England seamer James Anderson was forced to apologise after his emotions boiled over during a frustrating second day of the third Investec Test which saw Pakistan turn the screw at Edgbaston.
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In seven Tests since England’s nailbiting two-run win over Australia in 2005 no team batting first had won a Test at Edgbaston.
Sami and Azhar were able to further frustrate England with a number of sharp singles, dropping the ball either side of the wicket and scampering through. Azhar was dismissed from the final ball of the day with Sami run out for 82 earlier in the evening session.
“The last ball is always nervy – it was a loose shot”, Azhar told Sky Sports.
“We spoke at tea saying, “Let’s get to 300 and we’ll be happy with that”, so we’ve got near-enough 300 and I think overall we’re relatively happy”.
Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test bowler with 458 wickets, is a master performer in such conditions.
Sohail, appropriately, ended the day’s play when had No 11 James Anderson lbw for five.
Anderson was twice warned by umpire Bruce Oxenford for running on the pitch and may face action from match referee Richie Richardson if it is decided he spoke out of turn to the official.
“I’ve apologised to both umpires, because my behaviour wasn’t acceptable”.
“I know I was out of order for the way I behaved”. They did not bowl at their best, generally pitching too short, but credit should go to Aslam and Azhar who showed excellent judgement and concentration.
The pair defied England’s four-man seam attack for almost four hours after James Anderson dismissed Mohammad Hafeez off the fourth delivery of the day with Pakistan yet to score.
Chris Woakes gave England a boost as he removed Azhar with the day’s last ball. The well-organised opener played with a maturity belying his years in both attack and defence.
Aslam, who got his first chance in the test series after out-of-form Shan Masood was dropped, soon raised his maiden test 50 off 135 balls with five fours by sweeping Moeen to the fine leg boundary.
Azhar nearly fell to Ali on 68, but the bowler was unable to hold a return chance above his head off a hard-hit drive.
By the time Aslam paid for Azhar’s misjudgment, and Vince’s accuracy, a run-out had perhaps become England’s best bet.
Given that Vince and Ballance are playing to secure their places, they counter-punched impressively either side of lunch as Pakistan’s bowlers offered up a liberal supply of loose deliveries between the threatening ones.
Pakistan were now 181 for two, with Aslam having faced 176 balls including nine fours and one six in a partnership spanning 62 overs.
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This innings comfortably surpassed Aslam s previous Test-best of 20 against Bangladesh in Khulna past year.
