first innings on the second day of the first Test at Old Trafford on Thursday.

In reply, England were struggling after losing their top-order cheaply. Mohammad Abbas and Shaheen Afridi struck with the new ball to reduce England to 12 for three. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah took the wicket of Joe Root at the total of 62. England reached 72/4 at the time of going to the press.

Shan (156 runs) was the mainstay of the innings with his highest Test score as Pakistan posted a competitive first innings score.

It is a third century in consecutive innings for Shan, who also managed three figures against

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, his early patience rewarded as he grew in stature during his 319 ball stay at the crease.

Despite chipping away at the Pakistan wickets, it was another poor afternoon session for England, who might be feeling a sense of deja vu after a similarly lacklustre bowling display on the opening day had also undone good work in the morning session.

Pakistan resumed the second day on 139 for two, but added only 48 runs in the morning session at a paltry rate of 1.86 per over, also losing key batsman Babar Azam (69), Asad Shafiq (7) and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan (9).

BRIEF SCORES:

Pakistan 326 all out in 109.3 overs (Shan Masood 156, Babar Azam 69, Shadab Khan 45; Broad 3/54, Archer 3/59). England 72/4 in 22 overs (Ollie Pope batting 41; Abbas 2/24)