Root hit nine boundaries during his unbeaten knock of 76

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

England batsman Joe Root scored an unbeaten 76 and captain Alastair Cook made 65 to put their side in a strong position at the end of the second day of the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai.

Starting out the day on 282/4, Pakistan lost captain Misbah-ul-Haq early on before they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. However, thanks to Asad Shafiq’s 83, which came off 178 balls and included nine boundaries, Pakistan managed to make 378 before being dismissed.

Shafiq made a gutsy 83

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Moeen Ali and Mark Wood picked up three wickets apiece, while James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Ben Stokes and Adil Rashid chipped in with one wicket each.

Trailing by 378 runs, England got off to a terrible start as they lost Ali and Ian Bell for one and four respectively.

However, Cook and Root stabilised the innings with a 113-run partnership, during which Cook brought up his half-century, before he was caught by Ahmed Shehzad, who was the substitute fielder, at leg slip off the bowling of Yasir Shah.

Cook’s excellent innings of 65 came off 117 balls and included 10 boundaries.

Cook’s excellent form with the bat continued

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Root and Jonny Bairstow kept the runs flowing with an unbeaten 55-run stand, during which Root registered his half-century, before stumps was called.

Root finished on 76 off 118 balls, which included nine boundaries, while Bairstow remained undefeated on 27 off 56 deliveries, which included two boundaries and a six.

Shah, Wahab Riaz and Imran Khan claimed one wicket each.

England ended day two on 182/3 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:00 local time or 06:00 GMT.