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Pakistan take control with bat and ball as England toil on day two at Old Trafford

Nick Hoult
·48-min read
England vs Pakistan, first Test day two: live score and latest updates - REUTERS
England vs Pakistan, first Test day two: live score and latest updates - REUTERS

How do you create an electric atmosphere in an empty stadium? With the kind of skilful, exhilarating fast bowling and wrist spin that Pakistan produced to seize hold of this first Test.

They toppled the senior core of Joe Root and Ben Stokes in the evening sunshine, and at 92 for four England desperately need someone to partner Ollie Pope on Friday morning if they are to get close to Pakistan’s 326. Pope is the glimmer of hope unbeaten on 46, and with him is Jos Buttler who owes the team after missing three chances behind the stumps, with two off Shan Masood costing a galling 111 runs.

Someone will have to play like Masood to turn around a game England let slip from their grasp after lunch with some odd tactical decisions and listless cricket that Pakistan exploited.

After years of playing in deserted, soulless dustbowls in the UAE, they know how to whip themselves up and were all over England in a testing 28 overs before the close. Even their reserve players did their bit, sitting on their hotel room balconies, cheering their team-mates on with cries of ‘Shabash’ (Urdu for well done).

It helps when you have bowlers like Shaheen Afridi, big left armer with bags of pace and movement in to the right handers, and the magic of Mohammad Abbas who left Stokes open mouthed in shock after bowling him for a duck with a ball that straightened, beat the outside edge and hit off stump. The raw pace of 17-year-old Naseem Shah swinging it both ways did not yield a wicket but promised plenty.

Shan Masood's brilliant 156 set the tone for Pakistan - GETTY IMAGES
Shan Masood's brilliant 156 set the tone for Pakistan - GETTY IMAGES

After Masood’s career best 156 lifted Pakistan to a total worth more than 400 in friendlier batting conditions in other parts of the world, they showed real threat with the new ball in a way England have failed to do in this game. In the first over Shaheen straightened a full ball into Rory Burns’s pads. Shaheen stood legs spread, arms aloft in victory like Shahid Afridi in his pomp when the review verdict was delivered.

In his next over Shaheen hooped one in to Root who was given out leg before but saved from a duck by a review. It did not matter; the second wicket did not take long. Abbas, so artful with the Duke ball, exposed Dom Sibley’s technique. Sibley moved over to off-stump to cover the away swinger but was done by the nip backer. Chest on, and with nowhere to go, he missed the ball by more than a width of a bat to be lbw for eight.

Stuart Broad of England appeals successfully for the wicket of Shan Masood of Pakistan during Day Two - GETTY IMAGES
Stuart Broad of England appeals successfully for the wicket of Shan Masood of Pakistan during Day Two - GETTY IMAGES

With Stokes gone two overs later England were reeling at 12 for three. Root worked his way to 14 off 58 balls; it did not matter how many he scored, just that he stayed in until the close. But his patience snapped. He tried to cut Yasir Shah but only managed a thin outside edge.

England needed a Masood, someone to hang around and see off the new ball. His fourth Test century, and third in three innings, was superbly paced. He shared a 102-run stand for the sixth wicket with Shadab Khan in 22 overs after lunch that turned the Test Pakistan’s way as they exploited some poor England bowling and tactical decisions.

England started strongly reeling off six maidens in a row, hitting a consistent line and length with James Anderson removing the over-confident Babar Azam in his first over. England squeezed and Pakistan floundered, losing three wickets for 48 before lunch but Masood stubbornly hung on.

For the second day running England were abysmal in the afternoon, and it will cost them badly in this game. With five overs until the new ball Root opted to bowl himself and Dom Bess, serving up easy runs to accomplished players of spin. Bowling Bess was fine, but with four seamers at his disposal Root had better options than himself. It allowed Pakistan a route back.

Broad and Anderson wasted the second new ball conceding 42 from eight overs. It is not unusual for the harder ball to trigger quicker scoring but this was not batsmen driving and offering chances, they just put away poor balls for four.

Pakistan's pace attack, featuring Shaheen Afridi (pictured) prominently, ripped through England's top order - PA
Pakistan's pace attack, featuring Shaheen Afridi (pictured) prominently, ripped through England's top order - PA

Again Root’s decision making was perplexing. With four seamers in his attack, he replaced Anderson with the spinner bringing Bess back on just nine overs into the second new ball. He waited until 30 minutes before tea before introducing Jofra Archer and tried to use Woakes instead as the enforcer. Woakes takes his wicket hitting the channel outside off stump, not banging it in, but here he was bowling ineffective bouncers to a leg side field.

Masood and Shadab grabbed their chances, combining for Pakistan’s first sixth-wicket century stand in England. They ran hard, pinching singles and winding up their opponents. Flustered, England conceded overthrows, and served up some easy hits so Masood was able to show that he is more than a blocker.

He moved through the gears: his first 50 was ground out off 156 balls, his second took 95, his third only 60 as he marshalled the tail superbly and took Bess apart.

Bess did have some joy of sorts, with Shadab caught at mid on slogging, but Buttler dropped Yasir on five off an outside edge. Archer struck twice in two balls removing Yasir without adding to his score as Pakistan’s long tail offered easy pickings. But Masood was by now brimming with confidence. He swept Bess for four, whacked him over midwicket for six and then smoked another down the ground two balls later.

It was a fine innings, the first century in England by a Pakistan opener since 1996. What happened that summer? They won the series.

06:19 PM

Jofra Archer chats to Sky Sports

06:06 PM

Setting the tone

06:01 PM

OVER 28 + STUMPS: England 92/4 (Buttler 15* Pope 46*)

Patient and disciplined batting from Pope to end the day; he is drawn into nothing that Yasir tempts him with.

