England vs Pakistan 2020, 3rd Test, Day 3 – Twitter Reactions

England have enforced the follow-on in the third Test of the series against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton but that wasn’t before skipper Azhar Ali played an innings of his life- an unbeaten 141- to help lent some respectability to what was a dismal batting performance from the tourists

Pakistan couldn’t have had a worse start to the day as Asad Shafiq poked at a wide delivery from James Anderson to give the great English bowler his 597th Test scalp. With the score reading 4-41 l, his side down in the dumps, his own form in disarray, his position in the side questioned, Azhar Ali would have had a lot of thoughts running down in his mind as he walked into the Lunch break.

But, you don’t get to 6000 Test runs without having the necessary mental fortitude, and Ali displayed that to its absolute hilt on the third day at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

Yes, he struggled. Yes, he edged a lot against James Anderson and Stuart Broad in the initial part of the innings. Yes, he looked uncomfortable. Yes, he managed just 14 runs in his first 130 deliveries. But like all good batsman do, Ali weathered the storm brilliantly and once he got set, he swiftly shifted his gears to score 42 off the next 44 deliveries, with all his traditional strokes on full display.

Azhar Ali becomes the 5th batsman to score 6,000 Test runs for Pakistan

Joining Younis Khan (10,099), Javed Miandad (8,832), Inzamam-ul-Haq (8,829) and Mohammad Yousuf (7,530)#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K ?? p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->w<!---->S<!---->v<!---->Q<!---->M<!---->s<!---->p<!---->m<!---->t<!---->S

— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Azhar got good support from Fawad Alam, who looked compact in his defense against both pace and spin during the 45-run alliance. But just as he was looking like settling into a big knock, Dom Bess produced a perfect off-spinners delivery to induce an outside edge off Alam’ bat.

But that proved to be the only wicket that England got in the post-Lunch session as Mohammad Rizwan dug in with Azhar Ali to take Pakistan to 5-158 at the Tea break.

Rizwan survived a few close LBW calls early in the innings but with Azhar Ali ticking the scoreboard confidently at the other end, the feisty wicket-keeper proceeded to settle into a rhythm without any substantial pressure.

Also Read- Azhar Ali Reaches 6000 Test Runs; Becomes The Fifth Pakistan Batsman To Do So

Azhar Ali’s gutsy 141 lend some respectability to Pakistan’s first innings but England enforce the follow-on

And, post the Tea break, the partnership flourished as both Rizwan and Azhar Ali ticked along with the scoreboard with relative ease. Azhar Ali soon completed his 17th Test hundred, an innings that was full of character, courage and self-belief, and you could see the relief on his face when he finally achieved the milestone.

Highest Individual Scores by Pakistani Captains in Tests in SENA

187* Hanif Mohammad in ENG, 1967
152* Javed Miandad in ENG, 1992
141* AZHAR ALI in ENG, today
140 Saleem Malik in NZ, 1994
136 Imran Khan in AUS, 1990#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K

— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Rizwan too completed his second half-century of the series as Pakistan breached the 200-run mark. The 138-run stand between Rizwan and Ali was finally broken by Chris Woakes as he strangled the Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman down the leg-side.

With England taking the new ball immediately after it was made available, one would have thought that they weren’t far off from seeing James Anderson break the 600-wicket mark but it was Stuart Broad, who did the damage, claiming both Yasir Shah and Shaheen Afridi.

England were sloppy in their catching as they dropped two catches within the space of three deliveries off James Anderson, giving a reprieve to Abbas and Azhar Ali

Azhar Ali [141*] played some gorgeous strokes but he soon ran out of partners as Mohammad Abbas got run out before James Anderson claimed his 29th five-wicket-haul when he induced an outside edge of Naseem Shah’s bat for his 598th scalp. England enforced the follow-on but just as they were about to start the proceedings, out went the light meters and in went the players as stumps were called on day 03.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the 3rd days’ play between England and Pakistan-

Azhar Ali opts to open the innings with Shan Masood, but bad light delays Pakistan's second innings. Stumps

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Azhar Ali's 141* is now the highest score by a Pakistan captain in an away Test since Inzamam-ul-Haq's 184 in 2005 (vs IND, Bangalore).

It is also the highest by a Pakistan skipper in a Test outside Asia since Javed Miandad's 153* in 1992 (vs ENG, Birmingham). #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Azhar Ali surely has to open the batting here ?? #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K

— Andy Balbirnie (@balbo90) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Well played Azhar Ali … innings of real character …

— David 'Bumble' Lloyd (@BumbleCricket) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Every 100 has a special place in a players heart but this ? by Azhar is a Dressing Room respect earner! ???

— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

This Michael Gough is one of the best umpires I have seen. Excellent.

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Nice Azhar Ali????

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Solid fighting 100 by @<!---->A<!---->z<!---->h<!---->a<!---->r<!---->A<!---->l<!---->i<!---->_ & great support by @<!---->i<!---->M<!---->R<!---->i<!---->z<!---->w<!---->a<!---->n<!---->P<!---->a<!---->k .
Keep going guys. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Special 100 by Azhar Ali. Maybe too little too late in the context of the series (and the Test too) but heartening to see the glimpses of old Azhar back. This knock may very well pull him out of all those technical issues he seems to be struggling with since his knee injury.

