After a surprising defeat at Lords, England bounced back to level the series at Manchester with a huge 330 runs win over Pakistan, with another Test finishing in just four days time. 

Pakistan never looked to be in this game. Opting to bat captain Cook and Joe Root helped England post a colossal total of 589, with the latter scoring a double century. Then England bowled out Pakistan for a modest 198, with Woakes picking up four wickets.

Cook could have forced follow on but went against it and with a lead of 391 Cook and Co. came out to bat again. Cook then scored his fastest fifty and Root too made a quick fire fifty in the second innings. The rain also played a spoil sport for a few hours on day four.England mounted a huge lead and set a target of 565.

Pakistan got off to a poor start once again, losing Shan Masood to a brilliant delivery off James Anderson, who missed out on the first Test match due to an injury. He then got the better of Azhar Ali in the 11th over. Mohammad Hafeez and Younis Khan tried to steady the ship but the former lost his wicket to Moin Ali.
Younis Khan also couldn’t last long, gifting his wicket to MoinAli as well.

Captain Misbah and Asad Shafiq showed some resistance but the captain squeezed a harmless Yorker back onto the stumps by Woaker. With just 145 on the board and half the Pakistan team back in the hut, it was just a matter of time for the English players to celebrate their victory. Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed got out in the span of five deliveries. Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah and Mohammad Amir all three played a quick cameo.

Pakistan were bowled out for 234 in the second innings, handing over a 330 run victory to England.

With Joe Root being declared the man-of-the-match for his double century in the first innings and a quick fire fifty in the second and the third Test offering a week’s time, it is going to be interesting to see how Pakistan regroup and prepare themselves for the third Test .