After Rain and bad light being the spoiler for the most part of the match, the 2nd test match between England and Pakistan ended on a draw at the Rose Bowl, Southampton with England still enjoying a 1-0 lead going into the 3rd test match starting from August 21 also at Rose Bowl, Southampton.
Only 134.3 overs were bowled across the five days, with rain washing out all of the third day and most of the fourth day. Time was lost during the first two days because of wet weather and bad light frustrating both camps who were looking for play especially Pakistan who were eager for an equalizer.
Also Read : England vs Pakistan, Day 2: Rizwan 60* takes Pak at 223/9 with bad light forcing early stumps
Any possibility of play on the fifth morning was wiped out by heavy rain overnight, but the players eventually got out on the field at 3:20 pm local time. Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley resumed for England on 7/1 in reply to Pakistan’s 236 all out.
Crawley was happy to take on the hook shot when the Pakistan quicks tried to bounce him, and Yasir Shah’s introduction saw the England No. 3 advance down the pitch and loft the leg-spinner down the ground for four.
Watch the highlights from the final day of a strange and frustrating second #raisethebat Test 👇#ENGvPAK
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 17, 2020
It was a fierce battle between the two, with the legspinner looking to attack and the batsman also looking to dominate at the same time. Crawley got to his fifty with a four off Yasir but fell soon after, out leg-before to Abbas. Sibley wasn’t able to convert his start into a fifty as he was caught down the leg side to give Abbas his second wicket.
Yasir shah trapped Ollie Pope in front in on. Joe Root and Jos Buttler were unbeaten when both teams decided they had enough after the game entered the final hour with England’s declaration.
🏴 MATCH DRAWN 🇵🇰
Azhar Ali produces a wonderful out-swinger to beat Jos Buttler's outside edge with what turned out to be the final ball of the second #ENGvPAK Test.
SCORECARD ▶️ https://t.co/AvmXf8XQqH pic.twitter.com/ctYpPVF0uh
— ICC (@ICC) August 17, 2020
Earlier, Pakistan captain Azhar Ali opting to bat, faced 45.4 overs on Day 1 as Pakistan managed 126 for 5, with Abid Ali scoring a half-century. On Day 2, 40.2 overs were bowled with the visitors losing quick wickets but a gutsy fifty from Mohammad Rizwan helped them to 223 for 9 at Stumps. Rain and bad light combined to play spoilsport on Day 3 without a single ball being bowled while only 10.2 overs were bowled on Day 4 – Pakistan facing 5.2 of them, and England five overs.
Mohammad Rizwan was named as the Player of the match for his attacking 72 runs.