— Kamran Muzaffer (@Krick3r) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Pakistan Captain Azhar Ali today played very well and after hitting a century he exposed the fielding abilities of English team #<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K<!---->v<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->i<!---->H<!---->k<!---->6<!---->m<!---->R<!---->K<!---->6<!---->I<!---->s

— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Great stuff from Azhar Ali – and the Pakistan balcony. Outstanding century.

— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Azhar Ali has just scored Pakistan's 400th Test century. Now the other race is on – their next duck will be Pakistan's 800th Test duck.

— Benedict Bermange (@Benedict_B) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Few wicketkeepers have been put under as much pressure by the quality of their back-up as Rizwan this series.
Fewer still will have risen to meet the challenge, both in front of the stumps and beyond them.
Good player, great temperament. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->s<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K

— Danyal Rasool (@Danny61000) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

.@<!---->w<!---->a<!---->s<!---->i<!---->m<!---->a<!---->k<!---->r<!---->a<!---->m<!---->l<!---->i<!---->v<!---->e is spot on. We get very impatient when it comes to cricket and demand results after two games. Azhar Ali for instance has 2 centuries in last 5 Tests and averaging around 50.00 in those games. Don't know why he gets so much criticism.

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

? for Azhar Ali ? ?

A tremendous effort from the Pakistan skipper ?? #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->7<!---->c<!---->j<!---->z<!---->i<!---->h<!---->q<!---->i<!---->j<!---->1

— ICC (@ICC) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Really pleased for Azhar Ali. Congratulations on your fighting hundred. Always thought of him as a quality player.

— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

https://twitter.com/imPakistaniLAD/status/1297567588843757569?s=19

Superb innings from Azhar Ali. Under intense pressure and scrutiny, delivers a world class century to demonstrate his value. A lot more to do of course. But alongside Rizwan's irrepressible display, one of the rare moments of joy for Pakistan in this Test Match. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K

— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Phil Tufnell on TMS:

"It's a fantastic knock, a real captain's knock. He really had to apply himself and get stuck in."

Well played Azhar Ali!

Live: h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->r<!---->N<!---->j<!---->k<!---->f<!---->D<!---->E<!---->o<!---->b<!---->Q#<!---->b<!---->b<!---->c<!---->c<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->7<!---->E<!---->3<!---->z<!---->k<!---->N<!---->3<!---->M<!---->K<!---->u

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Loud cheers from the Pakistan dressing room as Azhar Ali gets to a well-deserved 17th Test hundred. A fabulous effort by the captain, leading from the front #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->E<!---->9<!---->n<!---->6<!---->x<!---->e<!---->W<!---->y<!---->9<!---->Y

— PakPassion.net (@PakPassion) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Wonderful innings from Azhar Ali…. perfect time for him to announce retirement..

— JSK (@imjsk27) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Azhar Ali's century is the 400th for Pakistan in Tests.
Rizwan is the first Pakistan wicket-keeper to reach 50 twice in a series against England.

— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

30-4 ➡️ 132-5

A captain's knock from Azhar Ali ? ?#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->c<!---->M<!---->B<!---->R<!---->W<!---->P<!---->u<!---->1<!---->Z<!---->e

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Azhar Ali scores his 17th Test hundred and a timely one… pls don’t see it as a career saving one.. #<!---->h<!---->e is a class batsman, established but was having a torrid time… one good innings will do him a world of good… much needed for the team..

— Shahid Hashmi (@hashmi_shahid) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

https://twitter.com/Brightonfan/status/1297567695504801792?s=19

Courageous & fighting Test century by Azhar Ali, one of the greatest captain's innings. remember the situation he walked in, low scores in previous Tests, early wicket after being on the field for almost 2 days, batsmen around him scored 4,1,11 & 5. batted @<!---->A<!---->z<!---->h<!---->a<!---->r<!---->A<!---->l<!---->i<!---->_ ?#<!---->C<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Azhar Ali reaches 6000 Test runs today. Players who made their Test debut later than Azhar and reached 6k runs before him:-
✔️ Steve Smith
✔️ Kane Williamson
✔️ Virat Kohli
✔️ David Warner
✔️ Joe Root

Includes Warner and each of the Fab-4.#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Full points to Azhar Ali for putting up a fight, not only against English bowlers but also his critics. But still a long way to go… Time to convert this in to a big ?.
Also alot depends on this partnership with Rizwan! #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K

— Faizan Najeeb (@najeebfaizan) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Azhar Ali is a very effective sweeper. He's played 228 sweeps against spin in Test cricket, dismissed just four times – at an average of 88. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

https://twitter.com/hazharoon/status/1297540111408812034?s=19

This is Azhar Ali's highest away Test score since Misbah and Younis retired. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K

— Danyal Rasool (@Danny61000) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Azhar Ali has completed 6000 runs in Test Cricket, becomes only the 5th Pakistani to score as many runs.

He is also the only Pakistani to open in more than 30 innings and score 6000+ runs in Test Cricket.#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->P<!---->A<!---->K

— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0