England battling in face of huge Pakistan total

Salman Agha became the third home batter to register a century 

England overcame significant setbacks to reach 96 for one in reply to Pakistan’s massive 556 on day two of the first Test in Multan yesterday.

Ben Duckett hurt his left-thumb taking the catch that ended the Pakistan innings, meaning Ollie Pope opened the batting in his place.

Pope pulled his second ball to mid-wicket, where Aamer Jamal took a stunning one-handed catch.

To their credit, Zak Crawley and Joe Root were assured in defying the lively hosts. Crawley is on 64 and Root 32, England still 460 behind.

All this at the end of another sapping day in the heat, as England’s stint in the field stretched to six sessions and Salman Ali Agha became the third home batter to register a century.

Salman survived on 15 when Chris Woakes’ spectacular boundary catch was ruled not out. 

TV umpire Chris Gaffaney adjudged that Woakes had a foot grounded beyond the rope in his attempt to throw up the ball and catch it again.

That would have been 420 for seven, England once more showing character on the true pitch, at one stage taking four wickets for 76 runs despite Saud Shakeel making 82 and nightwatchman Naseem Shah 33.

But Salman took the game away from England, dishing out some punishment to the weary visiting bowlers.
England can at least take some heart from Ben Stokes bowling on the outfield during the tea break as part of the captain’s bid to recover from a hamstring injury in time for the second Test.

Chief scores: 
Pakistan: 556 (Shan Masood 151, Salman Agha 104 n.o, Abdullah Shafique 102, Jack Leach 3/160)
England: 96/1 (Zak Crawley 64 n.o, Joe Root 32 n.o) (Agencies)