Final Test, Day 1: Zak Crawley, Jos Buttler put England on top with 205-run stand vs Pakistan

Zak Crawley hit an unbeaten, career-best 171 and Jos Buttler was approaching his second test century as England dominated the opening day of the third and final match of the series against Pakistan on Friday.

England closed on 332-4, with the fifth-wicket stand between Crawley and Buttler (87) worth 205 and Pakistan’s bowlers looking demoralized in the isolated environment of the Rose Bowl.

Crawley struck 19 fours in a composed 269-ball inning that saw him more than double his previous best score of 76, achieved last month on the same ground in Southampton. The 22-year-old batsman is only playing in his eighth test match because Ben Stokes is missing while he attends a family matter back in New Zealand and now looks undroppable on this form.

Zak Crawley led the way for England, putting together an unbeaten 205-run stand with Jos Buttler to dominate the first day at Southampton.#ENGvPAK REPORT https://t.co/hX4FMN9Xuq

— ICC (@ICC) August 21, 2020

It was the first Test century by a No. 3 batsman for England since November 2018, and a first on home in four years. The position has been a problem area, but perhaps no more.

“The best feeling I’ve had on a cricket field by quite a long way,” Crawley said after being applauded off the middle by Pakistan’s players then the waiting England players and officials.

England vs Pakistan, 3rd Test, Day 1: Highlights

Buttler, meanwhile, produced another beautiful inning that will further quieten the critics of a wicketkeeper-batsman who has had a disappointing summer behind the stumps. He smashed leg-spinner, Yasir Shah, for two sixes down the ground, while his array of impressive shot-making included an exquisite back-foot drive through the covers.

It was Buttler’s highest test knock-in for nearly two years.

England leads 1-0 and is looking to clinch a first series victory over Pakistan in 10 years, as well as a second of the summer after beating the West Indies 2-1.

Pakistan faces a tough task getting back into a match that looked like going its way on Day 1 when England was reduced to 127-4 following the dismissals of Joe Root (29) and Ollie Pope (5) after lunch.

The tourists then lost control amid the shot-making of Crawley and Buttler, with even the reliable Yasir losing his way and getting hit for 107 off 28 overs.

Crawley played for all but 4.3 overs of a day when 90 overs were bowled at a venue that was hit by rain and bad light in the drawn second test last week.