Pakistan 259 for five (Ghulam 118, Ayub 77) vs England
Although he fell behind at the time of 118, beaten by Shoaib Bashir as he looked to stay proactive with similar games ahead, Ghulam’s debut efforts helped propel Pakistan to 259 for five, hardly a riche according to the criteria that England have been handing out at exactly this very moment of finishing the ground, but it is still the beginning of a classification.
All of these concerns can be expected now, thanks to the efforts of Ghulam, who, at the age of 29, was the second-oldest Pakistani to document his first century. He achieved the feat with a jaunty leg-side swing off Joe Root, then a worrying wait in the 90s that had encompassed late-night drinking crack. A few more stretch moments may no longer faze him, more than a decade into Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy career, in whose generation he would probably have assumed his haul of over 4,500 runs in 49 would be lost of sight forever.
Their innings had started with 19 for two in the tenth over, then Leach (he bowled the ball early after Stokes’ quick skin check) had become the first England spinner to hit twice so early in a Test. adjustment. since Johnny Briggs in 1889. His influence threatened any further crisis like Pakistan’s fourth fall in the first Test, but Ghulam proved his worth from the start, showing his familiarity with the arid conditions and his faith in the ways. that despite everything he had been stained.
His first boundary was a composed formation for 6 again over Leach’s head, and as he moved towards his maiden half-century from 104 balls, he recorded a milestone that had eluded his more illustrious compatriot, Babar Azam, in the 18th over. entries in a way that had ended in their omission.
However, Ghulam had faced just two fast bowling in his first 120 when Stokes was introduced into the attack mid-afternoon, and the problem quickly went up a notch. In his first over, Stokes found a heavy edge that flew towards a catchable top during the empty slip cordon, and when a second edge fell soon after, Root found himself putting on a helmet 4 yards from the bat in an attempt to create any edge. It depends more anticipation.
The leap forward, however, came at the other extreme. Ayub’s popularity had taken a hit in this series, largely as a consequence of his failed initial partnership with Abdullah Shafique, who at least reached double figures for the first generation in nine innings. There wasn’t much more, however, as Leach bowled Shafique for 7 to leave Pakistan fifteen for 1, before Shan Masood caught Zak Crawley at mid-wicket for three.
In isolation, on the other hand, Ayub has had certified luck in Pakistan’s series supremacy, and this was his third half-century in four first innings, following his two fifties against Bangladesh that ended further. However, as tea approached and England began to build ball communication, Matthew Potts threatened their outside advantage with a host of outswingers from over the wicket, before Stokes managed a corporate push during the layout of too direct a way. halfway (168 for three).
Later, Brydon Carse, active as ever, hit Saud Shakeel with a long ball, and the closer found his lead for four with a speed well over 140 km/h/87 mph that passed Jamie Smith in the back of the stumps. And England’s position would have been even more powerful had Ben Duckett latched on directly to a slap from Ghulam, in the 79th, as he opted to pull the attack towards the returning Leach and almost paid the cost at mid-wicket.
The cost of the economy of Stokes and his seamers during a morning consultation often lasted overnight, with Carse helping to supply Rizwan under the cosh for 19 clean deliveries before Potts took over and almost hit a fribbling that altered the tickets. His first pass to Rizwan, in the sixth of the series, was fired when the outside edge entered Smith’s gloves, but England refused to merit a review, even though replays showed the ball had brushed the junction of his bat.
England’s efforts paid off for any further leap forward before the last, and although he had once again been the weakest link in the attack, Bashir forced his hand with a major clash overdue at that point. Armed with the unused second ball, he slipped a good length delivery as Ghulam’s pace wore thin, and chipped away at leg supremacy to get an essential opening that would do nothing but create the residue in Pakistan’s quest for a first innings. useful.
Andrew Miller is the British writer for ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket
