Masood hits third successive century as England wobble

Shan Masood joined a select group of Pakistan batsmen to have scored hundreds in three successive Test innings as his excellent century led the tourists to 326 all out against England on the second day of the series opener at Old Trafford.

England had a shaky start in their reply and finished the day at 92-4, 234 runs behind the tourists, with Ollie Pope unbeaten on 46.

Left-handed opener Masood batted for nearly eight hours in bowler-friendly conditions for a Test-best 156, surpassing his 135 against Sri Lanka at Karachi in December. He received excellent support from Shadab Khan (45) in a sixth-wicket stand of 105 that turned the tide after Pakistan were in a wobble at 176-5.

Pakistan had managed just 48 runs for the loss of three wickets in Thursday’s first session to reach 187-5 at lunch. But with five overs until the new ball, occasional off-spinner Joe Root – along with frontline Dominic Bess – bowled several loose deliveries to ease the pressure. Masood and Shadab added 27 runs in 30 balls after lunch.

Although captain Root took the new ball as soon as he could, Pakistan were 214-5 off 80 overs with the sixth-wicket pair well set. There were no nervous nineties for Masood, who had been reprieved twice on 45 by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler on Wednesday.

Two late-cut boundaries off Stuart Broad can couple of twos saw Masood bring up his 251-ball century with 13 fours.

As well as being his fourth hundred in 21 Tests, and a first against England, it was also Masood’s third in a row, the sixth Pakistan batsman to do so. He fell lbw after tea to Broad, having faced 319 balls.

Broad finished with 3-54 while Archer also took three wickets but missed out on a hat-trick.