But what's happened here? Pope plays it straight down the ground and Yasir gets a hand on it before it crashes into the stumps at the bowler's end. The umpire sends it upstairs but Buttler made up his ground well. Phew. How that would have summed up Buttler's last two days. Pope grabs a single through midwicket and that is stumps.

Thoroughly Pakistan's day.

05:58 PM

OVER 27: England 91/4 (Buttler 15* Pope 45*)

Pope dashes any Pakistan hopes of another maiden with a quick-witted single dabbed into the gap at mid-off.

Buttler leaves the slower one late to play, and guides it low towards the slips to end the over.

Last over of the day to come, with Yasir to bowl it.

05:55 PM

OVER 26: England 90/4 (Buttler 15* Pope 44*)

Pope nabs a single through mid-off off Yasir before a huge heave from Buttler. Perfectly timed, it rockets away through the cover for four after Yasir dropped it a little short.

Buttler thumps another one through cover, but this time it's picked up by the man out there, giving Buttler just two.

05:52 PM

OVER 25: England 83/4 (Buttler 9* Pope 43*)

A maiden from Shaheen - and some disciplined bowling to boot, catching Buttler in two minds at one point, with the ball thrashing into his thighpad.

No lbw shout, but England are clinging on until the end here.

05:51 PM

OVER 24: England 83/4 (Buttler 9* Pope 43*)

Some absolute rip from Yasir here.

Buttler and Pope pick up some runs but the overspin almost does for them twice. Buttler is beaten all ends up as the ball flies over the top of off-stump.

05:43 PM

OVER 23: England 79/4 (Buttler 8* Pope 40*)

Shaheen returns for Pakistan with play finishing at 7pm.

A leg-bye opens before Buttler ends the over emphatically with a smouldering straight drive down the ground on the off-side. A fantastic strike that picks up four.

05:39 PM

OVER 22: England 74/4 (Buttler 4* Pope 40*)

Yasir to Buttler as the day draws to a close. England's wicketkeeper, who had a mixed time of it in the field, will be praying he can hang on to stumps.

He gets off the mark with a paddle sweep for two, kneeling on off stump, before playing exactly the same shot again picking up two. Which sparks a field change for Pakistan.

05:34 PM

OVER 21: England 70/4 (Buttler 0* Pope 40*)

Excellent shot from Pope as he creams a short, wide Naseem ball through midwicket for four. Don't bother chasing that!

Before a streaky one! Pope slashes at a wider one that flies for four through gully, but it wasn't too far away from a mitt.

05:30 PM

OVER 20: England 62/4 (Buttler 0* Pope 32*)

Buttler blocks the final ball of the over. I hope he knows he is about England's last chance for big runs.

05:28 PM

Wicket!! Root c Rizwan b Yasir 14

Root and Pope exchange singles as the 50 partnership is brought up.

But Root tries to cut a delivery that is too near to his body, and he finds the narrowest nick that sails into Rizwan's gloves. What a great blow for Pakistan to strike, just as these two were building something.

FoW 62/4

05:26 PM

Pope's looked good

05:25 PM

OVER 19: England 58/3 (Root 11* Pope 31*)

A maiden from Naseem which ends in dramatic fashion.

After Naseem just beats his outside edge, Pope does not offer a shot to a ball that looks to be flying past the off-stump, but it swerves violently into him and hits his pad. No realistic shout for lbw but the ball is doing bits for the visitors! A good maiden.

05:20 PM

OVER 18: England 58/3 (Root 11* Pope 31*)

Pope takes advantage of a bad Yasir ball, thrashing it away on the pull through midwicket for four, bringing up the 50 for England.

It's all a bit erratic from Yasir, nine runs eventually coming off the over: Pope bags another single through midwicket before Root sweeps again for four fine behind square.

05:16 PM

OVER 17: England 49/3 (Root 7* Pope 26*)

A bit wide from Naseem and Pope gets forward to it and bashes it through the covers for four before pilfering a single in front of square on the on-side, with the speed gun nearly touching 90mph.

These two are digging in admirably for England. Root still does not look comfortable, though, but Pope does.

05:13 PM

OVER 16: England 44/3 (Root 7* Pope 21*)

A freebie to open up from Yasir, with Pope pulling a loosening long-hop away through the leg-side for two.

A big shout for lbw follows, but no one seems too interested, especially not umpire Illingworth.

Then comes some ripping spin that Root can do nothing with but watch. Quite scary for a day two pitch. An overpitched Yasir delivery is swept through square-leg for four to end the over.

05:08 PM

OVER 15: England 37/3 (Root 3* Pope 18*)

Naseem returns, but serving up a juicy half-volley is not the way to trouble Pope, who dispatches a lovely drive down the ground for four. Pope picks up a single on the on-side off the backfoot.

Now for Yasir and some spin.

05:03 PM

OVER 14: England 32/3 (Root 3* Pope 13*)

Abbas continues and Pope picks up a single in front of square on the leg-side, lifting it off his bootstraps.

Another good over from Abbas, just one off it, but Root saw it out sensibly.

04:57 PM

OVER 13: England 31/3 (Root 3* Pope 12*)

Now then, 17-year-old Naseem Shah is coming on to bowl - just what England would have wanted.

Shah's got some real zip. Pope leaves one alone that is short and wide and swings wildly, before Shah gets one to nip back into Pope's pads, but it's far too high to worry about.

Root gets caught in a rock and a hard place with the over's final delivery, just managing to pull his bat away from a tentative defensive shot. An impressive maiden to open with from Shah.

