Pakistan slashed to 13-10 for Test victory at Lord’s

First Test
Day two starts 11am Friday

England’s Test batsmen suffered a difficult winter in Australia and New Zealand and enjoyed few home comforts on day one of the first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s.

Alastair Cook’s 70 was the only innings of note in England’s total of 184 as Pakistan produced a disciplined bowling performance in helpful conditions after losing the toss.

The tourists were slow but steady in response, closing on 50-1 to set up an intriguing second day in St John’s Wood.

England are 5-6 to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series, having been 1-2 favourites before the toss, while Pakistan’s odds of victory tumbled from 5-1 to 13-10.

The hosts’ batting collapse on the first day means the draw has been shoved out to 12-1 from a pre-match 5-1.

The tourists will be aiming to compile a significant first-innings lead at Lord’s and bet365 make Pakistan 6-4 to score 291 or more.

Haris Sohail (21 not out) and Azhar Ali (18 not out) will resume for the visitors and the pair are 5-2 joint-favourites with bet365 to be Pakistan’s top first-innings runscorer.

The firm still expect conditions to be tricky for batsmen and the experienced Azhar is 15-2 to go on to make a century with his partner an 8-1 shot.

England’s reshuffled top order failed to yield improved results with Mark Stoneman (four), skipper Joe Root (four) and Dawid Malan (six) falling cheaply on the first morning.

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