Zak Crawley fand Jos Buttler put on a 359-run partnership

DECLARATION Stuart Broad, looking to go for a big slog, is castled by Shaheen Afridi. England declare their innings on 583 for 8 — a total they haven’t amassed in more than four years. The visitors now have to play out the last 13 overs of the day.

“Marne de koi masla nahi”, the ‘keeper said. Basically, he said, let him try for the big shot, no worry. And in the process, Stuart broad hit a couple of sixes. At 569 for 7, England have equaled their highest Test score in Southampton – previously registered against India in 2014.

WICKET Chris Woakes’s handy innings comes to an end. Looking to go inside out, he hits the ball straight to the cover fielder. Falls for 40.

A wayward and an unecessary throw by Shadab Khan forces Mohammad Rizwan to dive and stop the ball. In the process, he has ended up injuring his fingers.

WICKETNow, Fawad Alam gets a wicket. Soft dismissal. Jos Buttler simply chips the ball back to the bowler soon after bringing up his 150.

England have brought up their 500

Pakistan get excited early on the in the third session and waste another review. Mohammad Rizwan appeals for a catch down the leg side and urges his captain to take a review. Replays suggest that it hit Jos Buttler’s pads and the appeal is turned down.

LUNCH Another disappointing session comes to an end for Pakistan. England have marched on to 490 for 5, with only the wicket of Zak Crawley falling post Lunch. Jos Buttler hasn’t hit a single boundary in the session but he remains unbeaten.

Fine glovework from @iMRizwanPak! #ENGvPAK

03:34 PM&nbsp• Aug 08, 2020

WICKET The leg side trap finally works. Zak Crawley goes down the track but misses the ball delivered wide outside leg and gets stumped. Asad Shafiq gets the wicket — only his third in Test cricket. He gets out on 267 and gets a well-deserved applause from both the camps.

Zak Crawley just reverse slapped a ball from outside leg through the cover region for a boundary!

In the series that England appointed Jonathan Trott as a batting consultant they now have their highest score at number 3 since he retired

03:10 PM&nbsp• Aug 08, 2020

At 252*, Zak Crawley is behind only Tip Foster for the highest score in a maiden Test century by an English batsman

250 Zak Crawley is scoring runs, fast. Zak Crawley is breaking records, fast. And the shots are just so beautiful to watch. He has brought up his 250, with an elegant walking flick through the square leg region for a four.

Our stats boy, Deepu Narayana, has some numbers here:

– 222* by Zak Crawley is now the highest by a Kent player for England in Test cricket surpassing Rob Key’s 221 against West Indies at Lord’s in 2004.

– Second 300+ stand for any wicket for England against Pakistan after 332 by Jonathan Trott & Stuart Broad for 8th wicket at Lord’s in 2010

200 An edge flies past the slips for a boundary and Zak Crawley brings up his maiden double ton. Not the most emphatic way to bring it up but what a fine innings this has been!

Zak Crawley looks a superb and assured batsman for #EngVPak. Commentators richly purring about him. BUT I’d like to hear what he’s done/doing different compared to his mediocre previous Eng and FC innings. #bbctms @ESPNcricinfo @bbctms

02:16 PM&nbsp• Aug 08, 2020

LUNCH! England extend their first-innings total to 373/4 before Lunch was called.Buttler will be pleased to have gotten to his second Test ton, while Crawley has had a slow start this morning. He’s unbeaten on 186, while Buttler is on 113 when the break was taken. Rain played spoilsport with two interruptions in the session, but Pakistan’s seamers couldn’t breakthrough in just the 18 overs bowled in the morning for 41 runs. Join us after the break for what hopefully is an uninterrupted one.

Oh, dear! IS THAT OUT?!! Buttler is given out caught behind!He reviews and there’s an evident gap between bat and pad. The decision is reversed and he gets to his second Test hundred soon after! 100 for Buttler!! Superb knock – his first as a keeper-batsman.

Buttler on 99!

The 222-run partnership between Buttler and Crawley is the highest fifth-wicket stand for England vs Pakistan

Play has resumed! Brief spell, it seems like.

Oh, no!! Here we go again! Rain is back and the players are off! So frustrating, this! Ten minutes of play and they’re off again.

Loud shout for leg before!Not out says the on-field umpire… Pakistan review. Replays show the ball going over. Buttler is on 91.

Here we go…the players are in the middle

Play to begin soon. Lunch has been pushed to 2pm local time. Play to resume at 5:10 IST.

We have good news.Rain has stopped and we should have play in about 20 minutes from now.

Oh, no! Rain has stopped play!Covers are in place now. It started off as a drizzle, but it’s picked up now.

Heavy rain at Southampton. Could be off for a while…

10:28 AM&nbsp• Aug 08, 2020

We’re back on Day 2!

Prelude – A double hundred in sight?

All of 22, Zak Crawley scored his maiden Test hundred on Day 1 and will begin Day 2 just 29 short of a double century. All eyes on the youngster who was exceptional on Day 1 after England lost Rory Burns early. It’s all down to his determination and stupendous work-ethic, writes our man on the ground Rob Johnston.

Pakistan endured a rather tough day in the field, turned to Yasir Shah very early without much dividend as the breeze worked against the leggie.

Meanwhile, England have released Sam Curran to join up with Surrey squad for their Bob Willis Trophy fixture against Kent, starting shortly.