England take firm control in fast-moving second day

On a fast-moving day, led by healthy middle and lower order contributions - including half-centuries from Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith and Ollie Robinson, England strengthened their control in the third Test at Edgbaston, taking a 320-run first innings lead before reducing Pakistan to 52 for 2 before rain brought an early end to Thursday’s play.

Resuming the innings on 154 for 4, Harry Brook and Lawrence helped the hosts to an assured start in the morning session, stretching their fifth wicket partnership to 86 runs. The duo was crisp in picking the extra run, ensuring the scoreboard moved at a healthy pace. But an adventure too many proved costly. In an attempt to pinch a quick single, Brook was caught short of the crease on 75.

However, Lawrence continued the march for England in the company of Smith, who took a more adventurous route after surviving an early leg-before appeal. Despite bracing a finger injury, he made his intentions clear by hitting Saim Ayub over long on off only the 11th balls of his stay. Batting in contrasting fashion, the duo indeed 64 runs before Lawrence inside edged Mohammad Imran Randhawa on to the stumps, and handed him his maiden Test wicket.

Soon after the Lunch break, Smith brought up his half-century and Atkinson was cleaned up by Randhawa’s inswinger. Razaullah dismissed Smith and Ollie Robinson after their brisk stand. However, with a healthy lead to boast, England took the aggressive route and added 122 runs in the next 19 overs, with each of the lower order batter making a healthy contribution.

With a mountain to climb already, Pakistan were pushed further on the backfoot in the opening over itself. To begin it, Ayub fell off the first ball of the second innings. Looking to drive Robinson, he ended up handing the slip fielder an easy catch. To make matters worse, Abdullah Shafique followed him back to the pavilion three balls later

Azan Awais, who had displayed tremendous restraint so far in the series, went for the counter punch this time, cracking three boundaries in an over off Jofra Archer to get the proceedings going. Shan Masood looked troubled early on, and was even put down by Ben Duckett at third slip, but he hung in to give Awais company before two spells of rain brought an early end to the day’s play.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 133 (Saud Shakeel 43, Mohammad Abbas 21; Josh Tongue 4-42, Ollie Robinson 3-15) & 52/2 (Azan Awais 29*; Robinson 2-10) trail England 453 (Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69; Razaullah 4-148) by 268 runs.