Thursday, August 4, 2016

Early blow for Pakistan after Sohail magic limits England to 297

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan lost Mohammad Hafeez in the very first over of their innings on Thursday, after Sohail Khan?s five-wicket haul on the previous day restricted England to 297.

Hafeez fell to swing bowler James Anderson at duck, as he cut the slightly short delivery and was caught at point by Gary Ballance on the fourth ball of the over.

Opener Sami Aslam, in for Shan Masood, and Azhar Ali steadied the ship, taking Pakistan to 53 for 1 as of 21 overs. Sami and Azhar are not out at 20 and 26, respectively.

Sohail marked his return to Test cricket after a five-year absence with a maiden five-wicket haul as Pakistan dismissed England for 297 on the first day of the third Test at Edgbaston.

After Sohail sparked a top-order collapse, England were indebted to left-handers Gary Ballance (70) and Moeen Ali (63) for taking them to what could yet prove a challenging total.

Sohail, a 32-year-old right-arm quick, removed a quartet of top-order batsman on his way to figures of five for 96 in 23 overs.

Sohail's return was all the more impressive as his previous two Tests -- against Sri Lanka at Karachi in 2009 and against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2011 -- had yielded a combined haul of one for 245.

A stress fracture of the back after last year?s World Cup provided a further check on his progress.

He was recalled in place of Wahab Riaz as Pakistan broke up the all left-arm pace attack they had deployed for the first two Tests of this four-match contest following England´s 330-run series-leveling win at Old Trafford.

Sohail took the new ball after Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss on a gloomy morning, with some moisture in the pitch after overnight rain.

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