- Cook moves level with Don Bradman on 29 Test centuries
Alastair Cook and Joe Root made centuries as England put themselves in the driving seat of the second Test against Pakistan, at Old Trafford, closing on 314 for four.
Cook moved level with Don Bradman on 29 Test hundreds, making 105 from 172 balls before he was bowled by a magnificent swinging delivery from Mohammad Amir. The Pakistan left-armer had earlier accounted for Cook’s opening partner, Alex Hales, for 10 with a slightly fuller delivery as the Nottinghamshire batsman again failed to convince as his captain’s latest partner at the top of the innings.
The day belonged, however, to Root. Cook’s vice-captain made light work of the swinging ball and the clouds that rolled over in the afternoon, playing a number of glorious front-foot drives and offering nary a chance on his way to an unbeaten 141 from 246, featuring 18 fours. His innings was also notable for a number of emphatic pull shots – the same stroke that proved his downfall in the Lord’s defeat – as he looked to dominate the Pakistan attack.
There was some encouragement for Pakistan, even with the Old Trafford pitch offering less turn than expected for Yasir Shah, who was riding high on the back of a 10-wicket haul in the first Test at Lord’s but here went for a wicketless century of his own. The three batsmen under most pressure in the England side – Hales, James Vince and Gary Ballance – all failed again, with the latter two both getting out to bad shots.
Vince surprised no one when he drove loosely at a wide delivery from Rahat Ali and nicked to Sarfraz Ahmed behind the stumps for 18. The same bowler then had Ballance chopping on as he attempted to cut a shorter ball too close to his body for the shot, departing for 23. Chris Woakes was sent in as a nightwatchman and given the current form of the three respective players, some might think the Warwickshire all-rounder should be above the other two on merit. – Agencies
