Root, Woakes star as England dominate

Manchester, July 23

Joe Root's double century and three wickets from Chris Woakes put England on course for a series-levelling win in the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford today.

Pakistan ended the second day having collapsed to 57/4 in reply to England's first innings 589/8 declared, a huge deficit of 532 runs. Root's Test-best 254, just the sixth double century scored in 132 years of Test cricket at Old Trafford, saw him bat for more than 10 hours.

Woakes, who earlier on Saturday made a brisk 58, then underlined his growing all-round credentials with three for 18 in six overs as he dismissed Mohammad Hafeez (18), Azhar Ali and nightwatchman Rahat Ali (both one). Left-handed opener Shan Masood (30 not out) and Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq (one not out) got through to the close.

England resumed on their overnight 314/4, with vice-captain Root 141 not out after he had shared a second-wicket stand of 185 with skipper and fellow senior batsman Alastair Cook (105). Although sent in as a nightwatchman, Woakes showed his batting class on Saturday during a boundary-filled fifty that saw him outscore Root in a fifth-wicket partnership of 103.

Two not out overnight, Woakes — who has scored nine first-class hundreds - was soon demonstrating a fundamentally orthodox batting technique with a succession of fours off Rahat.

Mohammad Amir was uppercut for six high over third man by Woakes. Root had not given a chance on Friday but on 155 he had a reprieve when an outside edge off leg-spinner Yasir Shah just carried to slip. — AFP