Match report
Is there time for a result?
At a pinch, yes. In a perfect world England would have taken all ten wickets today, but then in a perfect world the groundsman in Rawalpindi would have offered a proper balance between bat and ball. Given the conditions, taking seven wickets in the day is a good effort – especially as Pakistan were 225-0, so from that moment on it was 274-7. “It was a brilliant day,” says Joe Root. “We had to be very creative, searching for wickets, and we got our rewards at the back end.”
England lead by 158, so they should go in to bat again with say 130 in the bank, and about 150 overs left. They could bat for a third of that, rattle up 270-6, set Pakistan 400 and leave themselves about 98 overs to get ten wickets. They will need some help from the pitch – more deliveries keeping low, more of the turn that did for Babar – but it’s just about possible. Especially with Ben Stokes at the helm, Captain Boombastic.
Thanks for your company, your emails and above all your pedantry on the subject of engraving. A sleepy game has sprung to life. It may even be worth setting your alarm for.
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Meanwhile, back in the unreal world…
Close: England win the evening session
136th over: Pakistan 499-7 (Salman 10, Zahid Mahmood 1) Will Jacks, a part-time spinner for Surrey, is now bowling in a Test match with five men round the bat. And they’re all going “Ooh!”. But Zahid Mahmood, also on debut, keeps him out, and that is that for the day. The fielders clap each other on the back, as well they may after fiddling their way to four wickets since tea. “Stokes and his men were brilliant in that session,” says Nasser Hussain, who knows all about trying to make things happen in the Pakistan twilight.
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135th over: Pakistan 499-7 (Salman 10, Zahid Mahmood 1) Leach keeps it tight when he must be still buzzing from the catch of his career. It reflects well not just on him, for having the will to get there, but on Specsavers. I hope they feel another ad coming on.
134th over: Pakistan 497-7 (Salman 9, Zahid Mahmood 0) Stokes had only turned back to Jacks because the light was fading, but it did the trick. Jacks now has a three-for on debut and may even be eyeing a five-for. He has made some commentators eat their words – and they taste good, because this game is now alive.
WICKET!! Naseem c Leach b Jacks 15 (Pakistan 497-7)
That man Jacks again! His policy of tossing the ball up is beginning to look rather good as Naseem is lured into a slog and Leach races in from cow corner to take an outstanding catch.
133rd over: Pakistan 495-6 (Salman 9, Naseem 13) Leach continues and Salman plays a lap for four. England’s lead is down to 162.
“Good job,” says Ijaz Durrani on Twitter. “Have u ever covered a more euthanasia enthusing match??” I can’t remember! Almost by definition. But I do like the way you’ve put it there.
132nd over: Pakistan 488-6 (Salman 4, Naseem 11) One of the many reasons why Stokes is shaping as a great captain is that he keeps up the energy, ringing the changes even as the sun turns into a fried egg in the sky. Anderson goes off and Robinson comes back. He induces a semi-false shot from Salman, an inside edge that drops short of leg slip, and collects a maiden. Pakistan managed three maidens in 101 overs; England have 18 in 132.
131st over: Pakistan 488-6 (Salman 4, Naseem 11) Rumours of a long tail may have been exaggerated. As Leach returns, Naseem Shah bides his time for five balls, then clobbers the last one for six!
England scored so quickly that they can still force a result here.
— Kamran Abbasi (@KamranAbbasi) December 3, 2022
Ben Stokes’ captaincy is positive, enthusiastic, and he indulges in the too often ignored art of talking to his bowlers.#PakvEng2022
130th over: Pakistan 482-6 (Salman 4, Naseem 5) Just a single to each batter off Anderson. That wicket, by the way, was his 668th in Tests and his first in Pakistan. Life begins at 40.
129th over: Pakistan 480-6 (Salman 3, Naseem 4) Naseem Shah, finding himself surrounded by close catchers, steps out and drives Jacks for four.
Meanwhile, we have important developments in the great engraving debate. “Philip Pigott is correct.” says Andy Flintoff, “if it’s being engraved on metal, but if it’s being engraved on a wooden honours board, then it would need a sliver of golden ink to ensure that it stands out. Most honours boards are wooden, so Athers is right, even if he was being ambiguous.”
