MANCHESTER: Babar Azam struck a fluent unbeaten half-century before the umpires decided to end the first day’s play of the first Test against England at Old Trafford.
Pakistan was 139 for 2 at the end of the day’s play. Babar (69 not out) and opening batsman Shan Masood (46 not out) have stitched a 96-run partnership for the third wicket.
Pakistan started the afternoon session at 53-2 with Babar and Shan batting at 27 and four respectively. England was superb before lunch as the visitors struggled with the pace bowlers.
Fast-bowler Jofra Archer took the first wicket in the innings, bowling Abid Ali (16) with a delivery that nipped back and burst through the gap between bat and pad. Seamer Chris Woakes then claimed the big scalp of captain Azhar Ali, trapped leg before wicket for a duck.
Pakistan had won the toss and elected to bat, with England captain Root admitting he would have done the same. The fixture is being contested in a bio-secure environment without any audience in the stands.
It will be the first series in Test cricketing history in which the third umpire will be calling no-balls. England earlier won a Test Series against West Indies 2-1. Pakistan, on the other hand, has not played a single international fixture since February this year due to the coronavirus.
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