England reached 112 for two at the lunch break on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley, trailing the hosts by 59 runs in their opening innings. Captain Joe Root remained unbeaten on 37 runs from 53 balls, while Jordan Cox was yet to be dismissed on 23 runs off 38 deliveries, as the visitors stabilized after losing two early wickets.
Pakistan’s bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali removed England openers Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay, who scored 15 and 33 runs respectively. With Pakistan having been bowled out for 171 on the first day, England now require 60 more runs to take the lead.
Several England batsmen, including Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith, Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, and Josh Tongue, are still to bat. England had chosen to field after winning the toss on Wednesday, and their seamers dominated the opening day’s play.
Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue each took five wickets as Pakistan were dismissed for 171. Abdullah Shafique top-scored with 61 runs, while Robinson made an immediate impact by taking a wicket with the very first ball of the match, reducing Pakistan to 6-2.
Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq then steadied the innings with a 91-run partnership for the third wicket. Shafique reached his half-century off 104 balls before Robinson dismissed him for 61. Imam was also dismissed soon after, edging Tongue to the slips as Pakistan’s middle order failed to build on the recovery.
Saud Shakeel was given out LBW but did not challenge the decision within the review window, though ball-tracking later showed the delivery would have hit the stumps. Robinson took his fourth wicket before Tongue removed captain Salman Ali Agha and then trapped Ali Usman LBW with consecutive deliveries.
By the tea interval, Pakistan were 150 for seven, with Mohammad Rizwan unbeaten on 11. After the break, Tongue trapped Rizwan LBW to end the innings. Rizwan reviewed the decision immediately, but the on-field call was upheld due to umpire’s call on ball-tracking.
Imam scored 42 runs from 74 balls, including six boundaries, while Salman made 21 runs off 29 balls. Rizwan contributed 12 runs, and Khurram Shahzad added a quick 14 from 12 deliveries. Play was delayed for nearly two hours due to rain, but once resumed, England’s seamers exploited the favorable conditions to wrap up Pakistan’s innings.
England will continue their innings after lunch with Root and Cox aiming to erase the deficit and secure a first-innings lead.
