Seamers give Pakistan initiative

LONDON: England were dismissed for 184 after winning the toss on the first day of the first Test against Pakistan at Lord´s on Thursday.

Veteran opener Alastair Cook, appearing in a record-equalling 153rd consecutive Test appearance, was the only batsman to make a half-century, with a well-made innings of 70.Mohammad Abbas and the recalled Hasan Ali took four wickets apiece

England, who were 165 for five at tea, lost their last five wickets for just 16 runs in 27 balls after the interval. This is the first of a two-Test series.

Earlier, Alastair Cook scored a gutsy half-century but Pakistan continued to check England’s attempt to gain ascendancy with regular strikes. Having bagged three wickets in the opening session, the visitors added two more to the tally in the second session to leave the hosts at 165 for 5 at Tea on Day 1 of the opening Test at Lord’son Thursday(May 24).

Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Abbas bowled in tandem at the start of the second session, and persisted with their probing lines. The challenge was met with a mix of caution and aggression by Cook and Jonny Bairstow, who managed to display solidity despite their vulnerability outside-off. A couple of fours came off the outside half of their bats in the first two overs but there were also some full ones which they put away without much fuss. However, their promising stand was cut short when Bairstow attempted a drive without factoring in the late movement from Faheem.

The arrival of Ben Stokes infused a lot more positivity to England’s innings, with the all-rounder also scoring the first six of the game when he deposited a Shadab Khan delivery over the mid-wicket fence, along with regular hits to the ropes. At the other end, Cook’s confident drives gave him continued success in terms of boundaries as the fifth-wicket put on a brisk partnership. However, Pakistan again found a way to impede England’s progress and this time it was Amir who put his hand up to defeat Cook’s defence when the batsman played inside the line. Jos Buttler, playing his first Test since December 2016, began with a couple of boundaries off Shadab and remained unbeaten along with Stokes.

Earlier, Joe Root’s decision to bat first on an overcast morning didn’t seem to be the right choice as there was plenty of help for the quick bowlers.

England 1st Innings:

A. Cook b Mohammad Amir 70

M. Stoneman b Abbas 4

J. Root c Sarfraz b Hasan 4

D. Malan c Sarfraz b Hasan Ali 6

J. Bairstow b Faheem 27

B. Stokes lbw b Abbas 38

J. Buttler c Asad b Hasan 14

D. Bess c Asad b Abbas 5

M. Wood c Amir b Hasan 7

S. Broad lbw b Abbas 0

J. Anderson not out 0

Extras: (b1, lb6, nb1, w1) 9

Total: (all out, 58.2 overs, 280 mins) 184

Fall: 1-12 (Stoneman), 2-33 (Root), 3-43 (Malan), 4-100 (Bairstow), 5-149 (Cook), 6-168 (Stokes), 7-168 (Buttler), 8-180 (Bess), 9-180 (Broad), 10-184 (Wood)

Bowling: Amir 14-3-41-1; Abbas 14-7-23-4; Hasan 15.2-2-51-4 (1nb, 1w); Ashraf 9-2-28-1; Shadab 6-0-34-0 Toss: England

Umpires: Rod Tucker (AUS), Paul Reiffel (AUS) TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS) Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL).