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Ruthless England turn the screw on Pakistan

That left them a mammoth 470 runs behind England’s first-innings 589 for 8 declared and on the verge of being made to follow on in the second game of this four-match series.

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England had the fifth biggest first-innings lead without enforcing the follow-on in Test history.

England, who are likely to bat on for just half-a-session or so on Monday, did not use pace pair James Anderson and Stuart Broad after lunch – with only two more wickets needed.

England now lead by 391 runs and look to be in a commanding position, as they went in to bat instead of forcing Pakistan to follow on.

Consternation is hardly yet rife that the hosts might have shot themselves in the foot by going into bat again, but hindsight will doubtless be damning if they are somehow not able to convert overwhelming mid-match superiority into a 1-1 scoreline before Tuesday evening.

Pakistan’s troubles also included a minor injury scare for Amir, off the field for a time after his initial spell but officially with no significant problem and fit to bowl well again after lunch. “It was very satisfying, very pleasing to finally go and make one count”, he said at the end of the second day’s play on Saturday (July 23).

Alex Hales was the only wicket to fall, scoring 24 before being caught behind off the bowling of Mohammad Amir.

With this double century, Root became the first England batsman to hit a double-century against Pakistan in a home Test since Denis Compton’s 278 at Trent Bridge in 1954. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who took a match-winning 10 for 141 as Pakistan went 1-0 up in the four-match series with a 75-run win at Lord’s last week, finished the innings with figures of one for 213 in 54 overs.

Misbah-ul-Haq, the captain, top-scored with 52 and shared a ninth-wicket stand of 60 with Wahab Riaz, who made a Test-best 39. James Anderson has a hold over Shan Masood after dismissing the opener four times in the UAE series a year ago and the inevitable fifth time arrived when he edged a climbing delivery to Root for 39.

Pakistan was now 71 for 5, its total at the rain break.

Sarfraz Ahmed came in at 76 for six but the wicket-keeper stuck to his attacking game and got off the mark when he cut Broad over Hales’s head for four.

He said: “We thought that while we were in such a good position, bat while the wicket is very good”.

But when Sarfraz (26) played defensively at Ben Stokes, he succeeded only in giving Root another easy slip catch.

Stokes had Younus caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Bairstow for one and nightwatchman Rahat Ali popped a short ball from Woakes to short leg.

Wahab hoisted Ali for six.

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He added another four in his 88-ball 50, his second in five innings.

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