RAWALPINDI, Dec 02 (EW): Naseem Shah pulled out a sensational comeback with three early wickets in the morning as England were bundled out after scoring a mammoth 657 runs – their highest innings total against Pakistan – on day two of the opening Test, here on Friday.
Pakistan openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique came out on the crease and managed 17 runs in six overs before the session was called.
England, who earlier made 598/9 in the second innings at Abu Dhabi back in 2015, have bettered their own record against Pakistan in Rawalpindi Test with help of four individual centuries on day one.
The touring side added another 151 runs to the total when they resumed the play on the second day as Harry Brook carried his phenomenal overnight knock and reached 153 off 116 before falling prey to Naseem.
As Naseem took down skipper Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone and Brook inside the first nine overs on a new day, Will Jacks and Ollie Robinson stitched a valiant 65-run partnership for the eighth wicket and steered England to 641 before debutant Mohammad Ali clawed in with a breakthrough.
Jacks batted at a strike rate over 100, scoring 30 off 29 while Robinson remained the most sluggish in England’s otherwise ferocious batting line as he made 51-ball 37.
Zahid Mehmood, who was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with four wickets, produced the most expensive debut bowling performance when he conceded 235 runs from 33 runs. He struck down Robinson before getting rid of tail-ender James Anderson, which finally ended England’s staggering run.
Earlier on the opening day, England wreaked havoc on Pakistan’s bowling attack as they piled up a record 506 runs – the highest by any team on the first day of a Test match – for the loss of just four wickets thanks to the blistering centuries by Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Brook.
