Bess leads England advance against Pakistan in second Test

LEEDS, United Kingdom: Nightwatchman Dominic Bess led a determined batting effort as England built a significant fi rstinnings lead against Pakistan in the second Test at Headingley on Saturday.

England were 302 for seven at stumps on a rain-marred second day after Bess had made 49 in a match the hosts had to win to end the series all square at 1-1.

That left England 128 runs ahead after they had dismissed Pakistan for a meagre 174 on Friday.

Jos Buttler, dropped on four, was 34 not out and debutant Sam Curran unbeaten on 16.

No batsman has yet made a fifty this innings, with England’ s highest Test total without an individual half- century their 315 against the West Indies at Port- ofSpain in 1986.

This match has featured just one fifty thus far, from Pakistan’ s Shadab Khan.

But England batting coach Graham Thorpe was relatively happy with his team’s position, telling Sky Sports: “It’s hard to put a figure on it but if we get past a 150-run lead then brilliant because there is something in the pitch for the bowlers.

“We’ve seen that today – all our batters have got starts with no fifties ,” the former England batsman added. “That’s disappointing but at the same time there has been one fifty in the game.” - ‘Pay the price’ - Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur was left regretting his side’s fi rstinnings collapse after skipper Safraz Ahmed won the toss.

“We didn’t get enough runs in the first innings, that’s the key ,” said Arthur.

“You pay the price, if you win the toss and bat you need to score 300- plus to put pressure on the opposition,” the South African added.

After rain meant there was no play before lunch on Saturday, England resumed on 106 for two – a deficit of 68 runs.

England captain Joe Root was 29 not out on his Yorkshire home ground and Bess yet to score, after coming in late Friday following the fall of opener Alastair Cook for a well-made 46.

The overcast conditions – the floodlights were switched on to guard against bad light – promised to assist Pakistan’s bowlers.

But with England desperate to avoid a third straight Test series loss after reverses in Australia and New Zealand, Bess rose to the challenge again.