SM
Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 11 hrs 18 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

England

Zak Crawley hits half-century on opening morning of third Test against Pakistan

:Headline: Zak Crawley hits half-century on opening morning of third Test against Pakistan: ID:411086: from db_amp
He was unbeaten on 53 at lunch.

Zak Crawley reeled off an unbeaten half-century as England posted 91 for two on the first morning of the deciding third Test against Pakistan.

Crawley had helped himself to a low-key fifty as the previous match meandered to a draw but this was a much more important knock, getting the home side up and running after England captain Joe Root opted to bat first at the Ageas Bowl.

The Kent batsman, who might not have been in the side had the absent Ben Stokes been available, was unbeaten on 53 at lunch, batting with a breezy positivity that helped cover for the loss of both openers.

Crawley dominated a 61-run stand with Dom Sibley and reached the break alongside Root (10no).

England recalled Jofra Archer in place of Sam Curran, the only change in either team, but the paceman will have to wait for his chance to make an impact.

Instead it was the Pakistan seamers who got the first chance with the new ball, a profitable business so far this summer. In blustery conditions Rory Burns and Sibley enjoyed four safe overs before Shaheen Afridi produced a wonderful delivery to continue the former's lean spell.

Following scores of four, 10 and nought Burns was gone for six, playing at one that pitched around middle stump and took the edge after nipping away off the pitch.

Crawley was next up and marked his arrival by pushing his first ball from Shaheen through square leg for four. That was the start of a busy spell of scoring from the 22-year-old, who put bat on ball with regularity and placed his shots well.

There were a couple of nice strokes from Naseem Shah, a flick down to fine leg then a strong pull, as he led a fifty stand with Sibley, who was going about his business in steadier fashion.

The Warwickshire man had been looking to use his feet to the spin of Yasir Shah, hoping to open up the leg side but eventually paying with his wicket as he looked to whip towards mid-wicket. He reviewed the lbw decision but Michael Gough's judgement was typically sound.

Crawley's rapid scoring was slowed as Naseem and Yasir tied things up nicely and after 16 balls on 49 it looked as though he would enter the break just short of his milestone. Instead he got there with the final ball of the session, driving stylishly to long-off.

amp_article__411086 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-08-21 12:26:20:
html db last update - 2020-08-21 12:26:20 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .