LONDON: Captain Azhar Ali fell cheaply once again after lunch as Pakistan were 85-2 at tea onthe first day of the second Test against England in Southampton on Thursday.
Azhar, who was nearly out for seven, fell for 20 when he edged paceman James Anderson and second slip Rory Burns, who had already dropped a catch, held onto a low chance.
His dismissal meant Azhar had made just one fifty in 11 Test innings since becoming skipper in November.
The Pakistan skipper had come under pressure both as a result of his own form and for the tactics he employed last week during a decisive stand of 139 between Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes that saw England come from behind to win the first Test at Old Trafford by three wickets.
As Azhar walked off, a thunder clap echoed round the Ageas Bowl and soon afterwards rain stopped play with Pakistan 85-2.
Abid Ali, dropped twice in the slips, was 49 not out.
Anderson, who had figures of 2-24 in 12 overs, was now just eight wickets away from becoming the first paceman to take 600 Test wickets.
Pakistan, 1-0 down in a three-match series, were soon in trouble at 6-1 after Azhar won the toss.
By his own admission, Anderson — England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker — had not been at his best at Old Trafford last week.
He came into this match having taken just six wickets in three Tests this season at an expensive average of over 41 apiece.
But England captain Joe Root said on the eve of this match: “To question Jimmy’s ability and his record — do that at your own peril.”
And in humid conditions conducive to Anderson’s swing bowling, the 38-year-old paceman brought one back into Shan Masood to have the left-handed opener, fresh from his Test-best 156 last week, lbw for one.
