by Rex Clementine
People can dismiss the wicket for the Rawalpindi Test as boring and a result is not possible after day two where Pakistan reached 181 for no loss before play was stopped early with 17 overs not bowled due to bad light. But don’t rule out a result in the game for the simple reason that England have scored at a fanatic rate and Pakistan are still 476 runs behind and need a further 277 to avoid follow on.
On day one two only 75 overs of the 90 scheduled were bowled and one factor that could deny us a result is bad light.
Pakistan began their innings under so much pressure after total domination by England in the Test match. Abdullah Shafique survived a nervous moment after a caught behind appeal. On filed umpire had given a soft signal of out but was overturned by third umpire.
Bespectacled Imam-ul-Haq reached 1000 Test runs in his 17th innings.
Last time Imam played in Rawalpindi he made the Aussies toil making hundreds in each innings. He was unbeaten on 90 when bad light forced an early end to play today and expect him to go onto get a big one on day three. Abdullah was unbeaten on 89.
England resumed with their overnight score of 506 for four and added 151 runs in 125 minutes. Harry Brook showcased why he is the next big thing in English cricket posting a fine 153 that came off just 116 deliveries with 19 fours and five sixes.
England’s total of 656 is their highest against Pakistan in Test match cricket.
Leggie Zahid Mahmood conceded 235 runs for his four wickets. That’s the most runs given away by a debutant.
