Ruthless England win by 330 runs
HOSTS BOUNCE BACK TO LEVEL THE FOUR-MATCH SERIES AT 1-1 AGAINST PAKISTAN
ames Anderson, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes took three wickets apiece as England completed a thumping 330run win over Pakistan on the fourth day of the second test at Old Trafford yesterday.
Chasing a mammoth 565 for victory, Pakistan found batting no easier second time round and were dismissed for 234 in the final session as England levelled the four-match series at 1-1.
“It’s quite nice to bounce back and play like that,” said captain Alastair Cook. “You have to consign the last test to the bin.
“Joe Root’s performance, stepping up to number three in the order from four, was so controlled. We all know what a world-class player he is, he didn’t put a foot wrong.” Root was named man of the match after following his brilliant 254 in the first innings with 71 not out in the second.
Anderson got the ball rolling for England on Monday when he removed Shan Masood for one, the opener edging a ball to Cook at first slip, before he also trapped Azhar Ali plumb lbw for eight.
Younus Khan then had a leftoff before lunch when he was dropped in the slips by Cook off Ben Stokes. Opener Mohammad Hafeez looked reasonably secure but fell on 42 when he was caught by Gary Ballance at short-leg off a full delivery by Moeen.
Younus continued to live dangerously and his patience snapped when he tried to launch a Moeen delivery over the long-on boundary but was caught inside the rope by Alex Hales for 28.
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq smashed Moeen for six and played aggressively for his 35 before he was bowled by Woakes off an inside edge just before tea.
Sarfraz Ahmed was caught down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow off Woakes for seven, Anderson trapped Asad Shafiq lbw for 39 and Moeen had Yasir Shah lbw for 10.
Wahab Riaz top-edged Joe Root to Cook at short fine leg for 19 and Mohammad Amir, after making an entertaining 29, drove Woakes to Stuart Broad at mid-off.
Earlier, Cook and Root piled on the runs in the morning session, the captain making 76 not out as England declared on 173 for one.
“This is a big disappointment for us,” said Pakistan skipper Misbah. “We could have scored around 400 in the first innings (instead of 198), the ball wasn’t doing anything much.
“We are short of confidence and shot selection really cost us. These guys are strong characters though, mentally strong, and I’m hopeful that everybody is hurt and they will really work hard.”
Stokes injured
Meanwhile, during the second session of the fourth day, England all-rounder Ben Stokes had to leave the field with a calf injury.
After delivering his second ball of the 22nd over, with Pakistan 68 for two, the Durham pace bowler pulled up with a right calf strain and left the field.
An England spokesman said Stokes, returning to England duty this match after suffering a knee injury in the first Test against Sri Lanka in May, would take no further part in the day’s play.
The spokesman added 25-year-old would also the undergo a scan on Tuesday to determine the full extent of the injury.
Off-spinner Ali, completing the over, was then hit for six by Mohammad Hafeez. Two balls later Ali bowled no-ball full toss that sailed a 589-8 decl 198 Younis Khan c Hales b Ali 28 Misbah-ul-Haq b Woakes 35 Asad Shafiq lbw b Anderson 39 Sarfraz Ahmed c Bairstow b Woakes 7 Yasir Shah lbw b Ali 10 Wahab Riaz c Cook b Root 19 Mohammad Amir c Broad b Woakes 29 Rahat Ali not out 8 Extras: (2b, 4lb, 1w, 1nb) 8 (all out) 234
1-7, 2-25, 3-83, 4-102, 5-145, 6-163, 7-167, 8-190, 9-208, 10-234
James Anderson 16-2-41-3, Stuart Broad 14-3-37-0, Ben Stokes 5.2-0-21-0 (1w), Moeen Ali 18.4-1-88-3 (1nb), Chris Woakes 15.3-2-41-3, Joe Root 1-1-0-1 England. England won by 330 runs. Level 1-1 with two tests to go.
Total: Fall of wickets:
Bowling: Toss: Result: Series:
above Hafeez’s head. A second full toss above waist-high could see Ali barred from bowling in the rest of the innings and, with Stokes injured, leave England down to just three frontline bowlers.