The potential loss of Stokes was the sole blot on an otherwise barnstorming fourth day at Old Trafford as England put the tourists to the sword, winning by a mammoth 330 runs to level the series at 1-1 with two Tests to play.
Advertisement
The third day of the match ended in favor of the hosts as they managed to increase the lead to 489 runs, leaving the Green shirts in need of a record-breaking second innings performance to bag victory this time as well.
Anderson struck to remove Shan Masood for one, the opener edging a ball to Cook at first slip that moved away, and trap Azhar Ali plumb lbw for eight.
Pakistan was always catching up once Joe Root’s double century spurred England to declare at a massive 589-8 in the first innings.
The skipper was dissuaded during a ninth-wicket stand of 60 between Misbah-ul-Haq (52) and Wahab Riaz from taking the quick route to a probable innings victory. Mohammad Hafeez and Younis Khan tried to steady the ship but the former lost his wicket to Moin Ali.
The only downside for England on Monday was when all-rounder Ben Stokes went off midway through his sixth over with a right calf injury that will be scanned on Tuesday.
Alastair Cook praised his side’s character after they bounced back from their humbling defeat at Lord’s to thrash Pakistan by 330 runs in the second Investec Test in Manchester.
On Anderson’s fitness, Cook said: “I think Jimmy (Anderson) is fine, I think naturally your first Test match back he will be a little bit sore but he’s fine”.
The Australian added: “He’s hard to tie down – you bowl good balls to him, but he is still able to rotate the strike”.
There was still time for Stuart Broad (0-37) to pass the unwanted milestone of conceding his 10,000th Test run before Woakes sealed the win with Broad clinging on to an Amir drive at mid-off. “To get 198 and 234 on a good pitch – you can’t take that”.
Asad Shafiq was 35 not out and Sarfraz Ahmed five not out. “We were below average”.
Meanwhile, Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who bagged ten wickets for 141 in the opening Test at Lord’s, managed figures of mere one for 266 at Old Trafford.
The third Test at Edgbaston begins on 3 August.
Advertisement
An England spokesman said Stokes, returning to England duty this match after suffering a knee injury in the first Test against Sri Lanka in May, would take no further part in the days play.