Something for the drinks break: Nick Hoult, our Chief Cricket Correspondent, wrote all about Shah this week. You can read that here.

04:52 PM

OVER 12: England 30/3 (Root 3* Pope 12*)

Tidy line and length once again from Abbas, making Root play outside of off-stump, but the England captain looks solid coming forward defensively.

Rizwan is standing up now to Abbas - the helmet is on - to keep England's batsmen as near to their crease as possible. An inside edge squirts away for two behind square to end the over.

04:47 PM

OVER 11: England 28/3 (Root 1* Pope 12*)

Pope gets nothing from a handy straight drive on the half-volley as it crashes into the stumps at the non-striker's end.

But he ends the over with a jittery push for two through cover.

04:42 PM

OVER 10: England 26/3 (Root 1* Pope 10*)

Pope looks to glide Abbas through the covers but misjudges it slightly, finding a leading edge that could have deflected straight onto the stumps.

Pope, after a couple of no balls, whips a fuller ball through midwicket/mid-on to pick up three. Nicely timed and found the gap.

04:40 PM

Beautiful Pakistan bowling

04:37 PM

OVER 9: England 21/3 (Root 1* Pope 7*)

Late swing for Shaheen poses a threat to Root - especially with the yorker that follows - but England's captain digs it out astutely.

Another maiden for Pakistan ends with a delightful ball that flies across Root, swinging away from the bat and missing the outside edge by a whisker.

04:32 PM

OVER 8: England 20/3 (Root 1* Pope 7*)

Pope fends a shorter Abbas delivery for two through third man, before adding a single with a prod through cover.

Abbas gets one to nip back into Root's pads - miles away from danger, however - before the England captain gets off the mark with a steer through the covers for one.

04:28 PM

OVER 7: England 16/3 (Root 0* Pope 4*)

Root shoulders arms as Shaheen serves up some tempting seeds outside off.

He guides the final ball through point and England deliberate running but opt against it.

A maiden for Shaheen and Root has now faced 20 balls without getting off the mark.

04:24 PM

Stokes skittled

04:23 PM

OVER 6: England 16/3 (Root 0* Pope 4*)

New man Pope is off the mark from a full delivery that catches the outside edge and finds its way to the boundary between the slip cordon.

Can these two hold on? England need them to.

04:19 PM

Wicket!! Stokes b Abbas 0

Oh. My. Word.

Abbas at 80mph, flying off the seam, late movement, hits the top of Stokes' off-stump and England are in a right, real mess.

FoW 12/3

04:16 PM

OVER 5: England 12/2 (Root 0* Stokes 0*)

Nice variation from Shaheen: over the wicket, round the wicket, opening with some full stuff before peppering Root with some shorter deliveries outside off. Good, aggressive bowling. A maiden to boot.

04:13 PM

OVER 4: England 12/2 (Root 0* Stokes 0*)

When you need two batsmen to step up, these two would probably be quite high on the list from which you'd pick.

Stokes is batting over a foot out of his crease, which you love to see, and he sees out the rest of Abbas' over.

04:07 PM

Wicket!! Sibley lbw b Abbas 8

Sibley picks up two more from a shorter Abbas delivery, tickling one off his hip behind square leg.

But Abbas gets one to nip back and it looks plumb I must say. Sibley is given out but here comes another review...

The review is upheld. It's plumb as I feared - hitting middle and leg.

'Spot' and 'bother' come to mind...

FoW 12/2

04:06 PM

OVER 3: England 10/1 (Root 0* Sibley 6*)

Another massive shout from Pakistan as more high-class bowling careers into Root's pads, but umpire Kettleborough shakes his head and so do Pakistan with the review.

Root defends the rest of the over - all quick, straight and full - with more confidence.

04:04 PM

NOT OUT

A great review from the England captain. It was a bit high - missing the stumps - and Root survives.

04:03 PM

Wicket!! Root lbw b Shaheen 0

Root's been given out lbw from Shaheen.

Looks a bit high and he will review...

04:01 PM

OVER 2: England 10/1 (Root 0* Sibley 6*)

Abbas, who got out in, let's say, pretty awful fashion in Pakistan's innings - statue-esque doesn't cover it - opens from the other end.

Sibley gets off the mark, working the in-swinger away behind square for two, before picking up four through the slip cordon.

03:58 PM

Burns falls

03:57 PM

OVER 1: England 4/1 (Root 0* Sibley 0*)

The England captain, who wouldn't have wanted to be out there, watches the final two balls of the over fly past his off-stump.

It's very much Operation Survive now for these two.

03:54 PM

Wicket!! Burns lbw b Shaheen 4

Disaster.

England trail by 326 and Shaheen kicks off for Pakistan.

An absolute jaffa from Shaheen - lovely shape and some swing - is followed by a delightful clip off the legs from Burns through midwicket for four.

But there's a worry for England. Burns has played down the wrong line and the ball has slammed against his pads. Given not out, but Pakistan review after a monstrous appeal... and it's out. A terrific review and it's already Pakistan's day.

FoW 4/1

03:49 PM

England's batting

So, after an average if not disastrous day for England, it would be very, very nice if both Burns and Sibley could see out the day. A wicket or two for Pakistan this evening and it would be very much their day.

03:39 PM

Wicket!! Naseem c Buttler b Broad 0

And that is that.

Looks fairly straightforward as Buttler catches Naseem coming forward to a delivery in the slot outside off.

Naseem reviewed but England's players trudge off and the replays show it nicked the thumb/bat handle area. Barely an appeal from England. They knew.

Pakistan all out for 326.

