England vs Pakistan 1st Test, Day 1: Babar Azam (69*) was the highest scorer of the first day.
England vs Pakistan (ENG vs PAK) 1st Test, Day 1 Highlights: Pakistan scored 139/2 on Day 1 in the 1st Test vs England in Manchester, with Babar Azam (69*) and Shan Masood (46*) having put on an unbeaten 96-run partnership. After rain stopped play for three hours, extra time was added at the end of the day, with the Pakistan innings resuming from 121/2. Because of low light, England were allowed to only bowl spinners after the restart. The umpires stopped play for the day with the score at 139/2 because of bad light.
The visitors reached the Lunch break at 53/2, with Masood and Azam at the crease. Azam made a confident start to the second session, as Pakistan crossed the 100-run mark within the first hour of the session. When rain stopped play, Azam had reached his 14th Test 50 and added a 78-run stand with Masood. Masood received a couple of repreives from wicketkeeper Jos Buttler but stuck around to play the sheet anchor.
England vs Pakistan 1st Test Live Cricket Score Updates: Azhar Ali and Joe Root's men all set to face each other at Manchester. (FILE)
Stumps have been called on Day 1 because of low light after several rain interruptions. Pakistan are 139/2, Babar Azam on 69, Shan Masood on 46. We are set for an exciting Day 2 though, with Babar Azam having showed some fine touch today.
The players go off again. The umpires say the light is not good enough for play to continue. The players troop off again in the latest twist of this stop-start day. Play is held up for now. Fingers crossed they'll come out again. Pakistan are 139/2, Babar Azam on 69, Shan Masood on 46.
Babar Azam sweeps Joe Root, bowling round the wicket, for four. And he carries on on his merry way against Bess too. Another four. Danced down the track and belted for four over mid on. PAK 139/2
Jos Buttler lets Shan Masood off the hook! Shan Masood loses patience and dances down the track. Butller cannot collect! The ball hits him on the shoulder. Masood can get back. Big let off! Bess is definitely causing some problems in this last session. PAK 128/2
Bess gets appeals of lbw going against Shan Masood. Close! Joe Root to bowl himself, with Archer not being allowed to bowl because of low light. Cries of 'catch' against Masood in that over as well. Michael Holding and Nasser Hussain predict England will bowl 6-7 overs with these two spinners and then bring back Archer so that play is called off for the day. Shan Masood, on 45, has been in his 40s for a while now. PAK 125/2
More drama! The umpires have a word with Joe Root, telling him they cannot have Jofra Archer bowling short in such light. Joe Root stands bemusedly for a while. Dom Bess, the spinner, comes over to his captain and has an animated conversation. The fourth official brings out the light meter. A lot happening in the middle, but in the end of it all, Dom Bess has the ball in hand, Babar Azam to face.
Archer starts proceedings with pace and bounce against Babar Azam. There are blue skies over Manchester at the moment but the lights are on. So the light could be a factor late in the day as well. Masood ducks under an Archer bouncer. PAK 122/2
Is an ask from England to be bowling 22.5 overs in 75 minutes. We are ready for the restart, Jofra Archer to complete his over. Babar Azam facing, picking up from his 78-run partnership with Shan Masood. We resume.
We shall get some cricket on Day 1 after all! restart will be 10:15 pm IST. 22.5 overs remaining. Scheduled close of play 7pm
Not been a better finish at Old Trafford since the days of Van Persie. Mark Wood delivers a clinical finish to a team goal for England, with a perfect finish into the bin. That's the sort of clinical precision the England bowlers have lacked in the second session today though.
The umpires are scheduled to take a call at 10 pm IST. If there is no possible play by 10:30 PM IST, then play will be called off for the day. So that has to be the last verdict on the day. Michael Vaughan, meanwhile, wants cricket to stop being so much of a slave to weather's whims.
Another inspection at 10 pm IST. That's the update from the middle. The umpires have had a look and they decide they want to take another call in another 20 minutes. Meanwhile, on the sidelines, the England players are enjoying some football keepy uppy.
The rain is holding up. The umpires are scheduled to carry out an inspection of the playing conditions at 9:30 pm IST. The umpires are on the ground at the moment, with the ground staff busy in mopping up the outfield. More rain will put paid to all these efforts though.
After Babar Azam toyed with the English bowlers, now the clouds are playing games with hopes. In the latest development, the rain has stopped again, the ground staff are starting to remove the covers, and the Super Sopper has been released. Let's see if this dry spell holds.
And to pour water on hopes of resuming, rain has restarted in Manchester. Babar Azam is the talk of the town at the moment for the way he has shown his class in the second session, but the role played by Shan Masood at the top of the order has been splendid too.
So, rain has stopped and we should be ready for some play on the third session now. However, the outfield is not fit for play to start right now. The field staff at work to dry up the field as we wait for resumption and one final session on Day 1. Both sessions have been interrupted by rain so far.
And as the rain shows no signs of letting up, the Tea break has been taken. Half an hour early. We are waiting on word from the heavens on when play can resume. A very well-time interruption for England, who have the chance to recuperate from the Babar Azam special we were treated to in the afternoon session. At the end of the (curtailed) second session, Pakistan are 121/2 after 41.1 overs. Babar Azam is on 52. Shan Masood, on 45, has played the role of sheet anchor to perfection at the other end.
The umpires take the players off as some rain comes down again. That's the second rain interruption we have seen today. This comes at the wrong time for Pakistan, who were looking to go away with it courtesy this partnership. England will be relieved to walk off and get some respite from this Babar Azam masterclass. Pakistan are 121/2 at the break.
A six, a four and a single in the 41st over from Babar Azam to bring up his 50, continuing to stamp his class on all the English bowlers. He brings his 50 up off 71 balls. It had 9 fours, and a lot of class. England, who were looking incisive in the first session, have a flat look about them. This partnership, with Shan Masood playing sheet anchor, is now worth 78. PAK 121/2
Babar Azam has taken control of the second session. Archer digs one in but Babar Azam rocks back and punches the short ball through the covers for a four. Commanding stuff! Archer goes short at him again, Babar Azam rocks away to leave this one alone. England have had nothing to show in the second session today. PAK 113/2 after 40, both Azam and Masood on 45. Drinks are taken, signalling the end of the first hour of the session. Tino Best is enjoying Babar Azam's dominance of Archer.