England will resume their first innings against Pakistan on the second day of the second cricket test match here on today (Saturday).
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England’s Chris Woakes hits out watched by wicket keeper Sarfraz Ahmed from the bowling of Pakistan’s Yasir Shah, during day two of the Second Test match between England and Pakistan, at the Emirates Old Trafford, in Manchester, England, Saturday July 23, 2016. But star leg-spinner Yasir Shah bowled 31 wicketless overs on his way to a return of none for 111.
Woakes continued his fine run of form, hitting eight fours and a six on the way to his second test half-century before he poked a return catch to Shah and departed for 58.
But Root and Cook saw off the new ball, batted resolutely on a true batting wicket, negated the spin threat of Shah and carried England to 95-1 by lunch.
The 25-year-old, who shared a stand of 185 with his captain, Alastair Cook, said: “I have felt in good touch all summer – I found some stupid ways to get out – but I worked hard to graft and maybe not score at the rate I have done recently over the past few years”.
England won the toss and have put aside their demons from the first match of the series, and that of the previous Sri Lanka series to reach the total of 4 for 314 at the close of play.
Joe Root claims to have learned from the mistakes he made at Lord’s, throttling back from a typically high-scoring rate to register a 10th Test century that he now intends to turn into a big one.
Cook was bowled by a Mohammad Amir delivery that kept low off the Old Trafford pitch for 105 just before tea to end an otherwise dominant knock from the England captain, who brought up his triple-figures off 157 balls and struck 15 boundaries.
When Rahat Ali, one of Pakistan’s trio of left-arm quicks along with Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, dropped short, he was cut for four by Woakes.
This fifth wicket partnership between Root and Woakes crossed the fifty-run mark. Pakistani bowling attack looked down and dusted.
After tea, James Vince was dropped by Younis Khan at first slip but he could only add at 12 to his tally and was dismissed by Rahat Ali for only 18.
Root showed no signs of slowing down as the final session unfolded, continuing to deny the Pakistan bowlers and waiting for their bad balls.
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“I always believe as a good bowler you have to bowl good overs against good players to get them out”.