“No Tim,” says Gerry Devine. “Engravers finish off with gilt or gold leaf....not ink....Pedantic Paddy!”
And here’s Steve Hudson. “To correct Philip Pigott, Mike Atherton and you, isn’t the word ‘embossing’? So there’s a risk they would run out of gold leaf. Yours, Pedant of Somerset.”
Athers, if you’re reading, can you make sure you round off the day’s play by interviewing the engraver? Cheers.
128th over: Pakistan 475-6 (Salman 2, Naseem 0) So: a first wicket for Anderson, two new batters at the crease, and the lead still around 180. The sun is shining on England. Trouble is, it’s a low winter sun, casting long soft shadows, and it will be gone in a minute.
WICKET!!! Rizwan c Stokes b Anderson 29 (Pakistan 475-6)
And there it is! Rizwan clips Anderson straight to Stokes at short midwicket. That’s just what the viewer ordered.
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127th over: Pakistan 474-5 (Rizwan 29, Salman 1) Jacks, not content with that big scalp, threatens another as Salman Agha comes down the track, doesn’t reach the pitch of the ball and plays a funny little chip, not far from the clutches of forward short leg. The partnership between Babar and Rizwan was 60, which, on this surface, almost counts as a failure. Do England have a glimmer? Maybe. They’ll soon be off for the light but one more wicket would make things interesting, as Pakistan have a long tail.
WICKET!! Babar c Leach b Jacks 136 (Pakistan 473-5)
The big one! And it’s Will Jacks who’s goddim! Starting a new spell, Jacks finds a smidgeon of turn and induces Babar to flump a cut to backward point.
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126th over: Pakistan 473-4 (Babar 136, Rizwan 29) Anderson feels like a maiden, and even though he’s bowling to Rizwan, he manages it. His figures are as tidy as ever: 18-4-44-0.
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125th over: Pakistan 473-4 (Babar 136, Rizwan 29) Without making anything resembling an effort, Babar has been motoring along at a run a ball for the past 10 overs. He dances down the track to Root and eases him past mid-on for four more.
“Morning, afternoon, evening, yesterday next week,
Monsieur Tim,” says Tony White. “Supposing Pakistan set England 230, there’s still the chance we may see a decent English collapse. Always optimistic! Thanks for the supervision.” My pleasure! But isn’t it England who are meant to be doing the setting?
124th over: Pakistan 468-4 (Babar 132, Rizwan 28) Robinson hands over to Anderson and seems to be giving him some tips on how to bowl on this pitch. Bold! Babar, unperturbed, whips a flick through the leg side.
123rd over: Pakistan 461-4 (Babar 127, Rizwan 26) Jacks gives way to Root, one part-time off-spinner replacing another. He goes for a two and a single.
“Would it be time,” wonders Andrew Benton, “to bring curse of the commentator into play? Might help shake things up a bit.” Good plan. Babar is looking invincible, Rizwan is quite clearly en route to the eighth hundred of the match, and Pakistan are heading inexorably for a first-innings lead.
122nd over: Pakistan 458-4 (Babar 127, Rizwan 23) The follow-on is averted! By a nick, though not one with any jeopardy attached, as it was a flick from Rizwan at a leg-side full-toss from Robinson. And it was given as a bye anyway.
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121st over: Pakistan 456-4 (Babar 126, Rizwan 23) Jacks may be the wrong bowler on this track but he has a solid temperament, hardened in the crucible of Twenty20. He recovers from that mauling by keeping Rizwan quiet – dot, dot, dot, single. Babar cuts for three to keep the scoreboard moving, and Pakistan trail by a mere 201. We’ve had 1100 runs already, for 14 wickets. Is this sheer torture, or the acceptable face of boredom? Asking for a friend.
120th over: Pakistan 452-4 (Babar 123, Rizwan 22) A few singles off Robinson. That flurry of fours from Rizwan swept away the possibility of the follow-on, which was on the faint side, as (a) Pakistan are only losing one wicket every 30 overs and (b) England wouldn’t enforce it anyway.
