James Anderson takes prize wicket of Babar Azam before Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes strike to put England firmly on top against Pakistan on second morning of Old Trafford Test
- Pakistan reached lunch on 187 for five on the second day of Test with England
- James Anderson took the prize wicket of Babar Azam for 69 in the first over
- Stuart Broad removed Asad Shafiq for seven in bowler-friendly conditions
- Mohammad Rizwan survived one lbw shout but Woakes got him soon afterwards
England’s old guard of James Anderson and Stuart Broad checked Pakistan’s progress with a wicket apiece before Chris Woakes struck to put the hosts in charge on the second morning of the opening Test at Old Trafford.
After Woakes and Jofra Archer made inroads on the first day, it was the wise old heads of England’s pace attack that profited initially in yet more Manchester gloom.
Pakistan hadn’t added to their overnight score of 139 when Anderson took the prized wicket of Babar Azam, whose fluent 69 from 106 balls had illuminated Wednesday’s play.
James Anderson celebrates after taking the wicket of Babar Azam for 69 during the first over
It was the perfect start for England after Babar Azam’s fine batting performance on day one
Stuart Broad celebrates after the dismissal of Pakistan’s Asad Shafiq for seven at Old Trafford
Broad shows his delight after picking up the wicket of Asad Shafiq cheaply on day two
Woakes (right) claimed his second wicket of the match after Mohammad Rizwan nicked
After five solid deliveries in the day’s opening over, Anderson tempted Babar into the drive with the sixth and he duly nicked to captain Joe Root, who took a waist-high catch at first slip.
Despite the pressure generated by Anderson and strike partner Broad, opener Shan Masood continued his slow and steady innings, reaching his half-century despite a few close calls near his off-stump.
But Broad wouldn’t be denied and, after a spell of just one run from 28 deliveries, a short-of-a-length ball clipped the outside edge of Asad Shafiq’s bat and was taken by Ben Stokes at second slip.
After Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes took the wickets on day one, the old guard of Broad and Anderson made further inroads on the second morning
Shan Masood raises his bat towards the Pakistan dressing room after reaching his half-century
Opener Masood’s slow and steady innings continued into a second day as he passed his 50
England celebrated with clenched fists with Pakistan now 150 for four but Broad was denied the scalp of Mohammad Rizwan for a duck soon afterwards.
A well-judged DRS referral showed a thin outside edge and reversed the on-field umpire’s lbw verdict.
But Rizwan wouldn’t last much longer with Pakistan struggling to bat themselves out of the intense pressure.
After making nine from 41 balls, he felt to a Woakes ball pitched outside off-stump and nicked through to Jos Buttler.
Woakes and Archer then set to work trying to prise Masood from the contest but he was holding firm at lunch on 77 from 225 balls with Pakistan 187 for five.
The Old Trafford floodlights were on full beam under gloomy skies in Manchester on Thursday
Spectators were of course absent from the stands at Old Trafford amid a bio-secure set-up