ENG v PAK, 4th Test Day 2 Review: Pakistan pile on the runs

After bowling England out on the first day’s play, Pakistan went about piling on the runs on day two of the fourth Test at The Oval. With a victory in the match an absolute necessity, Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan went about their batting business by smashing twin centuries, something that may eventually prove to be important knocks in the context of a series-levelling win for the visitors.

Having lost Sami Aslam the previous day to a peach of a delivery from Stuart Broad, the Pakistan batsmen Yasir Shah and Azhar Ali began a tedious rebuilding process. Yasir, typically a nightwatchman batted with supreme grit, something worthy of Test cricket batsmanship. While Broad and Anderson have been claiming the wickets, for the most part, Steven Finn chipped in with the first wicket of the second day’s play. This time, it was Yasir Shah who was the unlucky player as he departed for what was a well-made 26.

Azhar Ali was denied a half-century as he was caught behind by a rising delivery from Moeen Ali as Jonny Bairstow added to his tally of wickets. Enter Asad Shafiq. Partnering up with perhaps the toughest of the Pakistan pros – Younis Khan, the Pakistanis were in absolutely no mood to let their wickets down.

They began to stitch what would eventually go on to become an important 150 run stand, something that will certainly go on to save the series from a Pakistan’s point of view. Shafiq seemed to be the aggressor of the two as he smashed 12 boundaries and a couple of sixes. The partnership was eventually broken when Steven Finn picked up his second wicket of the day as well as the innings, something that would certainly go on to fortify his spirits.

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As far as Asad Shafiq would be concerned, it was a clear case of playing into the trap set by the England players. A short-pitched delivery, a pull shot and one of the safest hands in the England side – Stuart Broad. All of these and Shafiq was well and truly on his way back to the haven of the pavilion for a well-made and a well-deserved 109.

With stumps looming over the horizon, Alastair Cook had one trick up his sleeve. Chris Woakes, the hero of the first two Tests for England with the ball was handed a dead-rubber ball to  bowl his outswingers. This seemingly had a profound effect as he picked up the important wicket of skipper Misbah-ul0Haq. However, the wicket failed to prevent Pakistan from crossing the England total and eventually concluding the day with six wickets to play with on the morning of the third day.

Brief Scores:

England, 1st innings: 328 all out

Pakistan, 1st innings: 3406 (A Shafiq 109; C Woakes 2/52)

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