Here’s Philip Pigott, quoting me quoting Atherton in the 111th over. “‘Has the engraver,’ Mike Atherton asks, ‘got enough ink for this game?’ Well, engraving doesn’t require ink, but the person writing the record books might run out if he or she were doing it by hand in an actual book, which seems a little unlikely.” He signs off, “Curmudgeon of Holwell.” Ha. But hang on – don’t they engrave the name on the board, and then add ink?
Four fours off the over!
119th over: Pakistan 448-4 (Babar 121, Rizwan 20) Stokes removes Giles, sorry Leach, and brings back Jacks. It nearly pays off as Rizwan gives him the charge, turns a normal ball into a full toss and gets it on the bottom of the bat, but by sheer force of will manages to bludgeon it to the straight boundary. To celebrate, he hits three more fours – a pull and two slog-sweeps.
118th over: Pakistan 432-4 (Babar 121, Rizwan 4) If anyone is updating the MCC Coaching Book, Babar has just put in a strong bid to appear on the page about the cover drive. Robinson overpitches, Babar sees it as he makes his trigger movement back, comes half-forward and strokes the ball past the man at extra-cover with a gentle crack, like a self-effacing rifle.
117th over: Pakistan 428-4 (Babar 117, Rizwan 4) Leach carries on with the Gilo impression and Babar is patient, playing with the pad or the prod, before letting loose at the end of the over. There’s a handsome on-drive for four, and then, as Leach drags his length back, a back-foot on-drive for three, whipped round to midwicket. Magisterial stuff.
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116th over: Pakistan 421-4 (Babar 110, Rizwan 4) Robinson beats the bat! Rizwan tries to run the ball down to third man, plays well away from the pad and finds the ball passing through the gate. Stokes goes “Ooh!” with his whole body, folding himself over like a calzone.
115th over: Pakistan 421-4 (Babar 110, Rizwan 4) Leach continues – only this time he’s come as Ashley Giles, bowling into the rough (if any) outside the right-hander’s leg stump. Manning the microphone is Nasser Hussain, who is in no position to complain as he used to make Giles do this to Sachin Tendulkar. Babar treats the ploy with the disdain it deserves, sweeping for four.
114th over: Pakistan 417-4 (Babar 106, Rizwan 4) England’s reward is to find themselves dealing with Babar and Mohammad Rizwan, the world’s best T20 opening partnership. Rizwan, such a competitor, shows his intent by cover-driving his second ball for four. But still, respect to Ollie Robinson for becoming the first England seamer to take a wicket on this road.
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WICKET!! Shakeel c Pope b Robinson 37 (Pakistan 413-4)
Goddim! Robinson, fortified by a cuppa, finds some bounce from somewhere and Shakeel plays a wafty cut that proves his undoing. A dolly for Ollie off Ollie.
A tweet! “Hi Tim,” says Amelia. “Do you really think this is the pitch to introduce Rehan Ahmed to Test cricket? I think England could pick a world class attack and still struggle. As Australia did when they played here earlier this year.” Good point, and you may well be right. But Stokes could protect him with fielders on the rope, and wouldn’t have to give him that many overs as England have bowlers galore, even without the injured Liam Livingstone.
Rehan was on the field just now, getting a taste, which is better than nothing. But, in my book, the chance to bowl 15 overs would be better still. You always want a leggie to have a go at the tail, as Zahid Mahmood showed yesterday. Of course, England may never reach the Pakistan tail.
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Teatime! Pakistan cruising again
113th over: Pakistan 411-3 (Babar 106, Shakeel 35) Stokes takes himself off in disgust at conceding 13 off his last over. Back comes Jack Leach, whose day will be remembered, if at all, as that time Joe Root used his bonce to shine the ball. Or possibly used the ball to give him a much-needed massage.
Babar Azam, seeing the ball like a bonce, plays another pull for four. And that’s tea, with Pakistan back in control, Babar enjoying the taste of his first Test hundred against England and Saud Shakeel playing a sedate second fiddle. Time for some fresh air. Do join me, if you can face it, in about 15 minutes.
