Azhar Ali's 139

Azar Ali’s 139, put Pakistan in control

Azhar Ali's 139
Azhar Ali’s 139

Investec Test: England v Pakistan at Birmingham, Aug 3-7, 2016

England 297 ao off 86 ov, AN Cook 45 off 52, 8 fours, GS Balance 70 off 150, 11 fours, MM Ali 63 off 118, 7 fours, Sohali Khan 96-5, Mohammad Amir 53-2, Rahat Ali 83-2, Yasir Shah 64-1

Pakistan 257/3 off 90 ov, Sami Aslan 82 off 176, 9 fours, Azhar Ali 139, 283, 15 fours, 1 six, JM Anderson 32-1, CR Woakes 52-1

Pakistan won the toss and chose to field.

Earlier Sohali Khan’s 5-96 limited England to 297 on the day one.

Pakistan started badly with Mohammad Hafeez playing in his 50th Test, cut the fourth ball of the innings low to point and was dismissed with out scoring. Azhar Ali’s tenth Test century, and a second wicket stand of 181 with Sami Aslam, put Pakistan to a strong position as they closed on 257/3 just 40 short of England’s total.

Azhar Ali’s century is only the 3rd by a Pakistani No.3 outside Asia since 2000. The previous century by Yunis Khan 173 at Leeds. Byt Azhar fell to the final ball of the day. England dropped him twice, as Joe root moved late for an edge at second slip when he was only 38 and on 69 Moeen Ali could not hold a simple return catch. 20-year-old Aslam who made a compose 82 having been called to replace Shan Masood. Aslam and Azhar scored 72 runs in the first session and 82 in the second.