England vs. Pakistan at Lord’s - 4th Test, Day 2: Trott and Stuart Broad centuries lead England to imposing 346
It was once again a case of so close yet so far for Pakistan. The men in green have made a habit of letting go of commanding positions in the match. After the mesmerizing spell of 6 wickets by Mohammad Aamer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 had England by the scruff of the neck at 102 for 7. However, once again they let them get away, as Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad put on an unbeaten partnership of 244 as England ended the day at 346/7.
The 4th Test is the decider in the series that is at 2-1 in favour of England, and more than the hosts, it’s Pakistan who are looking for a win to level the series. The first day of the match was pretty much lost due to rain and now it looks unlikely that Pakistan would be able to force a win. However, they can still lose it from here considering their fragile batting line-up.
The day started with England resuming at 39 for the loss of one wicket. Alastair Cook, who scored a hundred in the last match to secure a place in the 4th Test, was sent back early; he did not add any runs to the overnight score. Mohammad Aamer was making the ball talk and he got one to pitch at a good length and went down the slope taking the edge. Cook scored 10 from 37 balls with 1 four. Kevin Pietersen came in next, and in his typical arrogant style he went after the very first ball. It was pitched wide and he probably thought it would come in off the slope, but it stayed on its path and he was caught behind for naught. Paul Collingwood negotiated the hat-trick ball but the slope accounted for him too, as Aamer got one to move back sharply and with his bat behind his pads he was given out after a referral by the Pakistan team. Eoin Morgan was the 3rd man to go on naught. He was caught in the slips as he played a half-hearted push to an away going ball from Aamer.
At 47 for 5, wicketkeeper Matt Prior joined Jonathan Trott and the duo started the fight back. The pair added 55 runs and took the score past 100. Soon after the lunch break, Mohammad Aamer struck again and got two more wickets. Prior was the first as he edged one to the keeper. He scored 22 from 72 balls. In the same over, Graeme Swann (0) was caught in the slips and it looked as if Pakistan would be able to knock England over inside 150.
Jonathan Trott, who scored a hundred against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 on his debut, once again showed his resilience, and Stuart Broad for the 2nd time caused frustration to the Pakistan attack. The defence against the moving ball soon became an assault from both ends. As the sun came out and the shine went away, the two batsmen in the middle started collecting runs with relative ease.
Jonathan Trott was most severe on the covers; he drove every ball marginally in his arc. Broad, meanwhile, started playing like a Test veteran and let loose a flurry of square-cuts and cover-drives.
Trott went on to complete his hundred. It was a well deserved century and the Pakistan team had gone totally flat by then. Stuart Broad also took the opportunity to get his career-best score and completed his maiden Test hundred. Once again, not to say that it was not deserved, but Pakistan does have a habit of enabling most players in the world to get their career-best bowling or batting records. This was just one more to add to the tally.
Two referrals were crucial at the end of the day; first when Ajmal caught Broad on his pads; with the replays showing it was going over, the decision stood. Soon after, he once again appealed for lbw and it was given out, but this time Broad used the referral and was given not out. The ball was clearly missing the leg stump on replays.
Pakistan ended the day on a low after being on top in the first half; it would be a long mountain to climb for Pakistan as England ended on 346 for 7. Trott was unbeaten on 149 (with 15 boundaries) and Broad was 125 not out (aided by 11 boundaries and 1 six).
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