Time against Pakistan as play abandoned on day three

No play was possible on day three of the second Test between England and Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl, as a combination of persistent rain and heavy cloud kept the players off the field.

What appearances they made were merely to cross back and forth between the pavilion and the onsite hotel. Quite how they are to turn this match into something meaningful remains to be seen. Only 86 overs of play have been possible over the first three days. Play was eventually abandoned without a ball being bowled at 5:15pm.

England remain a wicket away from bowling Pakistan out, who made it to 223 for nine on day two in their first innings.

That was largely down to Mohammad Rizwan’s belligerent 60 not out, rallying against an England seam attack who were looking to profit from humid conditions that were exaggerating the ball’s movement through the air and the assistance on offer from the pitch.

Despite being reduced to 120 for five and 176 for seven, Pakistan were able to make it to 215 for nine by the end of day two. But the positives of that fightback are negated somewhat by the lack of time left in the match to force the win they need to level the series after England won the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford by three wickets.

Of course, it would be foolish to rule out either side emerging with a win. We have seen enough unpredictability from both these two to suggest outlandish turns are not beyond them, for better and worse.

And the onus is on Pakistan and captain Azhar Ali to force the issue without England’s blessings. Joe Root would not want to jeopardise his 1-0 lead, which England need to convert to an outright win to take the #RaiseTheBat series which has been in Pakistan’s possession since 2010.

Though the weather is much better for the final two days, the heavy air will still be around, lending itself to more bowler friendly conditions ahead. With Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Abbas and Naseem Shah, they have the attack to exploit them, and the leg spin of Yasir Shah which almost took them to victory last week.

It is a diverse and world-class attack. The only thing they do not have is time.

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