03:37 PM

This was cheeky

03:36 PM

OVER 109: Pakistan 326/9 (Naseem 0* Shaheen 9*)

A huuuuge no ball from Archer opens the over. So huge, in fact, that on-field umpire Illingworth calls it with no help from his upstairs assistant. He realises halfway through calling it that he's not supposed to do that anymore but it's too late, the arm is out, the damage is done, the third umpire is redundant.

Archer makes a hash of a slower ball, serving up a juicy leg-side full toss that Shaheen clips for four, before a beautifully timed flick off the legs from a semi-yorker sees Pakistan pick up four more.

03:32 PM

OVER 108: Pakistan 317/9 (Naseem 0* Shaheen 1*)

Naseem the new man just about survives the over, after getting into, let's say, a bit of a tangle with his first delivery.

A fuller delivery from Broad ends the over but Naseem gets well down to it.

03:28 PM

Wicket!! Shan lbw b Broad 156

Masood will not be carrying his bat.

Broad gets one to ping back into him and Pakistan's star gets the line wrong as the ball clatters into his pad.

He reviews but no avail. All green lights except 'hitting' which was umpire's call and he's a gonner.

FoW 317/9

03:26 PM

OVER 107: Pakistan 317/8 (Shan 156* Shaheen 1*)

Shan Masood picks up where he left off, tickling a short, leg-side delivery from Archer for four down to fine-leg.

Masood picks up a single through deep square leg before a big lbw shout ends the over. England opt not to review and rightly so, it was missing leg.

03:22 PM

Final session

Right, the teams are back out. England will be looking to skittle the last two wickets sharpish and gett some runs on the board this evening in this elongated final session.

That'll be the plan, but when do these things ever stick to the script?

Archer to kick us off.

03:13 PM

A pretty flat session for England

03:04 PM

Tea: Pakistan 312/8 (Shan 151* Shaheen 1*)

England have had better sessions, but an improved showing late on will give them hope.

Regardless, opener Masood, who has a real chance of carrying his bat, has made them toil. He has batted superbly and rocketed to 150 after Archer's two quickfire wickets gave him licence for a slog.

Pakistan are in the driving seat, no doubt, but if England can keep them to less than 350 - after quite a ropey session by their standards - they will surely take that.

03:01 PM

OVER 106: Pakistan 312/8 (Shan 151* Shaheen 1*)

Broad is back to bowl what will be the final over before tea.

150 for Shan Masood - a fantastic knock, this, as he nabs two behind square on the leg-side. They really pushed hard for two, Pakistan, nearly too much, risking a run-out, but Buttler's throw to the bowler's end had to be perfect and, well, it wasn't. In fact, it was far from perfect - a better throw and Shaheen would have been long gone after a bit of a mix-up.

Masood pulls around the corner again to backward square for a single, before Shaheen nearly chops on with the final ball before tea... but he survives.

And that's tea.

02:54 PM

OVER 105: Pakistan 309/8 (Shan 148* Shaheen 1*)

An early appeal from Archer as Shaheen wafts at a back-of-a-length delivery outside off-stump. Given not out and it's easy to see why - Shaheen missed the ball by the width of a fist. Thankfully no review from Root.

Shaheen gets off strike - and off the mark - nurdling one into the off-side, before Masood replies in kind. Shaheen survives the rest of the over without incident.

02:50 PM

OVER 104: Pakistan 307/8 (Shan 147* Shaheen 0*)

Slog mode it is.

Masood finds his first six of the innings off Bess as he launches a slog-sweep over the cow-corner boundary for six.

And another! And this is better. A massive, glorious hit down the ground over Bess's head for six. Someone in the crowd would have been needed to catch that. That's the 300 for Pakistan, too.

Masood goes again, but just a four this time, a big scoop over long-on.

02:46 PM

OVER 103: Pakistan 291/8 (Shan 131* Shaheen 0*)

No hat-trick for Archer as a back-of-a-length ball into new man Shaheen's body is met with an assured defensive shot.

Pakistan's No 10 survives the rest of the over - including a yorker.

Masood into slog mode now?

02:44 PM

Wicket!! Abbas c Root b Archer 0

It's all kicking off!

Perfect length from Archer outside off-stump, right in the corridor, and Abbas gets nowhere near it - no feet - and snicks the easiest catch behind to Root; a first-ball duck.

Archer is on a hat-trick. Moeen Ali at the Oval three years ago against South Africa was the last England Test hat-trick. Here we go...

FoW 291/8

02:41 PM

Wicket!! Yasir lbw b Archer 5

Yasir's been trapped with an Archer in-swinger. Given out on-field and looks good but it might be heading down leg-side?

Pakistan opt against the review - strangely - so Yasir walks. Replays show it was umpire's call as to whether the ball was hitting leg-stump so they would have kept the review.

FoW 291/7

02:39 PM

OVER 102: Pakistan 291/6 (Shan 131* Yasir 5*)

Shan bags a single off Bess's first ball in slightly unconvincing fashion, before Yasir sees out the over. Bess had Yasir on the back foot a bit in the last over, but the Pakistan right-hander looks slightly more comfortable this time, defending emphatically.

02:36 PM

OVER 101: Pakistan 289/6 (Shan 129* Yasir 5*)

A controlled pull from Masood from  n Archer shorter ball gives him two through midwicket, before a similar shot - this time behind square - gives him another single.

Yasire edges down to third man off the final ball - it was low and always safe - and Pakistan decide against the quick single.

02:33 PM

OVER 100: Pakistan 286/6 (Shan 126* Yasir 5*)

A third maiden in a row for England; another tight, tidy over from Bess. Outside off, pitched up.