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112th over: Pakistan 405-3 (Babar 100, Shakeel 35) After a couple of dots from Anderson, there’s a hold-up as Shakeel summons the physio, not sure why. Stokes comes up with an even more cunning plan: not three but five men in a ring from short cover point to short mid-off. In fact six, if you count short mid-on: it’s a cordon, but not as we know it. Shakeel is equal to the challenge, sauntering down the track to loft Anderson for four. That’s the most interesting moment since I took over 70 minutes ago.
An email comes in, bearing a theory. “As I intermittently glance at the OBO just to see if anything has happened,” says Jim Neale, “I wonder if there is a slight flaw in Bazball. While highly entertaining the problem of scoring at such a rate means that Pakistan were only out in the field for under 4 sessions. Traditionally, when a team scored 650, the fielding side would be out there for nigh on 6 sessions before the quicks would have a go just before the close.
“It also gives more time for the pitch to deteriorate but from what I read about this one that might take a month.” Ha. “I would have thought that the combination of physical and mental fatigue along with the pressure of surviving a hostile 40 minute spell would have given England a better chance. Cannot claim to have a great knowledge of the game but there does seem to be a sort of logic in my assumptions.” There does!
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Hundred to Babar!
111th over: Pakistan 401-3 (Babar 100, Shakeel 31) Stokes bowls another bouncer, Babar hits another pull for four and that’s the hundred partnership, one of rather too many in this match. Shakeel chips in with a cut for three, a canny way to give the strike back to Babar. The crowd wakes up and suddenly musters something resembling a buzz. Stokes bowls a hopeless long hop outside off and Babar swats it past extra cover to reach a frictionless hundred.
“Has the engraver,” Mike Atherton asks, “got enough ink for this game?”
110th over: Pakistan 388-3 (Babar 91, Shakeel 27) Anderson has three fielders in the sliver of the ring from point to cover, as one of the spinners (Leach I think) did earlier. Shakeel, undaunted, drives towards them, and the middle of the three (Jacks I think) lets the ball go past his ankle for three. “If there’s one bowler you wouldn’t want to do that to,” says Mike Atherton, “it’s Jimmy Anderson.”
109th over: Pakistan 385-3 (Babar 91, Shakeel 24) Stokes continues and goes for two singles.
“Hey Tim.” Hey Brendan Large. “What is the point of this pitch? Is it possible the groundstaff are real old-school Test fans that have been so offended by ‘Bazball’ that they are trying to show Stokes and McCullum how Tests should be played?” It is. And thank you for the single quotes, most thoughtful.
108th over: Pakistan 383-3 (Babar 90, Shakeel 23) Jacks gets that well-earned rest but it’s Anderson, not Crawley, who replaces him. Ben Stokes is such a conventional captain. This is a maiden to Shakeel, who now has 23 off 77 balls – quite an achievement in the circumstances.
“Just been watching Will Jacks twirl his arm,” says Colum Fordham, “and he does not look bad as an off-spinner, giving it plenty of flight and inducing the odd false shot. Not just a part-timer. Apparently, he’s been given tips by Moeen Ali on red ball cricket and spent long spells bowling during lockdown, honing his craft and aided by bowling in the nets to batsmen of the quality of Ollie Pope and Hashim Amla. Can’t be easy on such a flat track.” Fair points… But why have a part-timer batting at No 8? When orthodox off-spin famously does nothing in Pakistan, and when you could have Rehan Ahmed, a proper bowler who can also bat. It’s a rare case of Stokes and McCullum taking the less bold option.
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107th over: Pakistan 383-3 (Babar 90, Shakeel 23) Nasser looks at the field, now set back for the hook, and declares that Stokes is going to play the enforcer. Stokes does try, but his first bouncer is barely even a long hop. Babar swats it through mid-on for four to ease into the 90s. The second bouncer is slightly better and Babar does well to Duckett.
