Rizwan 50 frustrates England as Pakistan pass 200-mark
SOUTHAMPTON: Pakistan middle-order batsman Mohammad Rizwan hit a defiant half century on a difficult batting pitch to guide his side past the 200-mark in their first innings and frustrate England in the second test on Friday.
Having resumed on 126-5 overnight, Pakistan reached tea on the second day -- taken 10 minutes early due to bad light -- on 215 for eight with Rizwan, who was dropped by Jos Buttler on 14, on 51 and Mohammad Abbas on two.
After the start of play was delayed by 90 minutes by bad light, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan managed to negotiate a one-hour session before lunch without further loss.
Azam went shortly after lunch for 47 when he was victim to an excellent delivery from Stuart Broad which straightened just enough to shave the outside edge.
A key moment followed when Buttler, diving high to his left, dropped a difficult chance offered by Rizwan.
Buttler, however, made no mistake when Yasir Shah nicked James Anderson's outswinger to him and was out for five.
Shaheen Afridi followed when he was naively run out for a 19-ball duck, setting off from the non-striker's end and getting caught out of his ground as Dom Sibley scored a direct hit.
That left Pakistan on 176-8 which prompted Rizwan to adopt a more aggressive approach, hitting two fours off the same Sam Curran over before driving Chris Woakes to the extra-cover boundary for four more.
England began to show signs of frustration and Pakistan reached 200 thanks to a gift from Woakes who conceded four byes from a loose delivery down the legside, before Rizwan completed his 50 off 104 balls.
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