Pak vs Eng 2nd Test, Day 1: Rain Prompts An Early Lunch; Pakistan Reach 62/1

Opener Abid Ali enjoyed some good fortune in the morning session. The right-handed batsman was dropped twice in the slips.

Photo: @ICC (Twitter)

A brilliant fifty run partnership between captain Azhar Ali and opener Abid Ali helped Pakistan reach 62/1 against England at Lunch before rain prompted an early lunch on Day 1 of the second Test on Thursday. At Lunch, Azhar remained not out on 20 and Abid was still batting 33. For Pakistan, Shan Masood and Abid Ali came out in the middle as openers. Veteran speedster James Anderson opened the attack for his squad and gave them a great start by getting an early breakthrough. Anderson struck early to get opener Masood LBW out for just one run. Interestingly, Anderson got Masood out for the seventh time in his Test career.

Just the start England were after ???? #ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/6iRa2AJkgR

— ICC (@ICC) August 13, 2020

Captain Azhar Ali was the next man in for Pakistan. His team needed him to step up this time as he had managed just 18 runs with the bat in the first Test. Azhar and Abid Ali batted well to steady Pakistan's sinking ship. The duo started to build a strong batting partnership, played with caution to keep Broad and Anderson away for some time and deny them another quick wicket. After Broad and Anderson completed their fiery 10-over spell together, skipper Joe Root introduced Sam Curran and Chris Woakes into the attack. Opener Abid Ali enjoyed some good fortune in the morning session. The right-handed batsman was dropped twice in the slips off Broad and Stokes deliveries, respectively. At drinks break, Pakistan had managed to put 51 for the loss of one wicket after 20 overs. Just when things started to fire up, rain stopped the play. Brief scores: Pakistan 62/1 (Abid Ali 33 batting, Azhar Ali 20 batting; James Anderson 1/15) vs England Teams: England (Playing XI): Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root(c), Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler(w), Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad, James Anderson Pakistan (Playing XI): Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali(c), Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah ALSO WATCH | James Anderson Opens Up On Retirement From Cricket! 

"It won't be very long before he's got another five-for next to his name!"

James Anderson has picked up just six wickets at an average of 41.16 in the English Test season so far, but England captain Joe Root has complete faith in the fast bowler to bounce back strong ???? pic.twitter.com/ChefZpM9G7 — ICC (@ICC) August 12, 2020