106th over: Pakistan 379-3 (Babar 86, Shakeel 23) Yet another young English batter has scored a century! It’s Will Jacks, whose figures reach 1-100 as Babar takes a single. Shakeel throws in a sweep for four, low and hard. A few minutes ago Nasser Hussain said, “England looking a bit flat for the first time.” It would make sense to give Jacks a rest, surely. Get Zak Crawley on! He was a medium-pacer as a boy.
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105th over: Pakistan 374-3 (Babar 85, Shakeel 19) Ben Stokes has realised that two part-time offies may be one more than you need. He turns to himself for a spot of reverse-swing, or, as the Guardian spellcheck is keen to call it, fever-seeing. He’s limping as he walks back, but a chronic knee problem has seldom stopped him in the past. He is running in rather gingerly though, and bowling medium-pace. England could really do with the velocity of Mark Wood or Jamie Overton.
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104th over: Pakistan 373-3 (Babar 84, Shakeel 19) That point of mine looks even worse as Jacks continues and induces a false stroke! He deceives Shakeel, who top-edges a sweep but gets away with it as the ball lollops away to the left of the man at square leg.
103rd over: Pakistan 371-3 (Babar 84, Shakeel 17) Root continues and – just to disprove my point – Babar Azam tucks in. He hits a pull for four, and then another, less orthodox, whacked back past the bowler like a Federer forehand.
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102nd over: Pakistan 363-3 (Babar 76, Shakeel 17) It’s still Will Jacks, and even though this is a maiden to Shakeel, I can’t quite work out why. Where there’s a Will, there’s no way. He’s done OK but he’s a part-time off-spinner, and this team already have one of those. If England had known how flat this pitch would be, they would surely have picked Rehan Ahmed, who is a specialist, and a leg-spinner, and could be the future of English slow bowling.
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101st over: Pakistan 363-3 (Babar 76, Shakeel 17) Jack Leach is off the field, and who can blame him, so Joe Root comes on to make it off-spin from both ends. Probably the least lethal form of bowling ever seen in Pakistan. Still, this is a maiden, which is a victory of sorts. And that’s drinks, with Pakistan cruising again after their attempt at a collapse before lunch. They have now batted for the same number of overs as England, lost seven fewer wickets, and made 294 fewer runs. They’re playing Bab-ball.
100th over: Pakistan 363-3 (Babar 76, Shakeel 17) Morning everyone, thanks Taha and congrats on an assured debut. I am shocked, shocked that nobody from The Guardian was up at 4am to present him with his Test cap. Out in the middle, Jacks continues and the batters help themselves to a few more bites from the buffet. We have now reached the halfway mark in this Test: it had better be a game of two halves.
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99th over: Pakistan 358-3 (Babar 72, Shakeel 16) That’s that from me, here’s Tim de Lisle to keep you company for the rest of the day.
98th over: Pakistan 353-3 (Babar 68, Shakeel 15) Another boundary for Babar off Jacks; he continues to tuck into the off-spinner.
97th over: Pakistan 348-3 (Babar 63, Shakeel 15) These two – by the way – have put on 58 now, all with little trouble.
96th over: Pakistan 346-3 (Shakeel 14, Babar 62) Short from Jacks once again and Babar launches another pull for four. He’s on for his eighth Test hundred – I just can’t see it not happening.
95th over: Pakistan 340-3 (Babar 56, Shakeel 14) One single for Shakeel, one for Babar. These two are ticking along rather comfortably.
94th over: Pakistan 338-3 (Shakeel 13, Babar 55) Facing Jacks, Shakeel’s traded the helmet for that lovely green Pakistan cap. Awesome getup.
93rd over: Pakistan 337-3 (Shakeel 12, Babar 55) Shakeel moves to double figures with an excellent sweep for four, getting his front foot well outside off before making perfect contact.
92nd over: Pakistan 332-3 (Shakeel 7, Babar 55) Jacks gets his first go at the left-hander, which is a better match-up for him. Just a single off it.
Fifty for Babar Azam!