Bess celebrates the wicket of Shadab - GETTY IMAGES

02:30 PM

OVER 99: Pakistan 286/6 (Shan 126* Yasir 5*)

Archer returns, pitching it up to Masood outside off.

It's a well bowled over, too; another maiden for England and they are just starting to give themselves a bit of a lifeline in this match after a pretty average session.

02:27 PM

OVER 98: Pakistan 286/6 (Shan 126* Yasir 5*)

Much better from Bess and Yasir looks a bit shaky outside off-stump.

And that's a chance... isn't it? I am sure Yasir nicked that coming forward to defend but England don't look too excited. Buttler dropped it, anyway (again).

And it was. UltraEdge confirms that it was a chance for England. Let's hope another fielding error - albeit a tough one - doesn't haunt them.

Another maiden for Bess, nonetheless.

02:23 PM

Shadab's wicket

02:22 PM

OVER 97: Pakistan 286/6 (Shan 126* Yasir 5*)

Fuller stuff from Woakes to new man Yasir, who responds well, picking up two with a firm prod to mid-off.

Then some more shorter stuff from Woakes, but Yasir delicately steers the final ball of the over down to third man, and only a magnificent chase and dive from Pope saves the boundary. Three more for Yasir.

Dan Lawrence the sub-fielder comes on for Broad. The frontline seamers taking a rest, then.

02:17 PM

OVER 96: Pakistan 281/6 (Shan 126* Yasir 0*)

A wicket-maiden for Bess, but he doesn't get a go at the new man Yasir Shah as the batsmen crossed when Shadab spooned one into the air.

Masood sees off the rest of the over, although Bess does get a flatter delivery to slide past the bat.

02:15 PM

Wicket!! Shadab c Root b Bess 45

Finally!

Shadab couldn't resist. He comes slightly down the pitch, not quite at the pitch of the ball, and flings everything at it, but can only sky it miles into the air. Root takes an easy catch at mid-on and England have the breakthrough.

FoW 281/6

02:12 PM

OVER 95: Pakistan 281/5 (Shan 126* Shadab 45*)

A glorious strike from Masood opens Woakes' over, a well timed cover drive that Anderson chases and stops at the boundary.

Shadap pulls a shorter ball down to Archer at backward square for a single, before Masood sees out the over without issue.

02:07 PM

OVER 94: Pakistan 277/5 (Shan 123* Shadab 44*)

Back-to-back fours from Masood off Bess. The first is a slithered sweep that runs very fine, and the second is a fizzing on-drive, Masood coming down to the pitch of the ball to slam it down the ground. That brings up the 100 partnership, too.

He attempts to cut away for a third four in succession but it's cut off by Broad in the deep, yielding just a single.

Pakistan are enjoying themselves now.

02:04 PM

OVER 93: Pakistan 268/5 (Shan 114* Shadab 44*)

Thanks very much to Ben Coles for a terrific slog. However, let's hope I can bring some better luck with me for England, as Pakistan are really turning the screw in this afternoon session.

Woakes with a slight change of tactic, here. A little bit of the shorter stuff and, initially, it looks as if Shadab is totally bamboozled, ducking away from a bouncer while trying to tip it over Buttler. It's all a bit messy, but he survives.

Shadab leaves everything else alone. A maiden from Woakes. Better.

01:59 PM

OVER 92: Pakistan 268/5 (Shan 114* Shadab 44*)

Masood misses out on a full toss but adds another single. Good shot through point by Shadab, Anderson stops a boundary but that's three runs.

That's all from me, Charles Richardson will guide you through the rest of today's play. See you tomorrow.

01:52 PM

OVER 91: Pakistan 264/5 (Shan 113* Shadab 41*)

The singles keep coming. Relentless stuff this. Three more from the over. The partnership is now worth 88 runs.

01:49 PM

OVER 90: Pakistan 261/5 (Shan 111* Shadab 40*)

Back comes Bess and a couple more quick singles. Pakistan can start thinking big now as long as this partnership remains. We could be talking 350-400. Which would leave England in a tricky position looking ahead to Sunday given the two leg spinners Pakistan have selected.

01:44 PM

OVER 89: Pakistan 259/5 (Shan 110* Shadab 39*)

England turn to Woakes. Perhaps he can find the answer to stopping this partnership, or at least slow it down a bit.

Shan adds two after Pope is beaten behind square, following an earlier single.

01:38 PM

OVER 88: Pakistan 256/5 (Shan 108* Shadab 38*)

Two more quick singles! It's an exhibition this, as Pakistan pass 250. Short from Anderson and that's pulled to third man for one run.

Last ball and that's another boundary, sent through the covers and Pope can't stop it!

Impressive club this that Shan Masood has joined.

01:33 PM

OVER 87: Pakistan 249/5 (Shan 103* Shadab 36*)

Top edge but it drops short of Archer at fine leg! Nearly. Pakistan respond with three singles before Shan flicks off his pads down to third man for two more.

01:28 PM

OVER 86: Pakistan 244/5 (Shan 100* Shadab 34*)

Quick single to give Shan Masood five deliveries in this over to cross into triple figures.

He's done it! Big cheer from the balcony as Masood flicks it square for a great hundred, his fourth in 21 Tests and third in a row. It took 251 balls, with 13 fours. Well batted.

Anderson nearly responds with a wicket, slightly wide of the crease, tempting the stroke.

01:23 PM

OVER 85: Pakistan 241/5 (Shan 98* Shadab 33*)

Four more! Cut by Shan Masood, low and safe towards third man for a boundary. And again! Through the gap between slips and gully, four more. He's close now and would deserve it. Glanced square for two more. Will it happen this over? No, straight to mid-on.

