England took three wickets in the final session before rain stopped play, reducing Pakistan to 126/5 at stumps on the rain-curtailed opening day of the second Test in Southampton on Thursday. Pakistan's top-scorer Abid Ali (60 runs) was the first one to depart after the tea break with Asad Shafiq and Fawad Alam following him in quick succession. While Shafiq scored five runs, Fawad Alam, who was playing his first Test match in 11 years, departed without troubling the scorers. Stuart Broad, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes accounted for the three dismissals in the final session that derailed Pakistan's innings. Overall, James Anderson was the pick of the English bowlers, picking up first two wickets. Earlier in the day, Azhar Ali won the toss and opted to bat but Pakistan got off to a poor start as they lost opener Shan Masood cheaply. England fast bowlers bowled probing line and lengths causing the visitors a lot of trouble. However, Abid Ali and Azhar Ali somehow managed to keep England bowlers at bay, helping Pakistan reach 65/1 at lunch. James Anderson got rid of Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali after lunch, who toiled hard for his 20 runs. (SCORECARD)
Highlights of England Vs Pakistan 2nd Test Day 1, straight from The Rose Bowl Stadium, Southampton
It's official, the match officials have had enough and decided to call it a day. England must be the happier of the two sides, especially after the way they bowled in the rain-curtailed final session.
Fawad Alam's long wait for a Test comeback didn't last long as he was trapped right in front of the wicket by Chris Woakes and departed without troubling the scorers. The on-field umpires's decision was overturned by the TV umpire after replay suggested three reds.
Stuart Broad gets his revenge as Asad Shafiq's outside edge travels straight to the third slip where Dom Sibley takes a good low catch to send him packing for five runs.
Sam Curran draws an outside edge from Abid Ali and this time Rory Burns makes no mistake and grabs it with both hands, sending Pakistan opener back to the pavillion.
James Anderson bowls slightly short into the hips of Babar Azam and he makes excellent use of his wrist and plays it towards mid-wicket region to end the over with a boundary.
An outside edge form Abid Ali travels to the third man fence allowing him to come back for a couple of runs with that he brings up his third Test century.
We are back live. Groundsmen have done a remarkable job to clear the water and get us some cricketing action. Sam Curran to complete his incomplete over.
What was imminent has happened as umpires decide to signal the ground staff to bring in the covers. Pakistan lost their skipper in the short duration after lunch, who toiled hard fore his 20.
Huge black clouds are hovering over the ground but so far the rain god has been kind to us. But the ground staff is all ready with the covers near the ropes, waiting for umpires' signal.
Babar Azam gets on the front foot and drives the ball neatly through covers and comes back for three runs. Chris Woakes did well to save one run for his side.
James Anderson strikes again as he gets Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali caught at second slip, who goes for 20 runs. After all the hard work upfront, Azhar Ali's innings came in an end in another disappointing manner.
Abid Ali plays it late and guides James Anderson's delivery towards gully for another boundary. Once again playing with soft hands was the key that allowed the ball to travel in the gap wide of slip cordon.
Stuart Broad bowls just wide of off stump and Abid Ali opens the face of the bat, guiding the ball towards gully and collects first boundary of the session.
James Anderson to resume bowling from the other end. England skipper Joe Root would want him to bowl some magical deliveries and give them another breakthrough.
10 minutes from lunch and it started drizzling and the umpires have signalled the ground staff to bring in the covers. The umpires have decided to take an early lunch and Pakistan must be the happier of the two sides as they did well to see off the morning session losing just one wicket.
James Anderson bowls tab short and Azhar Ali crunches it off the backfoot to collect his first boundary. With this shot he also brought up 50-run stand for the second wicket.
Chris Woakes' delivery nips back in sharply and Abid Ali gets beaten by the bounce and it hits him right on the box and he is down with extreme pain. The physio is out to have a look but not sure he will be of only help.
An outside edge from Azhar Ali falls just of the first slip fielder Joe Root. Azhar Ali playing with soft hands was also the reason why the ball didn't carry to the first slip.
Chris Woakes induces an outside edge from Abid Ali but he has been dropped by Joe Bruns at the second slip. Catching has bee n poor by the English fielders this morning as they have let down two simple chances in the slip cordon.
Chris Woakes once again misses his line and Abid Ali makes of it as he manages to get his bat on the ball this time around and collects a fine boundary towards fine leg.
Azhar Ali goes for a forward defensive shot and ball seemed to have hit the stumps but didn't clip the bails and he survives. England fielders almost started celebrating the wicket but Pakistan skipper survives riding on his luck.
Stuart Broad bowls a wayward delivery down leg stump, which missed Abid Ali and full-length dive of wicket-keeper Jos Buttler and races away to the fence. While the umpire signalled a four-bye, the replay suggested that it might have just clipped batsman's thigh pad.
Anderson strikes to give England early breakthrough!
WICKET! James Anderson traps Shan Masood in front of the stumps and England have their first breakthrough. Pakistan 6/1. The classic swinging delivery from Anderson and as soon as it hit his pad Masood knew he was gone.
James Anderson errs in his line, bowls down leg side, Shan Masood tried to flick it but missed it completely but raced away to the fence after clipping his pads .
England Cricket Team
Pakistan Cricket Team
Joe Root
The Rose Bowl, Southampton