A collective batting performance led by nightwatchman Dominic Bess guided England to a sizable first inning lead on a fast wearing Headingly pitch in the second and final Test match against Pakistan.
In rain-hit Day 2, England reached 302 for 7 at stumps, enjoying a healthy 113-run lead over Pakistan after bolwing them out for 174 in the first innings
Bess fell one short of a well deserved half century, having scored 57 on debut during England's thumping nine-wicket defeat against Pakistan in the first Test at Lord's.
Together with Dawid Malan (28) he had had put on an unbroken 62 for the fourth wicket after England captain Joe Root fell for 43 to the disappointment of his Yorkshire home crowd.
The shot of the series says England Cricket Board
England were 106 for two, 68 runs adrift of Pakistan's lowly 174, when play eventually got under way at 2:45 pm (1345 GMT) some several hours after the scheduled 11:00am (1000 GMT) start time.
Root was 29 not out and Bess, who came in as a nightwatchman late Friday following Alastair Cook's exit for 44, unbeaten on nought.
Bess, selected primarily as an off-spinner but yet to take a Test wicket, made light of the overcast, bowler-friendly conditions to cover-drive left-arm quck Mohammad Amir for a well-struck four.
It was one of several stylish boundaries hit by the 20-year-old Bess that included a well-timed on-drive off Mohammad Abbas.
However, both Bess and Malan fell quick succession after tea as Pakistan staged a comeback in the final session and even managed to take two more wickets to stop England from batting them out of the second Test match.
Jos Buttler (34) and Sam Curran (16) were at the crease at stumps and the duo would look to stretch the lead close to 200 to make Pakistan’s task very difficult in the second innings.