01:18 PM

OVER 84: Pakistan 231/5 (Shan 88* Shadab 33*)

Two for Shadab and there's a right old mess in the field as Bess on the deck throws a loose one was past the stumps for two more. 50 partnership now, with 51 off 79 balls. Great intent after the lunch break.

Wide, pitched up by Anderson and Shadab sends that with ease away for four. Into the 30s. 

01:12 PM

OVER 83: Pakistan 223/5 (Shan 88* Shadab 25*)

Really good running from these two and it's put England off their game a bit. Adding lots of runs so far in this session. Three quick singles. 

01:08 PM

OVER 82: Pakistan 220/5 (Shan 87* Shadab 23*)

Anderson returns. Threatening too. Gets a quick word from the empire about his footwork. Single after a block from Shadab. Good energy between the wickets.

Nearly! Shan gets his bat away in time of one drifting across. One from the over.

01:04 PM

OVER 81: Pakistan 219/5 (Shan 87* Shadab 22*)

New ball taken and Broad is warming up. Half a shout for a catch as the ball comes high off Shadab's bat, but it's short of Bess. Single. 

Too wide and that's flicked off the pads by Shan Masood for four past square leg.

12:59 PM

OVER 80: Pakistan 214/5 (Shan 83* Shadab 21*)

Pakistan's running between the wicket is a bit sharper after lunch. Great shot of one of the grounds staff having a nap. Tough slog this summer for them.

Two more for Shadab, and then he sweeps well with Bess scampering to cut off the boundary. Runs flowing, really. Quick single to finish the over too from Shan, who moves to 84.

12:55 PM

OVER 79: Pakistan 208/5 (Shan 82* Shadab 16*)

And a couple of singles off that over too. Wonder when England take the new ball. Straight away? 

12:53 PM

OVER 78: Pakistan 206/5 (Shan 81* Shadab 15*)

Couple of singles and a leg bye off that over. All a little bit leaky. Pope putting in some evasive action.

12:49 PM

OVER 77: Pakistan 203/5 (Shan 80* Shadab 14*)

More Bess. Single from Shadab off a shorter ball before Masood moves into the 80s, beating backward point. And then Shadab adds four more, flat bat, into the ground and it races away past fine leg as Pakistan cross 200. Single from Shadab to round off another good over for Pakistan.

12:44 PM

OVER 76: Pakistan 196/5 (Shan 79* Shadab 8*)

Three runs of the first ball of Root's spell, Sibley stopping a boundary. The new ball is not far away and you can see why Root's having a bowl after what Bess produced. 

Little bit of a sloppy start though as Shadab cracks Root away for a boundary. Eight off the over.

12:41 PM

Time for the afternoon session

Shan Masood sniffing a hundred. The turn Bess got before lunch was promising.

12:26 PM

Some fine tributes to Bob Willis during lunch

Must say his sharp wit and analysis is sorely missed. A punditry one-off. A book about his life launched this week.

12:02 PM

OVER 75: Pakistan 187/5 (Shan 77* Shadab 1*) - LUNCH

One over of spin from Bess before lunch. Strong session for England - Pakistan started the day on 139/2. 

There's a bit of turn. Masood adds two with a cut shot and the takes one high up the leg, too high for an appeal. What a beauty next though, bit turn away. "Unplayable", says Wasim Akram. I'm not disagreeing. Potential there.

And that's lunch. Excellent session for England, taking out Azam first ball and then adding two more wickets for very little damage. Shan Masood toughing it out and now on 77, but he needs more support. 

Back in a bit.

11:57 AM

OVER 74: Pakistan 185/5 (Shan 75* Shadab 1*)

Sniff of a run out with Pope throwing in but Masood is safe, with Shadab off the mark. Another single for Masood too as we creep towards lunch.

11:52 AM

OVER 73: Pakistan 183/5 (Shan 74* Shadab 0*)

Outside edge from Shan Masood but it stays low and goes for four. Next delivery is really nice, nowhere for Masood to go as the ball shapes away.

11:47 AM

OVER 72: Pakistan 179/5 (Shan 70* Shadab 0*)

Good running there for three, played by Shan past point as he heads into the 70s.

Shadab with a big old swing and miss, kept low. Shan Masood needs support here.

Pakistan's Shan Masood plays a shot - GETTY Images

11:44 AM

OVER 71: Pakistan 176/5 (Shan 67* Shadab 0*)

Woakes getting it to move really well now. So reliable. Wicket maiden, struck the pad off the last but well wide.

11:40 AM

WICKET! Rizwan c Buttler b Woakes 9

Edged and gone! Rizwan never really got going but was just about to settle... and now he's walking back. Buttler with the grab, Woakes strikes. Nine off 41 balls. FOW 176/5

11:38 AM

OVER 70: Pakistan 176/4 (Shan 67* Rizwan 9*)

Good running for two, into the on-side. Run rate was only just over two an over but there's a couple more singles, four from the over.

11:34 AM

OVER 69: Pakistan 172/4 (Shan 64* Rizwan 8*)

Bit of a gift from Woakes, wide and on the up and Shan sends it for four past square. 63* now off over 200 balls. Woakes then catches the front pad but looks both high and like inside edge. An on-side single to finish the over.

11:30 AM

OVER 68: Pakistan 167/4 (Shan 59* Rizwan 8*)

Archer mixing things up with his length, one full, one proper high bumper. Shan Masood tries to come up with a pull shot but it gets blocked. One run off the last though, that pull shot working out against the short ball.

