Rain causes fresh delay to England-Pakistan second Test

Groundstaff work on the pitch as rain delays the start of play on the fifth day of the second Test 

Rain prevented the scheduled 11:00 a. m. local time start of the fifth day’s play in the second Test between England and Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl yesterday - the latest interruption to a fixtures plagued by bad weather.

Only 96.2 overs have been bowled so far in a match that has long appeared destined for a draw, with England seven for one in reply to Pakistan’s first innings 236.
While the umpires have faced widespread criticism for their strict interpretation of the rules regarding bad light even on a ground where the floodlights have been in use, there was little they could do about an early morning downpour yesterday that saturated the outfield at Hampshire’s Headquarters.

Pakistan struck with just the fourth ball of England’s reply on Sunday when left-arm quick Shaheen Afridi had Rory Burns caught by Asad Shafiq at second slip for a duck with a fine delivery that swung and seamed.

Dom Sibley (two not out) and Zak Crawley (five not out), recalled in place of Ben Stokes after the all-rounder withdrew to be with his ill father in New Zealand, both struggled against Afridi and the accurate Mohammad Abbas in overcast, bowler-friendly conditions, before the umpires called a halt at 12:00 p. m. 

Play was finally abandoned for the day at 3:51 p. m.

Predictably, the Ageas Bowl was bathed in sunshine minutes after that decision was announced. 

Pakistan were indebted to Mohammad Rizwan, who top-scored with 72 and expertly shepherded the tail when it looked like they might be dismissed for under 200.
He was eventually last man out after an innings that spanned four days.

Rizwan batted for three and three-quarter hours, facing 139 balls with seven boundaries during his second fifty in eight career Tests following the 95 he made against Australia in Brisbane in November.

Abid Ali (60) and Babar Azam (47) also battled hard in difficult conditions for batting.

Stuart Broad led England’s attack with four for 56 in 27.2 overs, a return that took the in-form paceman’s tally in four Tests this season to 26 wickets at an average of 12.38.
-AFP