England roar back to level series against Pakistan

Hosts defeat visitors in second Test by 330 runs runs at Old Trafford

MANCHESTER: England levelled the four-match Test series 1-1 against Pakistan after beating the hosts by 330 runs in the second Test at Old Trafford on Monday.

Pakistan were set a 565-run target in the second innings but failed to reach it courtesy three wickets apiece by James Anderson, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes.

Congratulations to @englandcricket well played @root66 hard luck @TheRealPCB we are still in the series may be next time keep working hard.

— Junaid khan (@JunaidkhanREAL) July 25, 2016

For Pakistan, Hafeez was the top-scorer in the second innings with 42 runs.

Earlier, England opted to bat first in the second Test and posted 589 on the board courtesy ton from captain Alastair Cook and a double ton from right-hand batsman Joe Root.

Well done boys 👏🏼👏🏼 https://t.co/zEcCoCwWfD

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 25, 2016

Pakistan could only manage 198 in reply but England went against forcing a follow-on and extended the target to 565 by scoring 173-1 in the second innings.

Congrats to team england & hard luck to team Pakistan.never mind boys work hard &bounce back strongly good luck4 upcoming games #PakvsEng

— Kamran Akmal (@KamiAkmal23) July 25, 2016

Root was the man-of-the-match for his double century and an unbeaten 71. He also bowled a single wicket-maiden where he dismissed Wahab Riaz.

Pakistan hanging by the tail against England

Sarfraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq departed early after tea as Chris Woakes and James Anderson accounted for the last of Pakistan's dependable batsmen.

WATCH: @chriswoakes has Sarfraz caught down the leg side by Bairstow for 7. PAK 167-6: https://t.co/XbFzNuRrnw https://t.co/dasj3oHNYK

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 25, 2016

WATCH: @jimmy9 traps Shafiq LBW for 39. PAK 167-7: https://t.co/XbFzNuRrnw #ENGvPAK https://t.co/BwwskF6mwG

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 25, 2016

Yasir Shah and Wahab Riaz are on the crease for Pakistan in an near-impossible attempt to save the match.

England will level the four-match series 1-1 if they get three more wickets with more than a day's play left.

Pakistan 161-5 at tea on day four

Moeen Ali took two wickets as England moved closer to victory in the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford on Monday.

However, the second session of the fourth day also saw England all-rounder Ben Stokes leave the field with a calf injury.

At tea, Pakistan were 161 for five in their second innings, needing a further 404 runs to reach their huge victory target of 565.

Asad Shafiq was 35 not out and Sarfraz Ahmed five not out.

Before lunch, James Anderson returning to Test cricket after missing Pakistan's 75-run win in the series opener at Lord's with a shoulder injury, struck twice on his Lancashire home ground to remove both Shan Masood (one) and Azhar Ali (eight).

But with Pakistan on the ropes, England then saw Stokes injured himself while bowling.

After delivering his second ball of the 22nd over, with Pakistan 68 for two, the Durham pace bowler pulled up with a right calf strain and left the field.

An England spokesman said Stokes, returning to England duty this match after suffering a knee injury in the first Test against Sri Lanka in May, would take no further part in the day's play.

The spokesman added the 25-year-old would also undergo a scan on Tuesday to determine the full extent of the injury.

Off-spinner Ali, completing the over, was then hit for six by Mohammad Hafeez.

Two balls later Ali bowled a no-ball full toss that sailed above Hafeez's head.

A second full toss above waist-high could see Ali barred from bowling in the rest of the innings and, with Stokes injured, leave England down to just three frontline bowlers.

However, Ali regained his composure to dismiss both Hafeez (42) and Younis Khan (28) in a spell of two for 13 in 19 balls.

WATCH: @moeenali removes Hafeez for 42, caught Ballance at short leg. PAK 83-3: https://t.co/XbFzNuRrnw #ENGvPAK https://t.co/dDY3AX2OQX

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 25, 2016

WATCH: @moeenali gets Younis for 28, caught @alexhales1 at long on. PAK 102-4: https://t.co/XbFzNuRrnw #ENGvPAK https://t.co/KiQLWRrxvB

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 25, 2016

Hafeez gave a simple bat/pad catch to Gary Ballance at short leg.

Pakistan's 83 for three became 102 for four when Younis, trying to loft Ali over the top, was caught at long-on.

Skills @jimmy9 ⚽⚽ https://t.co/E5FkUiXGjv

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 25, 2016

It was a reckless shot from such an experienced player given that Pakistan needed to bat time to escape with a draw and that there was man deep in the field waiting for a chance.

Misbah too needlessly chanced his arm in hitting Ali for six.

But having made a patient 52 in Pakistan's meagre first innings 198, Misbah was unlucky to fall to Chris Woakes for 35 when he dragged a full toss onto his stumps.

WATCH: @chriswoakes bowls Misbah for 35 via an inside edge. PAK 150-5: https://t.co/XbFzNuRrnw #ENGvPAK
https://t.co/508ijnwKsT

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 25, 2016

Earlier, England declared their second innings on 173 for one.

Alastair Cook, the England captain, was himself 76 not out and Joe Root unbeaten on 71.

England, already with a huge lead of 489 runs, resumed on 98 for one.

Cook, who scored 105 in England's mammoth first innings 589 for eight declared, was 49 not out and vice-captain Root, whose Test-best 254 was the cornerstone of that total, 23 not out.

Between them, they plundered 75 runs in just nine overs on Monday before Cook called a halt.

Pakistan 47-2 against England at lunch on day four

Pakistan were 47 for two, needing a further 518 runs to reach their victory target of 565, at lunch on the fourth day of the second Test against England at Old Trafford on Monday.

Mohammad Hafeez was 24 not out and Younis Khan 12 not out.

Earlier, England declared their second innings on 173 for one, with captain Alastair Cook 76 not out and Joe Root unbeaten on 71.

Pakistan lead the four-match series 1-0 after their 75-run win in the first Test at Lord's.

Pakistan set 565-run target by England for victory

England set Pakistan a mammoth target of 565 to win the second Test after hosts declared their second innings on 173 for one at Old Trafford on Monday.

Alastair Cook, the England captain, was 76 not out, and vice-captain Joe Root 71 not out.

England build on 489-run lead as play resumes on day four

England are set to continue their dominance over Pakistan as they resume their second innings on the score of 98-1 on fourth day of the second Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Captain Alastair Cook (49 not out) and right-handed batsman Joe Root (23 not out) will be aiming to add a few more runs before declaring for the second time in the match as the Green Caps  are already facing a record fourth-innings chase in excess of 500.

Earlier, the visitors were bowled out for 198 just before Tea on day three in reply to England’s first innings total of 589 for eight.

Misbahul Haq finished the innings as the top scorer with 52, whereas left-arm quick Wahab Riaz and opener Shan Masood managed to score 39 each.

For the hosts, all-rounder Chris Woakes claimed four wickets, with right-armer Ben Stokes and off-spinner Moeen Ali picked two wickets apiece.

Surprisingly, English captain Cook decided not to enforce the follow-on and instead opted to bat again in the last session of day three.

Pakistan currently lead the four-match series 1-0 after their 75-run win in the first Test at Lord’s.