11:26 AM

OVER 67: Pakistan 166/4 (Shan 58* Rizwan 8*)

Another bit of overeager running. That's happened a few times this morning, Rizwan getting back safely to his crease. Caught on the pads but high and wide, nipped back in a big way though. Maiden for Woakes.

11:23 AM

OVER 66: Pakistan 166/4 (Shan 58* Rizwan 8*)

Shan Masood trickles a single out to fine leg. Good running then leads to three runs, sliced through the covers well by Rizwan. That will have felt good after plenty of pressure.

11:19 AM

OVER 65: Pakistan 162/4 (Shan 57* Rizwan 5*)

Anderson working hard to get more swing on the ball, using the sweat from his back, it looks like. Rizwan not quite settling yet, long way to go though. Maiden for Woakes.

11:15 AM

OVER 64: Pakistan 162/4 (Shan 57* Rizwan 5*)

Here comes Jofra. Mis-field from Pope gifts a single but otherwise that's another tidy over. 

Had a brief moment of panic there when I noticed that the Pakistan training kit was plastered in Gatorade logos, worrying that Pepsi were no longer on the scene. Fear not, they remain on the playing shirts.

Tightly run single to round off the over and keep Rizwan on strike. Pope with half a chance maybe but needed a direct hit to get Masood out.

11:09 AM

OVER 63: Pakistan 160/4 (Shan 56* Rizwan 4*)

Single from Shan into the off side, which can give Rizwan a chance to settle in. Woakes challenges him there - that was lovely, slips past the bat, just. One run off the over.

England's Stuart Broad, left, celebrates the dismissal of Pakistan's Asad Shafiq  - REUTERS

11:02 AM

OVER 62: Pakistan 159/4 (Shan 55* Rizwan 4*)

First boundary for a while, good square drive by Shan Masood. Then a single on the drive, fielded by the sub fielder Dan Lawrence with Broad off the field.

10:57 AM

OVER 61: Pakistan 154/4 (Shan 50* Rizwan 4*)

Close! Woakes gets one to shape away, almost looked like an edge it was that close. New bowler, same pressure. But finally runs! It's taken what, half an hour? Rizwan off the mark with two to backward point. And then two more! Like buses, into the same area.

10:53 AM

OVER 60: Pakistan 150/4 (Shan 50* Rizwan 0*)

Make that seven maidens. This is good disciplined stuff from Shan Masood but how much longer can he hang in there for. Archer and Woakes starting to limber up.

10:48 AM

OVER 59: Pakistan 150/4 (Shan 50* Rizwan 0*)

Big appeal and given lbw! Rizwan reviews instantly, suggesting some bat. Was there? It's caught him on the back pad about halfway up. He's right, there's some bat. Good review. Was only a faint edge but that's all he needed.

Pakistan really toiling here. Another maiden, six in a row.

10:43 AM

OVER 58: Pakistan 150/4 (Shan 50* Rizwan 0*)

Nice from Jimmy, again. Just nips one past the bat, plenty of bounce.  One block into the deck from Shan. That's the fifth maiden on the bounce for England.

10:40 AM

OVER 57: Pakistan 150/4 (Shan 50* Rizwan 0*)

Wicket maiden for Broad, then. Been some time since we had any runs, England on top.

10:37 AM

WICKET! Asad c Stokes b Broad 7

Does seem a bit odd that we were lauding Azam's talent after yesterday and then he exited in the first over. That's the game, I guess.

These two out in the middle remain cautious but controlled. Asad looks for a single but retreats. But now he's walking! Edged and taken by Stokes at second slip. England having a good morning here. FOW 150/4

10:33 AM

OVER 56: Pakistan 150/3 (Shan 50* Asad 7*)

Shan Masood impressing. Very patient start today and he's faced a lot of deliveries, 170 now at the end of this over as Anderson bowls another maiden. Couldn't tempt him into an errant stroke.

10:29 AM

OVER 55: Pakistan 150/3 (Shan 50* Asad 7*)

Maiden for Broad. Nothing too tricky for Asad. Umpires notable checking on the bowlers' footmarks, we've already had some sawdust brought out.

10:25 AM

OVER 54: Pakistan 150/3 (Shan 50* Asad 7*)

Nearly a mix-up between the batsmen. That's the second bit of hesitation this morning. Super ball from Anderson, similar to the wicket delivery, fading away temptingly. 150 up for Pakistan with a single, maybe a half chance for a run out but nothing to dwell on.

How Jimmy got Babar.

10:20 AM

OVER 53: Pakistan 149/3 (Shan 50* Asad 6*)

England have been sharp in the field so far, nice block there by Sibley at extra cover. A maiden for Broad who is now 0-28.

10:16 AM

OVER 52: Pakistan 149/3 (Shan 50* Asad 6*)

Shafiq off the mark, bit of debate whether pad was involved but that'll be runs. No doubt about the fourth ball, well nudged past point, outfield still fairly quick and it races away to the boundary.

Good work from Bess coming over from gully to cut off any more runs.

10:11 AM

OVER 51: Pakistan 143/3 (Shan 50* Asad 0*)

Big shout second ball for lbw. Root reviews! Looked close on first glance. Could be tight on height and angle. Bat involved though! Looked very tight, bat brushing the pad maybe?

Two runs for Masood, edging closer to that 50. And he gets it with a cut shot, patient knock for 50 off 156 balls with seven boundaries.

Re: that earlier review, it was going on to hit the stumps. Still wonder if the sound of bat on pad has foxed the third umpire there.

