England vs Pakistan report: Butter fingers mean only one wicket on second day

Three catches went down in the first session of the second day's play at The Oval

Finn reacts to dropping Azhar Ali (Getty)

England's shoddy catching was beginning to prove costly as Asad Shafiq kept Pakistan in strong contention on day two of the fourth Investec Test at The Oval.

Shafiq (79 not out) was one of three tourists dropped by England before lunch. His was perhaps the toughest of the chances for England to take - put down by James Anderson at third slip on seven.

The middle-order batsman took advantage to guide Pakistan to a teatime 196 for three in reply to 328 all out.

It was a repeat of Thursday's events, when Pakistan's dropped catches the previous day had included a reprieve for home centurion Moeen Ali when he had made just nine.

In glorious batting conditions, England mustered just one wicket in each session - nightwatchman Yasir Shah and then Azhar Ali.

That pair added 49 for the second wicket, Yasir keeping England's seamers at bay through the first hour by interspersing a series of often comical scrapes with some handy shots.

It was getting beyond a joke for the hosts when Alex Hales scuppered Chris Woakes' party trick of taking a wicket in his first over by dropping a straightforward chance at gully.

But Hales, seething after being dismissed cheaply to a low catch claimed by Yasir on the first morning and fined 15 per cent of his match fee in the aftermath, was bailed out when Steven Finn had the nightwatchman edging to a juggling yet safe Joe Root at second slip.

Woakes' luck was still out, Shafiq escaping as Anderson could not hold the sharp catch away to his right.

England then concluded their faulty morning when Finn put down a return chance from Azhar's straight drive on 35, as Pakistan moved into an ever more advantageous position on a very good surface under near cloudless skies.

It was not until England happened upon Hotspot evidence demonstrating Azhar had gloved a sweep off Moeen, one short of his 50, that they broke the third-wicket stand on 75.

The hosts appeared more interested in a second bite at an lbw appeal - but the ball also looped into Jonny Bairstow's hands and third umpire Joel Wilson gave Azhar out caught behind.

Shafiq was unperturbed and, owing Pakistan some runs after his pair in their defeat at Edgbaston last week, he completed a 75-ball half-century which contained seven fours and a six over long-on off Moeen.

He and Younus Khan duly closed out the session in an unbroken partnership of 69.

PA