England vs Pakistan report: Hosts extend second Test lead as Alastair Cook decides against follow-on

Visitors bowled out for 198 at Old Trafford before England reach lead of nearly 500 on third day

Alastair Cook opted against enforcing the follow-on as England looked to build a commanding lead (Getty)

England’s reluctance to enforce the follow-on and the vagaries of the Manchester weather ensured Pakistan will live to fight another day in this second Test. But it will surely only be a matter of time before Alastair Cook’s side complete what will be a series-levelling win here.

The only question left to be decided in this one-sided contest is when victory will come for the hosts, who hold a 489-run lead with nine second-innings wickets in hand heading into the final two days.

Whatever transpires from here, Pakistan know they will have to either chase down a world-record target in Tests or bat out the remainder of the match whenever England declare on day four.

Either way, there appears only one outcome after England’s bowlers capitalised on the scoreboard pressure created by their batsmen, led by double centurion Joe Root, over the first two days to hustle out Pakistan for 198 and establish a first-innings lead of 391.

Cook could have decided to enforce the follow-on at that point. But with his bowlers having to get through 63.4 overs to dismiss Pakistan and concerns over the workload of an attack that includes two players in James Anderson and Ben Stokes that are just returning from injury, he decided to play it safe.

That may have triggered accusations of conservatism, but with two more Tests to come in this series and plenty of time left in this match, it was probably the right call, even if 27 overs of this third day were eventually lost to the poor weather.

Stuart Broad celebrates after taking the wicket of Asad Shafiq on Sunday (Getty)

England will go on the attack when they resume their second innings in the morning on 97 for one, Cook well placed on 49 and first-innings hero Root alongside him unbeaten on 19.

However, when the hosts turned up on the third morning they would have had hopes of perhaps finishing off this game on the day given the fragility of Pakistan’s batting during the second evening.

The tourists had collapsed to 57 for four, still 532 runs behind, and the outlook for their chances in this match looked gloomier than the leaden Manchester skies that prompted a 59-minute rain stoppage just half an hour into day three.

Given the favourable conditions, it was no surprise England’s bowlers took four wickets in that interrupted morning session to send Pakistan into lunch on 119 for eight.

Anderson, returning on his home ground after missing the first Test defeat at Lord’s, made the first breakthrough in the fifth over of the day, opener Shan Masood adding nine to his overnight score of 30 before fending the leader of England’s attack to Root at second slip.

The showers then came shortly afterwards with Pakistan 71 for five.

When play resumed, Stuart Broad, tempting Asad Shafiq into a reckless drive to point, grabbed the sixth Pakistan wicket. They had just 76 on the board at the time.

Misbah-ul-Haq held up England's progress with a half-century at Old Trafford on day three (Getty)

Stokes removed Sarfraz Ahmed and Chris Woakes Yasir Shah, both caught by Root at second slip, to ensure the tourists limped into lunch staring at the very real prospect of a three-day defeat.

However, captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Wahab Riaz offered some much-needed post-lunch resistance, the ninth-wicket pair frustrating England’s attack for 15 overs as they compiled a 60-run stand.

Both eventually fell to the spin of Moeen Ali as the innings was wrapped up - all 10 dismissals by England caught for the first time in a home Test since 1972.

Then came the decision not to enforce the follow-on – and the subsequent rain that saw criticism of that move increase. Rain interrupted England’s second innings on three separate occasions – the first coming just 2.4 overs in and with just 11 runs on the board.

That prompted an early tea but the resumption after it lasted just three minutes before the heavens opened once more.

When England did manage to get back on there was enough time for Hales to be dropped on eight by Mohammad Hafeez off Rahat Ali and for the hosts to progress their total beyond 50 before more showers just after 6.15pm forced the players off for a fourth time in the day.

There was still time for one more mini-session encompassing 8.4 overs and that allowed enough time for Pakistan to at least dismiss Hales, the opener falling for 24 when edging Mohammad Amir behind.

It was, though, a pyrrhic victory for the tourists, who will no doubt fight hard over the remainder of this match but will require divine intervention from the weather gods if they are to escape Manchester with their 1-0 series lead intact.