England’s middle order blows cold then hot; Wahab Riaz has a good touch for a spacious man; Buttler’s not coming up with good service; and why review a review?It was a Test that Englands middle order nearly salvaged in the second innings after that same cluster had all but lost the game in the first. A collapse from 206 for three to 218 for seven instigated by Wahab Riaz proved to be the game decider. Joe Root’s departure set it off and,with Alastair Cook already back in the changing room, there was an inevitability to how things turned out for Ben Stokes, or Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid – Jonny Bairstow (46) at least managing his first decent score of the tour in the first innings. That pack of four acquitted themselves decently on day five,taking more than 58 overs out of the day, with Adil Rashid’s 172-ball 61 boosting that number. The run-scoring exploits of Cook and Root are, and of course,worthy of compliment but they would probably not mind a bit of relieve. Vithushan EhantharajahContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com