Super England dismantle Pakistan

An uncompromising performance from England has delivered them a resounding victory over Pakistan in the second Test to level the series 1-1 at Old Trafford.

England capped off a thorough dismantling of their opponents, claiming a 330-run victory to bounce back from a comprehensive first Test defeat at Lord’s.

After briskly adding 75 more runs this morning to set the tourists an all-but unreachable target of 565, the hosts bowled Pakistan out for 234 with Chris Woakes, Jimmy Anderson and Moeen Ali picking up three wickets apiece on day four.

But England’s second Test triumph may be soured by a potentially serious injury to Ben Stokes, who limped off the ground midway through his sixth over in the second session.

Stokes, playing in his first Test back since having surgery on his left knee in May, clutched his right calf after bowling a ball to Younis Khan and England have confirmed the allrounder will have scans on Tuesday to determine the extent of the damage.

Following their declaration 40 minutes into the first session, Anderson, the other England player to make his return from injury in this Test, showed he’d lost none of his new ball mastery with a skilful first session spell.

Anderson claimed the first wicket of the day when Alastair Cook snaffled the edging Shan Masood for one. The Pakistan opener may well have nightmares of the England fast-bowler, having been dismissed by Anderson in every innings he’s faced him.

The 33-year-old seamer also trapped Azhar Ali lbw for eight and had Asad Shafiq out the same way in the final session of the day.

Younis, given an early life by Cook off the bowling of Stokes, and Mohammad Hafeez provided some much-needed resistance, putting on 58 for the third wicket after lunch.

But a ball after Hafeez played a deft late-cut off Moeen Ali for four, the Pakistan opener inside-edged one onto his pad to give Gary Ballance the simplest of catches at short-leg; a classic off-spinner’s dismissal.

And Moeen snared another when Younis skied a slog-sweep and was caught by Alex Hales at long-on for 28, continuing a disappointing series for the veteran.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Shafiq defied the hosts for a period but again England nipped a partnership in the bud when Misbah chopped on a wide, full Chris Woakes delivery on for 35.

Sarfraz, caught down the legside off Woakes, and Shafiq departed in consecutive overs before Moeen picked up his fifth wicket of the match when Yasir Shah was plumb lbw to his fellow tweaker.

Pakistan’s tail delayed the inevitable, Mohammad Amir bashing a brisk 29, but the left-hander handed England a decisive victory when Woakes had him caught at mid-off - his seventh wicket of the match.

Earlier this morning, Cook and Joe Root made Pakistan’s bowlers continue to toil as they extended England’s lead past 500.

Cook (76 off 78 balls) and Joe Root (71 off 48) both brought up their fastest Test half-centuries before England finally declared at 1-173 in their second innings.

Pakistan will be sick of the sight of Root, who has amassed 325 runs in this match, took four catches at second slip and even chipped in with the wicket of Wahab late in the visitors’ second dig.

It was no surprise then that the first-innings double-century maker was awarded man-of-the-match honours for his efforts and Root, the No.4 ranked Test batsman, could soon mount a challenge to the No.1 ranked Steve Smith.

With the series now level at 1-1 after the first two Tests, the two sides have a slight break before travelling to Birmingham where the third Test begins at Edgbaston on August 3.