Joe Root was out for a GOLDEN DUCK as England struggled to cope with Pakistan’s spinners early on the second day of the final Test in Karachi… but a half-century from Ollie Pope and a mighty knock from Harry Brook helped Ben Stokes’ side recover to 140-4
- Pakistan took control of the first Test against England on the morning of the second day
- Spinners Abrar Ahmed and Nauman Ali both took two wickets for the hosts
- Joe Root falls first ball to continue his difficult tour for Ben Stokes’ side
- Ollie Pope and Harry Brook resisted the pressure to impress with the bat again
England stumbled against Pakistan’s spinners on the second morning of the third and final Test in Karachi, with Joe Root among the victims for a golden duck.
By lunch, they had recovered slightly to 140 for four, thanks to a fine half-century from Ollie Pope – his third score of 50 or more in five innings in this series – and another brilliant knock from Harry Brook .
But Pope was choked by an unplayable delivery from Abrar Ahmed that hit leg and struck before he could understand what was happening, and England were grateful for the class of Brook, who launched Abrar for two straight sixes and entered the rest at 38.
Pakistan’s spinners impressed on the second morning of the final Test match in Karachi
Ollie Pope (left) scored 50 for the visitors but fell soon after as Ben Stokes’ side struggled
Along with him, on 25, is Ben Stokes. England trail by 164 on a pitch that continues to help the slow bowlers.
Earlier, left-arm spinner Nauman Ali – in his first game of the series – found himself on a hat-trick after trapping Ben Duckett leg-before for 26, then encouraging Root to slanted down to Agha Salman’s left at slip as he failed to deal with a ball that spun and bounced.
It was Root’s first golden duck in Tests since the 2019 Ashes, and left him with 125 runs in this series at the age of 25 – a performance that not only exceeded his own expectations, but the success of his players. teammate.
Joe Root (right) falls for a golden duck – his first since 2019 – as his tough tour continues
Since starring against New Zealand and India last summer, Root has made 171 runs off 19 against South Africa and here in Pakistan. He will come again, but for now his year ends in anti-climax.
Duckett and Pope batted well in the first 10 overs of the day, taking 19 from Mohammad Wasim’s first two overs in Test cricket, then reaching 50 thanks to Duckett’s six down the ground off Abrar.
But Duckett was trapped in Nauman’s fold. He asked for a review, but DRS had the point of off-stump impact as the umpire called.
Young Harry Brook has once again provided a solid foundation to England’s middle order
Stokes (right) was not with Brook at lunch as England tried to rebuild their innings
When Root came and went in a flash, making it 58 for three, Pakistan were delighted, but Brook eased the hat-trick ball into deep point for a single, and immediately rediscovered that touch brought him many centuries to Rawalpindi and Multan.
After the demise of Pope, who left England 98 for four, Stokes batted as we expected – without a care in the world. He used his legs to lift Wasim over extra cover for four, then smashed Nauman outside the edge for four more.
Perhaps the shot of the morning, however, came when Brook gave himself room outside leg stump to ease Wasim through the covers. At lunch, England added 133 to the session, and kept their constant promise to entertain, entertain, entertain.
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