Manchester test: Cook piles runs against Pakistan

MANCHESTER: England captain Alastair Cook left Pakistan needing to rewrite the record books if they were to win the second Test at Old Trafford, after opting against enforcing the follow-on on Sunday's third day.

At stumps, England, looking to level the four-Test series at 1-1, were 98 for one in their second innings.That gave them a lead of 489 runs

Cook was 49 not out and vice-captain Joe Root remained unbeaten on 23.

Shortly before the close, England opener Alex Hales (24) was caught behind off Mohammad Amir.

Pakistan were dismissed for just 198 in reply to England's 589 for eight declared .

Pakistan's first innings saw Chris Woakes taking four for 67, while Root held four catches at second slip.

Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, provided a lesson in application to the rest of the top order with an innings-high  of 52.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2016.