Root’s battlers craft a 128-run lead BESST MAN
Dom helps to ‘turn’ things England’s way by adding a slick 49 against Pakistan
DOM BESS was picked for his ability to generate turn – and his bat helped turn this match England’s way.
The Somerset man has again impressed at the crease, helping Joe Root’s side past Pakistan’s first-innings total.
After a half-century at Lord’s in the first Test, he again showed his attacking nous at Headingley, knocking 49 off 95 balls on the second day of the second Test to help England take a 128-run lead into today.
The only disappointment for Bess would have been that he fell a run short of a second halfton but he showed excellent maturity and graft at the crease.
In the first Test the weather failed to intervene and save England when they could have desperately done with it.
Here, it arrived when it was not wanted as the whole morning session was lost to the rain.
Classy
After a lengthy delay, covers were finally removed just after 2.30pm and it did not take long for Pakistan to remove England skipper Root.
On his home ground, the Yorkshireman racked up the first runs of the day with a classy crack but was soon gone for 45 when he nibbled on a delivery from Mohammad Amir and was caught behind by Sarfraz Ahmed.
After Root went, replacement Dawid Malan performed admirably and formed an impressive stand with Bess.
Bess in particular was showcasing high-quality cover drives and belied his tag of Test rookie as he reached 40 not out at tea.
After the break, Amir claimed his second victim when Malan was edged behind, going for 28.
Bess then survived a review decision but it proved to be a stay of execution as he was soon gone.
His stellar afternoon was ended when he was caught at slip, off Shadab Khan. Bess was agonisingly just a single run shy of racking up another half-ton.
Pakistan could have inflicted (Khan 56) ENGLAND: First Innings further damage on the hosts, but shoddy fielding saw the visitors drop Jos Buttler.
Buttler made them pay as he smacked three fours inside an over and will return today – weather permitting – hoping to add to his unbeaten 34.
England could also set a new record for the highest Test cricket total without any batsman reaching 50 – that tally of 315 was set by themselves against West Indies in 1986.
The day had started with pundit Michael Vaughan launching another Broadside.
England had shown plenty of attacking intent on the first day, giving Stuart Broad – who took 3-38 – a platform to hit back at claims from Vaughan.
But former skipper Vaughan yesterday continued his war of words with Broad, insisting the England seamer should not jump the gun.
“My concern is that he (Broad) is speaking like that after one good day,” said Vaughan.
Attack
“You have got to be careful when you choose a time to come out and attack like Stuart did.
“The comments were geared as though England had won the game.
“He’s a senior member of the team and I don’t think it was the right time to plan that attack.”