• Crawley frustrates Pakistan

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    A magnificent double century by Zak Crawley helped England pile on the runs on the second day of the third Test against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl.

    Crawley, who brought up his very first Test ton on Friday, continued where he left off and, with Jos Buttler, the pair continued to frustrate the Pakistan bowlers by taking the attack to the visitors.

    It didn’t take long for Buttler to reach his three-figure total in a welcoming runs return for the wicketkeeper after coming under scrutiny in recent times.

    READ: Crawley puts England in command

    Crawley then reached his special milestone as he surpassed the 200-run mark in excellent fashion before he eventually fell to Asad Shafiq for an incredible knock of 267.

    The wicket also ended the 359-run partnership between Crawley and Buttler, which was England’s highest fifth-wicket stand in Test cricket.

    Buttler, though, continued to score freely and managed to bring up his 150 before falling to Fawad Alam in the end for 159.

    After the wickets of Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad fell, captain Joe Root declared with England on a mammoth 583-8.

    In reply, Pakistan again started on the back foot as James Anderson made early breakthroughs by felling openers Shan Masood and Abid Ali before he trapped the dangerous Babar Azam in front.

    Pakistan would go on to finish the day on 24-3 and with a mountain to climb to save the Test.

    England: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (c), Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Woakes, Dom Bess, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

    Pakistan: Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali (c), Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah.

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    Andre Huisamen