The second Test between Pakistan and England is nicely poised after the tourists enjoyed a profitable Day Two at the global Stadium in Dubai.
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England will also look to leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who took a five-wicket haul in the second innings after going wicketless for 163 runs in the first.
After setting a target of 307, aided by opener Tom Latham’s 131, the Black Caps – led by paceman Trent Boult – made light work of Test aspirants Usman Khawaja, Cameron Bancroft and Joe Burns with the pink ball at the Manuka Oval, dismissing the trio for a combined total of six runs.
Senior batsman Younis Khan was unbeaten on 10 after the two lifted Pakistan from 58-2 with a few solid batting, following the dismissal of Mohammad Hafeez for 19 and Shoaib Malik for just two.
But Moeen Ali, one half of England’s own spin bowling pair, believes England have a secret weapon to deal with the threat of the returning leg-spinner Yasir Shah; Sheffield’s Joe Root.
Pakistan seamers Wahab Riaz and Imran Khan had given their team an early breakthroughs in the post-lunch session.
Shah, regarded as a wicket-taking bowler who anchored Pakistan’s wins over Australia and Sri Lanka in the last 12 months, missed the drawn first Test in Abu Dhabi with a back spasm.
“The wicket was probably easier to score on than Abu Dhabi, a bit more skiddy, which suits my type of bowling, but all in all, I think it’s a better pitch to bat on”.
Pakistan ended the day on 282 for four with skipper Misbah ul Haq reaching his hundred in the last over.
Zulfiqar Babar gave up on a Mark Wood inswinger and was lbw, even after DRS.
“I think it is a typical Dubai pitch, and should suit us”, he said.
Wahab found enough bounce to have Cook’s opening partner Moeen Ali very well caught off the full face of the bat by Shan Masood at short leg.
Pakistan has won both test matches it has played against England in Dubai.
There was little evident help for Anderson or Stuart Broad with the new ball, and Alastair Cook turned to the spin of Moeen Ali in just the eighth over.
Admitting that he intentionally tried to be aggressive in his approach, Wood credited Misbah for prevailing over him.
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Bairstow was in business once again three overs later when Malik firmly played a Stokes delivery off his legs, but it smashed into the fielder at short leg, who then dived to hold on to the rebound.
