Eng v Pak 3rd Test, Day 1: Crawley's Maiden Century, Buttler's Half Ton Propel Hosts To 332-4 At Stumps

At stumps on Day 1, Zak Crawley was unbeaten on 171 and had company in the form of Jos Buttler who ended the day at 87 not out. Crawley and Buttler will resume the innings on Day 2 of this deciding Test.

England's Zak Crawley (R) celebrates his century with England's Jos Buttler on the first day of the third Test cricket match between England and Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, southwest England on August 21, 2020. (Photo by Mike Hewitt / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

England ended the opening day of the third and final Test against Pakistan being played at the Ageas Oval on a commanding position posting 332-4 at stumps. Opener Zak Crawley registered his maiden Test ton and wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler struck a fine half century to help the hosts sieze the initiative on Day 1 of the series finale at Southampton. At stumps on Day 1, Zak Crawley was unbeaten on 171 and had company in the form of Jos Buttler who ended the day at 87 not out. Crawley and Buttler will resume the innings on Day 2 of this deciding Test. England did not have the best possible starts as opener Rory Burns departed early falling to seamer Shaheen Afridi for just 6.Don Sibley was then joined by Jak Crawley who counter attacked the Pakistani bowlers from the word go.While Crawley kept moving the scoreboard with some exquisite strokeplay, Sibley played the perfect foil in being watchful from the other end, taking the innings to respectable 48 for 1 in the first hour of play. Pakistan struck again with spinner Yasir Shah trapping Sibley leg before wicket for 22 to have the hosts down 73-2.Skipper Joe Root came out in the middle and struck a brief 41-run partnership with Crawley before falling to seamer Naseem Shah for 29. Ollie Pope's stay at the crease was short-lived as he was clean bowled by Yasir Shah for just 3. With England in a spot of bother at 127 for 4, Buttler joined Crawley and resurrected the innings with a record 205-run partnership for the fifth wicket to propel the hosts into the driver's seat on the opening day of the final test between the two nations. Zak Crawley neared his maiden Test hundred as England reached 184/4 at Tea against Pakistan on Day 1 of the third and final Test on Friday.At tea, Crawley was batting on 97 from 165 balls with wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler on the other end on 24. England are already 1-0 up in the 3-match series and are looking to clinch their second consecutive Test series win on home soil. Brief scores: England 332/4 (Crawley 171*, Buttler 87*; Yasir 2/107) vs Pakistan