England continue to dominate the third Test- England vs Pakistan, Test 3, Day 2
The England pair of Crawley and Buttler started the day on 171 and 77 respectively with England on 332-4.
Buttler quickly went on the offensive and took his total up to 90 in the early stages of the second day. But rain as it did throughout the last Test match hampered England’s progress.
Play eventually got back underway and Crawley and Buttler continued in the same vain as the first day. They attacked the Pakistan bowling attack and managed to score freely.
Buttler survived a scare when he was on 99 but a clever review saved his wicket. The next ball Buttler reached his century which was thoroughly deserved. It was a proper Test match innings, playing with a cool head but consistently putting away the bad balls. This was not a typical Buttler innings that England fans will have been accustomed to in ODI cricket, he adapted his game perfectly to Test cricket.
Both continued to rotate the strike and frustrate the Pakistani bowlers. The Pakistan bowlers began to become ragged and ill disciplined in their approach.
Crawley then reached his maiden double century. He continued to play an innings of pure class with beautiful technique and timing. At no point in his innings did Crawley look in any trouble. The Kent batsman was unfazed by the short ball and attacked the world class leg spin of Yasir Shah.
The pair continued to pass milestone after milestone, both personal and as a partnership. The pair set the highest fifth wicket partnership for England against Pakistan when they reached a partnership of 222. They then set the England’s highest fifth wicket partnership with a partnership of 255.
On their way to England’s highest fifth wicket partnership, Buttler passed 150 and Crawley passed 250.
England soon began to lose wickets. Crawley was the first to go, he came down the pitch to a part time bowler Shafiq but was consequently stumped. Crawley was out for 267, he played the perfect innings and one that England desperately needed. He solidified the innings after a quick flurry of wickets. Crawley was the number three that England have needed for a long time, this has been a weak spot in the England batting line-up, but this innings saw Crawley solidify his spot at number three.
England reached the 500-run mark in their innings and lost Buttler soon after. He was out for 152. The Lancashire wicketkeeper batsman chipped the ball back to the bowler and was caught and bowled by Alam. A great innings from Buttler came to an end but this was an innings that silenced his critics.
England then lost a couple of quick wickets Woakes scored a quick 40 but fell to the bowling of Alam and then Broad off the bowling of Shaheen. England declared after the fall of Broad’s wicket. England declared on 583-9.
The hosts then had an hour at the end of the day to bowl at the visitors. Anderson took advantage of the new ball and took three quick wickets. Masood was the first to go, Anderson hit the pads of Masood who departed for 4.
Anderson soon got his second wicket of the innings. He found the outside edge of Abid Ali’s bat which was safely caught by Sibley in the slip cordon. In the final over of the day, Anderson took the wicket of Babar Azam, once again Anderson hit the pads of Azam who was given out lbw.
This wicket signified the end of a dominant day for England as they reduced Pakistan to 24-3. The record setting partnership between Buttler and Crawley took the game away from Pakistan and put England firmly on top in the game.
Pakistan cannot possibly win this game from this position, but it does provide England with the best possible opportunity to win the series 2-0.
England have dominated the first two days of this Test and are in a commanding position. They will look to take advantage of the brilliant position they have been awarded through the superb batting in their first innings.
The bowling attack of Anderson, Broad, Archer, Woakes and Bess will have their tails up and be excited to get into the unpredictable and fragile Pakistan batting line-up.
