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Rediff.com  » Cricket » 2nd Test, Day 1: Centurions Cook and Root keep England on top vs Pakistan

2nd Test, Day 1: Centurions Cook and Root keep England on top vs Pakistan

July 23, 2016 00:08 IST
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England's Alastair Cook celebrates his century with Joe Root in Day 1 on the 2nd Test on Friday

IMAGE: England's Alastair Cook celebrates his century with Joe Root on Day 1 of the 2nd Test at Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday. Photograph: Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff/Livepic

Alastair Cook and Joe Root made centuries to lift England to a commanding 314 for four at the close on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan on Friday.

Scorecard

The pair shared a smooth second-wicket partnership of 185 in excellent batting conditions at Old Trafford to frustrate the Pakistanis who won the first Test at Lord's.

Cook was bowled by Mohammad Amir for 105 on the stroke of tea but Root continued to flay the tiring attack to all corners of the ground and finished unbeaten on 141 with Chris Woakes two not out.

Pakistan's Mohammad Amir celebrates taking the wicket of England's Alex Hales

IMAGE: Pakistan's Mohammad Amir celebrates taking the wicket of England's Alex Hales. Photograph: Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff/Livepic

Pakistan started well after losing the toss when fast bowler Amir bowled Alex Hales for 10 with a rapid full-pitched delivery.

Cook and Root carried the hosts to 95 for one at lunch and the skipper, mixing watchful defence with crisp drives and cuts that brought him 15 fours, calmly advanced to his 29th test hundred and first of the year.

It was a surprise when Amir produced a ball that kept low and crashed into Cook's stumps off the bottom of the bat.

England's Joe Root celebrates his century  

IMAGE: England's Joe Root celebrates his century. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff Livepic/Action Images via Reuters

Root also looked in excellent touch after his recent barren patch and went to his 10th Test century by clipping spinner Yasir Shah to the mid-wicket boundary, one of his 18 fours.

James Vince played some well-timed strokes on his way to 18 but, as so often before in his fledgling test career, he was undone by a full ball outside off stump and edged Rahat Ali to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

Gary Ballance then made a careful 23 before he chopped a lifting ball from Rahat on to his stumps.

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Source: REUTERS
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