Zak Crawley scored a magnificent double hundred and Jos Buttler made a classy hundred, before James Anderson put Pakistan on the backfoot with late strikes, as the tourists were reduced to 24/3 at the end of Day 2 of the final test at Southampton on Saturday.
The pair of Crawley and Buttler were involved in a magnificent stand of 359 for the fifth wicket, before the 22 year old was stumped down the legside by Mohammad Rizwan off part-time spinner Asad Shafiq for a majestic knock of 267. His innings came in 393 balls, with 34 fours and a solitary six.
The 29 year old wicket keeper tormented the tourists with some lusty hitting, before his innings ended tamely when he chipped a gentle return catch to left arm spinner Fawad Alam for a well made 152.
Chris Woakes made a useful 40 before he became Fawad’s second Test scalp, while Dom Bess remained unbeaten on 27. Stuart Broad struck a couple of sixes in his 15, before being bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi. After his dismissal the declaration came as the home side posted a mammoth score of 583/8.
Shaheen, Yasir and Fawad claimed two wickets each, while Naseem Shah along with Shafiq bagged a wicket each.
Pakistan’s innings started disastrously, as Shan Masood was plumb leg before wicket for four by James Anderson.
And over later Abid Ali (1) edged an Anderson delivery to Dom Sibley at third slip.
In the last ball of the day, the 38 year old strike bowler stuck a vital blow by getting riding of star batsman Babar Azam lbw for 11, as the tourists were reduced to 24/3 at the end of Day 2, still trailing by 559 runs.
Stumps as the end of Day 2.
England- 583/8. (Zak Crawley 267, Jos Buttler 152)
Pakistan 24/3. ( Babar Azam 11)
James Anderson 3/13.