England rout Pakistan to level series as Stokes limps off
MANCHESTER: James Anderson marked his return to international duty with three wickets as England beat Pakistan by a massive 330 runs to win the second Test at his Old Trafford home ground on Monday.
But England’s joy in levelling the four-match series at 1-1 was tempered by the sight of all-rounder Ben Stokes going off injured in Monday’s second session.
Chasing a mammoth 565 for victory, Pakistan found batting no easier second time round and were dismissed for 234 in the final session as England levelled the four-match series at 1-1.
“It’s quite nice to bounce back and play like that,” said captain Alastair Cook. “You have to consign the last Test to the bin. “Joe Root’s performance, stepping up to number three in the order from four, was so controlled. We all know what a world-class player he is, he didn’t put a foot wrong.”
England’s Joe Root, who made a Test-best 254 in a mammoth first innings 589 for eight declared, was named man-of-the-match. This was England’s fifth-biggest Test win in terms of runs.
The first innings also saw Cook make 105 — his 29th Test hundred.
England’s two senior batsmen combined again in a second-innings total of 173 for one declared.
Left-handed opener Cook made 76 not out and vice-captain Root 71 not out, with the duo putting on 105 for the second wicket before the skipper called a halt on Monday morning.
Anderson returning to Test cricket after missing Pakistan’s 75-run win in the first Test at Lord’s with a shoulder injury, then struck twice to remove both Shan Masood (one) and Azhar Ali (eight).
But with Pakistan on the ropes, England saw Stokes injure 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 the 25-year-old Stokes, playing his first international match after suffering a knee injury in the first Test against Sri Lanka in May, would undergo a scan on Tuesday to determine the full extent of the injury.
Off-spinner Moeen Ali, completing the over, was then hit for six by Mohammad Hafeez.
Two balls later Moeen bowled a no-ball full toss that sailed above Hafeez’s head.
Moeen, however, regained his composure to dismiss both Hafeez (42) and Younis Khan (28).
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 Moeen over the top, was caught at long-on.
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.