Mid-13th over: Pakistan 52-2 (Azan Awais 29, Shan Masood 19) Ollie Robinson takes a well-earned rest as Root decides to try Jofra from the other end. His first ball is too full, easily nudged for four by Masood, who follows up with a clip for two to make sure the ball gets nice and damp. “The rain seems to be getting steadier,” says Mark Butcher, and sure enough the covers are back on. That mini-session lasted four balls.
12th over: Pakistan 46-2 (Azan Awais 29, Shan Masood 15) Atkinson bowls the last two balls of his over, studiously blocked by Azan Awais.
The umpires seem to have been persuaded that it’s OK to carry on, even though drizzle is still falling. Shan Masood tries to make a point by hiding his bat under his sweater.
Mid-12th over: Pakistan 46-2 (Azan Awais 29, Shan Masood 15) There’s just time for Gus Atkinson to rue his luck again as a Harrow drive from Awais trickles away for four, and then rain intervenes. It’s gloomy out there, but the England players are hanging around hopefully on the boundary.
The state of the game is clear enough. These two batters have steadied the ship, and Pakistan are still 274 runs behind.