91st over: Pakistan 331-3 (Shakeel 6, Babar 55) A gorgeous shot from Babar to reach his half-century: he comes down the track to Jack Leach and picks up six over long-on. And he then follows that up with a backfoot punch to beat mid-off for four more. Just lovely.
90th over: Pakistan 319-3 (Babar 43, Shakeel 6) Jacks is back to bowl his lovely, loopy stuff. But he’s too short with his third ball, which Babar easily pulls away for four.
89th over: Pakistan 312-3 (Babar 36, Shakeel 6) Babar and Shakeel exchange singles before the latter ends the over with a loose drive that doesn’t get any of the ball.
88th over: Pakistan 307-3 (Babar 34, Shakeel 3)
“I see what’s happening,” writes Kim Thonger. “It’s a reenactment of Old Trafford 1956. Jack Leach is playing the part of Jim Laker and will end up with 19 wickets in the match. Jacks is representing Tony Lock, who got the other one.”
Two down, just 17 more to go for Jack.
87th over: Pakistan 306-3 (Babar 33, Shakeel 3) Shakeel punches through point for a single before Robinson, almost out of nowhere, releases a jaffa that dances past Babar’s outside edge. Really, though, this new ball’s not doing anything for the quicks.
86th over: Pakistan 304-3 (Shakeel 2, Babar 32) A sweet cover drive off Anderson brings Shakeel another single.
85th over: Pakistan 302-3 (Babar 31, Shakeel 1) A first Test run for Saud Shakeel as he bunts Robinson into the off side for a single.
84th over: Pakistan 300-3 (Shakeel 0, Babar 30) Babar clips to the leg side for a couple to take Pakistan to 300. And yet they’re still not even halfway there.
Right then, Jimmy Anderson is getting loose. We’re back on.
Michael writes in: “I’ve just been catching up on the days play and love the poetic justice of you stating no one can get here and then a wicket falling next over. You should try and use your commentators curse powers more often!”
Head to the 65th over to see my magic powers in action.
“Hi Taha.” Hi Peter Salmon.
“Congratulations on you debut! How were the overnight nerves? Did Rob Smyth present you with your cap?”
Genuinely: quite a tough sleep. It was the double trouble of trying to force myself to bed early for the 4am start, while also being frightened of missing my alarm. I’m gonna need a nap after this wraps up.
Still waiting for a cap, and a speech as good as this:
"One of the first things you said to me when you came over to England was that you wanted to play Test cricket for England, that time has come."#OnThisDay last year, @JofraArcher made his Test debut!
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 14, 2020
The best cap presentation ever? pic.twitter.com/k37xHdanlC
Lunch - Pakistan 291-3
Leach concedes a boundary to Babar in the final over before the break, but that was very much England’s session. They’ve picked up three wickets on the flattest of pitches, with the two openers – who put on 225 for the first wicket – both gone. With Saud Shakeel out there and still waiting for his first runs in Test cricket, England will be pleased with where they’re at.
82nd over: Pakistan 291-3 (Babar 21, Shakeel 0) Root takes the new ball from the other end, conceding a single from the set.
81st over: Pakistan 290-3 (Babar 20, Shakeel 0) Saud Shakeel is in on debut to block out the final ball of Leach’s over.
WICKET! Azhar lbw Leach 27 (Pakistan 290-3)
Despite some decent signs of reverse swing for Anderson, England have taken the new ball at the first opportunity – it’s Jack Leach who has it. And he strikes with his fifth ball! The ball skids on to trap Azhar, and the finger eventually goes up. Pakistan review, but it’s three reds. That call makes this England’s session, imo.
80th over: Pakistan 287-2 (Babar 18, Azhar 26) Anderson continues with the reversing ball, and Azhar picks up four more with a gentle dab behind point.
79th over: Pakistan 283-2 (Azhar 22, Babar 18) Wide outside off from Robinson, and Babar thumps it away for four. Pope is up to the stumps, and he can’t stop a leg-side delivery from running away for four byes.
