‘The game that keeps on giving centuries’ – Twitter amazed by overflow of runs in the Rawalpindi Test

This was another day that went in favour of England. The Three Lions have given themselves an outside chance of winning the first Test match of the series against Pakistan. The tour has been historic for England, to begin with, as this is the first Tour England have undertaken to Pakistan after 17 years. England, recently, won a seven-match T20 series 4-3 on Pakistan soil.

England continued to dominate on Day 3 of the Test match. The Three Lions racked up the runs in the first innings to end day 1 on a mammoth 506. They were led by Zak Crawley, who scored 122 off 11 balls with 21 fours. Ben Duckett made 107 off 110 balls with 15 fours. The wicketkeeper, Olie Pope smashed a 108 off 104 balls with 14 fours. Harry Brook rounded off the hundreds with a beautiful 153 off 116 balls.

There were four centuries from England. There were only three maiden overs that were bowled by the Pakistan bowlers. On a Rawalpindi pitch that was a minefield, the runs continued to flow. England ended their first innings with a huge score of 657-10 at the end of their first innings.

Pakistan bounced back with Naseem Shah picking up 3-140 in his 24 overs. Zahid Mahmood was the wrecker-in-chief as he picked up 4-235 in his 33-over spell. And, in the second innings, the river of runs continued to flow as Pakistan started strongly as well.

On Day 2, Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq got Pakistan off to a wonderful start by scoring 114 off 203 balls with 13 fours and three sixes and 121 off 207 balls with 15 fours and two sixes. After the openers were dismissed, the other batters got in but could not convert their starts. On day 3, Babar Azam, the Pakistani skipper came in at no 4 and scored an elegant 136 off 168 balls with 19 fours and 1 six.

At the end of Day 3, Pakistan scored 499-7. Will Jacks and Jack Leach were the wicket-takers for England. While Leach picked up 2-160 in his 42 overs, Will Jacks picked up 3-132 in his 33 overs. With the first innings of Pakistan yet to be completed, this match looks like is heading into a tame draw unless England run through Pakistan and then go for some quick runs in the second innings.

Twitter was fully abuzz, let us take a look at the reactions here:

England toiled hard to keep their slim hopes of winning alive after Babar Azam scored an excellent hundred.#PAKvENG #PakvsEng2022 #PakvsEngland

— Atul Tiwari (@iTiwariAtul) December 3, 2022

https://twitter.com/Noumaan22/status/1599017896352440323?s=20&t=DrIV0jQnuU06qqWCapDIew

#PAKvENG
Always .. pic.twitter.com/fuSc1mNDH6

— Pakeeza Baig (@pakeezabaig07) December 3, 2022

https://twitter.com/HBstats/status/1599019943575494656?s=20&t=DrIV0jQnuU06qqWCapDIew

Someone please tell them Babar scoring centuries in tests has nothing to do with his T20 cricket. He has been a failure in T20s and that's the fact#PAKvENG

— Ajmal (@engeenyar) December 3, 2022

https://twitter.com/anupam_thunder/status/1599020851617501185?s=20&t=DrIV0jQnuU06qqWCapDIew

https://twitter.com/_ZainiRaja/status/1599021211924975616?s=20&t=DrIV0jQnuU06qqWCapDIew

#PAKvENG expressway pitch pic.twitter.com/iAg2KAXecp

— Nupura Ranjan Mishra (@NupuraRMishra) December 3, 2022

Tbh Eng played with a new Ballbaz approach and they delivered in order get the result of this test match despite of the poor condition.but Pak played at thier coward mental approach at thier home soil .being a spectator we want result of this test match .#PAKvENG

— Ahmedkhawaja4506 (@Ahmedkhawaja451) December 3, 2022

The last five Test innings at Rawalpindi have all had century opening partnerships

Shafique & Imam-Ul-Haq: 101*
Crawley & Duckett: 233
Shafique & Imam-Ul-Haq: 252*
Warner & Khawaja: 156
Shafique & Imam-Ul-Haq: 105#PAKvENG #Cricket #Imamulhaq #AbdullahShafique

— Hassan Bilal (@HBstats) December 3, 2022