An unbeaten 55-run partnership between Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow has given England hope after losing two early wickets and captain Alastair Cook on day two of the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai.
The umpires brought the day to an early close due to bad light, with England on 182-3, Root unscathed on 76 runs and Bairstow unbeaten on 27.
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It was a perfect start to the day for England as Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali, who nabbed his 50th Test wicket, dismissed their opponents for 378 in the morning session.
After lunch, Pakistan regained control by claiming the wickets of Ali (1) and Ian Bell, who was taken out for four less than three overs after his teammate was sent back to the pavilion.
Cook and Root managed to steady the innings by reaching tea on an unbeaten 91-run partnership, recovering from 14-2 to end the afternoon session on 105-2.
The captain, who was criticised earlier this year for a poor run of form, brought up his 45th Test fifty, pushing him to second on the all-time runs list for openers on 9,064.
Cook continued to thrive by hitting two consecutive boundaries off Imran Khan, but after scoring 65 runs, the England skipper was caught out by Ahmed Shehzad after knocking straight to leg slip off Yasir Shah's delivery.
Root and Cook's partnership ended on 113 runs, but the Yorkshireman took over by storming to a 15th Test fifty by sending the ball past short leg for one run off Shah.
Root and Bairstow will return to the crease tomorrow morning in an attempt to cut down Pakistan's 196-run lead.
Danielle Joynson