78th over: Pakistan 272-2 (Azhar 21, Babar 12) Hello, Jimmy. England’s greatest is into the attack for the first time today, but Azhar shows him little respect: the second ball of the over is full and the batter drives through the covers for four. A few moments later there’s a sharp bouncer, and… oooh a chance from the final ball – Azhar’s inside edge flies, and Zak Crawley can’t hold on with one hand at leg slip. It would’ve been a worldie.
77th over: Pakistan 267-2 (Azhar 16, Babar 12) Robinson is a touch too wide outside off and Azhar steers the ball to the boundary for four. The quick sends off a couple of bouncers in response.
76th over: Pakistan 259-2 (Azhar 9, Babar 12) Jacks really does like to give the ball some decent hang-time, with decent revs on it, too. Azhar sees the lovely, loopy stuff and advances for a drive to bring the only run of the over.
75th over: Pakistan 258-2 (Azhar 8, Babar 12) Robinson continues and Babar picks up a couple.
The greatest sport on earth https://t.co/NUIjhb2Gj3
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) December 3, 2022
74th over: Pakistan 256-2 (Babar 10, Azhar 8) Tossed up by Jacks, Babar slashes with quick hands to pick up four through the covers.
73rd over: Pakistan 251-2 (Babar 5, Azhar 8) Stokes decides to mix things up: it’s time for pace. Ollie Robinson has the ball, and he angles it in towards Babar’s pads. There’s some low bounce there to exploit for a potential lbw.
72nd over: Pakistan 249-2 (Babar 4, Azhar 8) A maiden from Jacks. Pakistan still trail by 408 by the way – even after all the good work of those two centurions.
Becky Chantry writes in: “For my final day in Cyprus I’ve upgraded to champagne with breakfast. I’m not looking forward to heading back to the UK later today but I’m encouraged by the couple of wickets taken this morning. Great start by England!”
71st over: Pakistan 249-2 (Azhar 8, Babar 4) Babar, Pakistan’s captain and best player, is out in the middle. And he gets off the mark with a lovely boundary, hanging back on the crease to punch through midwicket.
WICKET! Imam c Robinson b Leach 121 (Pakistan 245-2)
The end of Imam! Leach tosses it up, and the left-hander comes down the pitch for a big hit – but he can’t get it over Ollie Robinson at long-on.
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70th over: Pakistan 245-1 (Imam 121, Azhar 8) Jacks concedes a single from his first five before Azhar Ali nails a sweep for four to wrap things up.
69th over: Pakistan 240-1 (Imam 120, Azhar 4) Michael Atherton making note of the Taunton connection currently out in the middle: Jack Leach (bowling right now), Azhar Ali and Imam-ul-Haq have all played for Somerset.
Imam picks up a single with the final ball of the over.
68th over: Pakistan 239-1 (Imam 119, Azhar 4) Jacks twirls away for another set, conceding seven after Azhar gets off the mark with a boundary. And that’s drinks.
Rob Lewis writes in: “Hi Taha, I don’t recall seeing you on obo before. If I’m wrong, sorry. If not, welcome aboard. I have a student called Taha here in Istanbul. It’s not you, moonlighting, by any chance?”
Hiya, Rob. It’s my Test debut for the OBO! Still waiting for someone to present me with my cap, though. And while I am a student, I’m in London, not Istanbul.
67th over: Pakistan 232-1 (Imam 116, Azhar 0) Imam slams a six first ball, advancing against Leach for the big leg-side hit. Azhar Ali is in for Pakistan at No.3.
66th over: Pakistan 225-1 (Imam 109, Azhar 0) A decent over from Jacks – a wicket and some sharp turn, too. Suddenly, England have something to work with.
WICKET! Shafique c Pope b Jacks 114 (Pakistan 225-1)
Stokes decides to look elsewhere for the answer, bringing on Will Jacks. He’s too short first ball, with Shafique rocking back to cut for four. And then… wait… what’s this? A wicket! Jacks goes wide and Shafique’s cut goes wrong, with an outside edge finding Ollie Pope’s safe hands behind the stumps. Jacks has his maiden Test wicket, and England can finally celebrate.
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65th over: Pakistan 221-0 (Shafique 110, Imam 109) I’m not really sure how anyone’s getting out here.
