The ongoing First Test between England and Pakistan at Headingley has seen the host dominate the proceedings. Pakistan was asked to bat first by Joe Root after winning the toss and were bundled out for 171 runs. Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson picked five wickets each.
Then Jordan Cox (73), Joe Root (66), Dan Lawrence (51) and Harry Brook (91) led England to 366/8 at stumps on day 2 of the Test. Ali Usman picked 5/92 in a brilliant display of spin bowling.
Dan Lawrence had been recalled to England after quite some time and looked fluent throughout his innings. However, there was a moment when Lawrence would’ve had his heart in his mouth after playing a poor shot and getting almost run out, only to be saved by peak comedy of errors from Pakistan.
Dan Lawrence and Harry Brook had established a reliable partnership for the fifth wicket when the tragedy happened in the 62nd over of England's first innings.
Usman and Dan Lawrence's match got off to a thrilling start when the English batsman hit the Pakistani spinner for a boundary on the third delivery. Before a full toss hit Lawrence on his front pad when the batter attempted to push it through the leg side, Ali Usman followed it up with two straight dot balls.
The ball traveled towards Salman Agha in slips, but as he was busy appealing for the LBW, he was late to collect the ball. Lawrence, sensing an opportunity to get back in his crease, dived full length. Salman sensed a chance to run the batter out, but he threw the ball at the stumps too late.
And when he did throw the ball, it hit keeper Mohammad Rizwan’s thigh from behind, who was busy animatedly jumping in appeal. All this comedy of errors from the Pakistan side helped Lawrence save himself.
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Although Pakistan moved upstairs to protest the on-field verdict in the LBW appeal, the TV umpire upheld the call because the impact occurred outside the off-stump.
