LEEDS: Harry Brook’s blistering 91 helped England take a 195-run lead over Pakistan despite a maiden five-wicket haul by left-arm spinner Ali Usman on day two of the first Test at Headingley on Thursday.
At the conclusion of the second day, the hosts were well-placed at 366/8, leading by 195 runs, with wicketkeeper batter Jamie Smith and No.10 Jofra Archer unbeaten on 16 and zero, respectively.
The final session of the day commenced with Dan Lawrence and Brook resuming England’s first innings from 239/4 and pushing their total past the 300-run mark by stretching their fifth-wicket partnership to 120 runs, which saw both batters bring their respective half-centuries.
Left-arm spinner broke the monumental partnership in the 70th over by dismissing Lawrence, who made a vital contribution to England’s total with a 79-ball 51.
Brook was then involved in a handy 34-run partnership with Smith until falling victim to Usman and agonisingly short of his well-deserved century in the 76th over. He walked back after top-scoring for England with 91 off 93 deliveries, studded with 13 fours.
Usman added two more to his tally as he dismissed Gus Atkinson (three) and Ollie Robinson (zero) in the 80th over to complete his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests and reduced England to 364/8, while Smith and Archer could add two more to the total before the on-field umpires called for stumps.
After the opening session was washed out due to persistent rain here, England resumed their first innings in response to Pakistan’s 171 all out after the lunch break through Cox and Root, who continued to dominate the visitors’ bowling attack,
Cox and Root, as a result, stretched their overnight third-wicket partnership to a mammoth 150, during which they both brought up their respective half-centuries.
Left-arm spinner Usman eventually broke the threatening stand by getting Cox caught behind in the 44th over. The 25-year-old made a 100-ball 73, studded with 14 boundaries.
Joe Root followed suit in the next over, falling victim to Shahzad, and walked back after scoring 66 off 112 deliveries with the help of 10 fours, resulting in England slipping down to 202/4.
Following the back-to-back setbacks, Lawrence joined top-ranked Test batter Brook in the middle, and the duo batted sensibly to put together an unbeaten 37-run partnership, ensuring England head into the break without enduring further setbacks.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Usman and Shahzad have thus far taken one wicket apiece in the first innings.