64th over: Pakistan 220-0 (Shafique 109, Imam 109) Root brings out the bouncer – and Imam pulls away for four.
Brian Withington writes in: “Morning Taha. I’m just wondering how many times in the history of Test cricket there have been six centurions this quickly in proceedings?”
Anyone out there to help us with this one? It’s got to be up there.
63rd over: Pakistan 214-0 (Imam 103, Shafique 109) Shafique starts with another boundary before seeing off five dots.
Imam-ul-Haq likes Rawalpindi. Three Test innings there, all this year: 157, 111*, and now 103* (with plenty to add)
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) December 3, 2022
Century for Imam-ul-Haq!
62nd over: Pakistan 210-0 (Shafique 105, Imam 103) Imam goes down the pitch to try and go over extra cover – he gets a thickish edge but moves to 99. A leg-side clip then brings up the hundred, his third in Test cricket – all three of them have come in Rawalpindi.
61st over: Pakistan 204-0 (Imam 97, Shafique 105) Shafique’s forward defence is one to marvel at, and he shows it off for another over.
60th over: Pakistan 204-0 (Shafique 105, Imam 97) Imam is looking slightly nervy as he gets closer to three figures – it feels like it’s been a while since he got the middle on it. England keep tweaking the field as they try and force something out of nowhere.
59th over: Pakistan 204-0 (Imam 97, Shafique 105) Imam finally moves off 94, cutting away for a couple. There’s the second mix-up of the day between Shafique and Imam while running, but they’re safe once again.
58th over: Pakistan 201-0 (Imam 94, Shafique 105) Shafique continues his fun against Root, sweeping behind square for a boundary that moves Pakistan past 200.
57th over: Pakistan 197-0 (Shafique 101, Imam 94) Imam continues to play the waiting game against Leach. Shafique, by the way, is playing just his 20th first-class match – and he’s got eight hundreds. Decent.
Century for Abdullah Shafique!
56th over: Pakistan 196-0 (Shafique 100, Imam 94) A third Test hundred comes up for the very, very talented Abdullah Shafique. He advances down the track to smash Root for six before dabbing a single into the off-side to get to the landmark.
55th over: Pakistan 189-0 (Shafique 93, Imam 94) Leach twirls them, and Imam remains patient, seeing out four dots. He’ll wait a bit longer for that ton.
54th over: Pakistan 188-0 (Shafique 92, Imam 94) Root gets his first look at Imam today, and fires in one of those round-arm sliders, the bowling arm dropping low. Imam ends the over with a delicate dab behind point for a couple.
53rd over: Pakistan 184-0 (Imam 90, Shafique 92) A little mix-up between the two batters after a Shafique punch down the ground, but no dramas in the end as he picks up two. Jack Leach is up and running for the day.
52nd over: Pakistan 182-0 (Shafique 90, Imam 90) Root starts… with a bouncer! Good morning to Abdullah Shafique who ducks to avoid any damage. Shafique gets out the forward defence before clipping for a single to end the over. He’s into the nineties.
Right then, let’s go! Joe Root has the ball.
“It looks exactly the same.” Athers is on Sky to give us a morning update on the pitch – it ain’t breakin’ up.
Elsewhere, in Australia: good to see Ricky Ponting looking well after a health scare.
"I mentioned to JL who was commentating with me that I'd had these pains in my chest ... 10 or 15 minutes later I was in the hospital getting the best treatment I possibly could."
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 3, 2022
- @RickyPonting talks about his last 24 hours pic.twitter.com/GnW8OADghg
Preamble
Morning, folks! After England finished their innings yesterday on a gargantuan total of 657, Pakistan hit back – in their own, more measured manner. Going at 3.54rpo (this is apparently rather slow now), Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq put on 181 before stumps, with the visitors still searching for that first breakthrough. Yep, it’s really, really flat.
The good news for England? They’re still a silly amount ahead, and they’ve got ample time to force a few mistakes and inject some panic into this game.
Shafique and Imam, by the way, are currently averaging 538 as a Test opening partnership on this ground. 538.