England's James Anderson (2nd R) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Babar Azam  - AFP

10:06 AM

OVER 50: Pakistan 139/3 (Shan 46* Asad 0*)

Huge moment that with the last ball of the over. Broad's turn now to find his first wicket as Shafiq comes in.

10:05 AM

WICKET! Azam c Root b Anderson 69

Signs of some movement immediately, coming back into Azam. Heavy cloud above Old Trafford and the floodlights are on. Azam a bit eager for a single and then scampers back, no run.

But then he gets him! Root just about clings onto a catch at first slip, thickish edge. Anderson pounces and that's a massive wicket. FOW 139/3

10:00 AM

Here come the players

What a session this is. Pakistan can put England in real trouble. Anderson to start, although not from the James Anderson End, which is always a shame. Is it weirder to bowl towards an end named after you, or with it behind you?

09:51 AM

Spotlight back on Buttler

Poor old Jos. Just as he seems to sort out his batting, he has a wicket-keeping moment to forget. But was it a harder chance than we're giving him credit for?

09:41 AM

No word of any delay, I should add

Still due to get underway at 11am BST. Not the most optimistic conditions but then it's hardly Barbados down here in London either.

Wonder how England tackle Azam this morning early on, given he had very much settled in last night. More short stuff from Jofra? Will Broad find a burst? Can Anderson get some reward after a drop yesterday?

I've said all that and it will now definitely be Woakes. It's always reliable Woakesy.

09:36 AM

Manchester summer

09:31 AM

Brilliant Babar

Highly recommend this piece from Tim Wigmore on the rise of Babar Azam, whose scoring since the start of 2018 has been quite something.

Since the start of 2018, Root averages 40 in Test cricket, Williamson 52, Kohli 53 and Smith 59. Babar has outdone them all: no Test batsman with more than 500 runs is averaging above Babar’s 65.5 in this period. 

09:21 AM

England's fast-bowling future

Scyld Berry on the succession plan, or lack of it so far this summer anyway.

Jofra Archer will almost certainly have to open the bowling for England in the next Ashes but he is not being given the chance to grow into the attack-leader; and, as third or fourth seamer, he is not curing his habit of starting a spell slowly without doing much by way of warming up.

09:12 AM

Sir Geoffrey Boycott's take on day one

He was impressed with the defensive work from Pakistan's openers.

With the Dukes ball, murky skies and a fresh pitch, when a captain has four quality seamers in English conditions, batting is very hard work. The seamers are always fresh, they are at you and occasionally bowl magic balls that you hope you play and miss! You never feel you are in and it’s a struggle to score runs as you spend more time trying not to get out instead of scoring runs. Defence is absolutely crucial. 

09:05 AM

NO THANKS NOT TODAY PLEASE

09:00 AM

Morning everyone

Hopefully the light is good enough this morning and not too dangerous... *shakes head*

Not an ideal start weather wise on Wednesday but a pretty close to an ideal start for Pakistan, you would have to say. Babar Azam is flying on 69* with Shan Masood providing plenty of fine support, chasing a seventh Test fifty.

Jofra Archer's dismissal of Abid Ali looked spectacular but otherwise England's bowling lacked something on day one. That will have to change to stop Pakistan building up a significant first innings score. Once again, England starting a little too slow for their liking.

At least their football tekkers (sorry) are up to scratch.

08:56 AM

Silverwood lays down challenge for England

Head coach Chris Silverwood has challenged his England side to tighten up and reclaim the upper hand on day two of the first Test against Pakistan.

The home side made a strong start after being asked to bowl first in the series opener at Emirates Old Trafford, nipping out Abid Ali and Azhar Ali while conceding just 53 runs in the morning session.

That control fell away in the remainder of a rain-interrupted day, with Babar Azam batting beautifully for 69 not out to lead his side to 139 for two when bad light intervened.

Babar's stylish knock deserved considerable praise, as did the obduracy of Shan Masood, who saw Jos Buttler spill a catch and a stumping as he batted through for 46no, but Silverwood saw plenty of room for improvement among the home attack.

"We started well, we asked a lot of good questions and beat the bat a lot, but after lunch we weren't so good," he conceded.

"We bowled too many four balls and gave the momentum back to Pakistan. They capitalised. We weren't quite on the money when we went back out there and the challenge I've thrown out there in the dressing room to the boys is, if that happens again - and it will do because not everything goes our way all of the time - how do we wrestle things back?

"We know we're up against very good batsmen. If we're not on top of our game, they will take it away from us. It's a timely reminder.

"I'd like to see a repeat of how we started in the morning, where we challenge the batsmen, get the ball in good areas and bring stumps into play to make it hard work for them."

England's Chris Woakes, right, reacts after bowling a delivery to Pakistan's Shan Masood - getty images

England's most expensive bowler was their record wicket-taker James Anderson, who might have found his place under pressure had all-rounder Ben Stokes been fully fit to bowl.

As it was England retained four specialist seamers and picked Stokes as a batsman, but Anderson was short of his considerable best as Babar got going.

"He was struggling for a bit of rhythm," admitted Silverwood of the 38-year-old.

"As a bowler I've felt that before, it happens, but what I've said to Jimmy is you're only ever one ball from finding that rhythm again. When he does, we know how devastating he is."

Silverwood later gave his tentative backing to a mooted England tour of Pakistan - a trip the national side last made 15 years ago.

They have not been back since the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 but international cricket is slowly returning to the region. Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Wasim Khan spoke on Wednesday about his hopes of England visiting as scheduled in 2022, if not before, and Silverwood is open to the idea.

"We are getting there. Personally I'd have no problem going," he said.

"I've never been so it would be nice to go and have a look and I know our batsmen are looking forward to batting on their wickets." PA