Shan Masood continued from his 46 * overnight to score 156 and lead Pakistan to 326 before Pakistan’s bowler entered the English streak early.
Shan Masood
England started the day brightly when James Anderson removed Babar Azam before topping up his night over 69. Shortly thereafter, Stuart Broad claimed his first wicket of the innings, Asad Shafiq edged out for 7.
Mohammad Rizwan stopped next to Masood until Chris Woakes pulled a feather back to end the wicket keeper’s resistance for 9 out of 40 balls.
Shadab Khan was playing on purpose when he and Masood started ticking the scoreboard, with the runs flowing freely within five minutes between lunch and the second new ball. The pair handled the new ball well, and Masood switched to his third test century in a row, becoming only the sixth Pakistani batsman to do the trick.
Shadab looked fifty well prepared for a fourth test, but misfiring against Dom Bess’ off-spin cost him his wicket when he drove one to the middle for 45. Yasir Shah and Mohammad Abbas fell on consecutive deliveries from Jofra Archer, but Shaheen Afridi stayed around long enough for Masood to reach 150.
Shan Masood passes 1️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ 🙌 👏
— ICC (@ICC) August 6, 2020
What a knock this is from the opener! 🔥 #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/Q4X7kwQFK3
Broad finally released the opener for 156 and pushed one back onto Masood’s pads. It was the first century of a Pakistani opener in England since Saeed Anwar in 1996. The English sailor took the Naseem Shah’s wicket to wrap the innings for 326 and left England with just under one session to strike.
Inaugural bowlers Shaheen and Abbas got visitors off to a flying start on the field as the former sacked Rory Burns at the opening before the latter challenged both Dom Sibley and Ben Stokes in two consecutive overs.
Root and Ollie Pope managed to fight their way through the rest of the opening spells, with the latter adding runs at a decent pace to take some pressure off. But the introduction of Yasir’s leg twist was responsible for the English captain leaving a hook behind to cut a ball that was a little too close to him.
What a start from Pakistan! 🔥🔥🔥 #ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/baDaNCMxmd
— ICC (@ICC) August 6, 2020
Jos Buttler joined Pope, and the pair safely looked through England to the stumps to land on 92/4 with 234 runs. Pope finished fifty the day just four runs before his fifth test.
