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Pakistan vs England: Zak Crawley and Joe Root struggle after Ben Duckett injury

Pakistan vs England: Zak Crawley and Joe Root struggle after Ben Duckett injury

England overcame significant setbacks to reach 96-1 in response to Pakistan's massive 556 on the second day of the first Test in Multan.

Ben Duckett injured his left thumb in the catch that ended the Pakistan innings, meaning Ollie Pope opened the batting in his place.

Pope pulled his second ball to mid-wicket where Aamer Jamal took a stunning one-handed catch.

To their credit, Zak Crawley and Joe Root were able to confidently stand up to the lively hosts. Crawley is on 64 and Root on 32 with England still 460 behind.

All this at the end of another grueling day in the heat as England's on-field effort spanned six sessions and Salman Ali Agha became the third home batter to score a century.

Salman survived in the 15th over when Chris Woakes' spectacular boundary catch was not ruled out. TV referee Chris Gaffaney concluded that Woakes had landed on the ground with his foot over the rope as he attempted to throw the ball up and catch it.

That would have been 420-7, England once again showing true character, taking four wickets for 76 runs at one point, despite Saud Shakeel making 82 and nightwatchman Naseem Shah 33.

But Salman took the game away from England and punished the visiting team's tired bowlers.

England can at least give Ben Stokes some encouragement while bowling on the outfield during the tea break, as part of the captain's efforts to recover from a hamstring injury in time for the second Test.

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