By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-10-26 04:20:32 | Updated at 2024-10-26 06:29:07
2 hours ago
The pressure is on England as they head into day three of the third Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. Led by Saud Shakeel’s 134, Pakistan certainly had the better of day two with England finishing the day on 24-3, 53 runs behind with seven second-innings wickets remaining.
Pakistan were in trouble early on day two as they found themselves 177-7, still nearly 100 behind England’s first-innings total of 267. Shakeel was the star with the bat for Shan Masood’s side with his fourth Test century but he was ably supported down the order by Noman Ali, who scored 45 in an eighth-wicket partnership of 88 with Shakeel, and Sajid Khan, who added 48 not out to give Pakistan a 77-run lead.
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope all fell cheaply before the close to put England under significant pressure going into day three.
Rehan Ahmed starred with the ball for England yesterday, taking four wickets in Pakistan’s first innings. He has admitted that although Pakistan have the momentum, he retains belief that England can still win this match and the series.
“The momentum is obviously with them but we are not going to hold back from saying that we can still win the game. We have got a lot of batting to come, everyone can bat in our team. It is not nice having three down now but, while it changes things a little bit, it is not too much for us.
“Everyone has their own way. Whatever your way is, you have to be clear with it and stick with it. That could change ball by ball or different sessions, bat in different ways. We will have to adapt as quickly as possible.
“Noman [Ali] and Sajid [Khan] did bat well. The ball did get softer, there was not as much off the pitch and once Sajid came in, hit a few sixes, they got momentum again.
“As a spin group, we tried to hold it as much as we could. Saud [Shakeel] batted very well, there is no shame in him batting well. We did what we could and now just looking forward to tomorrow.”
Joe Root will resume on five and Harry Brook on three.
