Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir was denied a wicket on his long-awaited return to Test cricket as England dominated the second morning of the first Test at lord’s on Friday.
England all-rounder Chris Woakes took a Test-best six for 70 as Pakistan, 282/6 overnight, were bowled out for 339.
England then raced to 64 for one at lunch, with captain Alastair Cook — dropped off Amir — 35 not out and new number three Joe Root 23*
The duo’s second-wicket stand was so far worth 56 in 54 balls. But it might all have been different had Cook been out, as he should have been, on 22, with England then 38 for one.
The left-hander was drawn forward by an excellent Amir delivery on off stump only for first slip Mohammad Hafeez to drop the routine catch.
Pakistan resumed with captain Misbah-ul-Haq 110 not out after the 42-year-old became the oldest player in 82 years to make a Test century on Thursday.
But Misbah added just four runs to his overnight score, with Pakistan losing three wickets for six runs in eight balls as the quick and accurate Woakes did the bulk of the damage. That gave the 27-year-old Woakes his maiden five wickets in a Test innings haul in what was the Warwickshire paceman’s ninth match at this level.
Amir making his return to Test cricket at lord’s — the scene of his 2010 spot-fixing crime — walked out to bat to a handful of boos from a capacity crowd.