Pakistan openers fight back in first Test in response to England’s mammoth 657

Cricket

At the end of the second day of this historic first Test, the challenge of taking 20 wickets on this pitch was also clear. Pakistan had reached 181 for no loss from 51 overs in response to England’s 657 from 101, openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique striding off at the close unbeaten on 90 and 89 respectively. It wasn’t quite the run-rate that saw England become the first side in history to score at more than six an over in a first innings, but it was none too shabby either.

Coming in the ninth over of the reply, Pope then had to wait until the 34th for the next opportunity but his effort could not be faulted. Jimmy Anderson, who had sent down 37,505 balls in Test cricket before his first on Pakistani soil, had returned to the attack and managed to cramp up the right-handed Shafique on 54 with a short ball that sent a chance down leg.

And then, in the very next over, Leach was the bowler denied, a flick by Shafique sent into the midriff of substitute Keaton Jennings at short leg. Such chances either stick or they don’t and on this occasion, it was once again a case of hands on hips for England’s fielders, Imam and Shafique ploughing through until the light eventually gave way.Photograph: Reuters

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