In a lively second‑day warm‑up for the upcoming Test series at Beckenham, England’s opening batsman Emilio Gay managed to claim a pair, while Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam endured a brief injury scare that prompted precautionary measures from the team management. Gay’s day began on a sour note when he was dismissed by Mohammad Abbas on the first day while representing a County Select XI in a match against the touring Pakistani side. The dismissal set the tone for a challenging afternoon, and on Friday he fell again, this time to Mohammad Ali, after just seven deliveries, recording a duck. The quick succession of dismissals meant that Gay ended the day with a pair – two consecutive zero scores – a rare and unwelcome feat for any batsman.
Despite the setback, there were encouraging signs regarding Gay’s fitness. Earlier in the month, the Durham player had suffered a shoulder injury while playing for his county in the One‑Day Cup. His participation in the warm‑up match suggested that the injury had healed sufficiently, alleviating concerns about his availability for the first Test at Headingley, scheduled for next Wednesday.
Sky Sports will broadcast the Headingley encounter, and Gay’s inclusion in the squad will be closely watched by both fans and selectors. On the opposite side of the pitch, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam experienced a momentary mishap. While batting at the No 4 position, he was struck on the right hand by a delivery from Hampshire’s promising fast bowler Manny Lumsden. The impact forced Babar to retire hurt after scoring five runs off 17 balls.
A subsequent statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board clarified that the captain would sit out the remainder of the warm‑up as a precaution, but he is expected to join the team’s practice session in Leeds on Monday, indicating that the injury is not considered serious. Babar’s brief innings did include a boundary, and his presence in the middle order remains a pivotal component of Pakistan’s batting line‑up. The side, which also has fixtures at Lord’s from 27 August and Edgbaston from 9 September, will be keen to ensure their skipper is fully fit for the demanding three‑Test series. The match itself saw Pakistan’s batting collapse dramatically.
After a promising start at 164‑2, the team slumped to a total of 238 all out, falling short of England’s first‑innings total of 305. This left Pakistan trailing by 67 runs after the first innings, a deficit they will aim to erase in the upcoming official Test. England’s bowlers made significant contributions, with spinner Shoaib Bashir delivering an impressive spell of 4‑76 from 20.2 overs. His wickets included opener Imam‑ul‑Haq (37), middle‑order batsman Salman Ali Agha (14), and the lower‑order pair Aamir Jamal (8) and Ghazi Ghori (27).
Bashir’s performance will bolster his case for selection in the Headingley XI. For Pakistan, Abdullah Shafique emerged as the top scorer with a solid 61, providing some stability amid the collapse. Hampshire’s Manny Lumsden and Northamptonshire’s Saif Zaib each claimed two wickets for the County Select XI, showcasing the depth of talent available in the English domestic circuit. The home side continued to build on their first‑innings lead, closing the day at 128‑3.
James Rew contributed 40 runs, while Middlesex’s young talent Caleb Falconer notched an unbeaten 52, marking his second half‑century of the match. Saif Zaib added an unbeaten 24, supporting opening partner Tom Haines (12) and Gay, who had already been dismissed.
The partnership helped England extend their advantage to 195 runs by stumps, putting them in a commanding position heading into the final day. Fans can follow the three‑Test series between England and Pakistan live on Sky Sports Cricket from 19 August, with additional streaming options available through NOW for those seeking contract‑free access. The Sky Sports Cricket Podcast offers in‑depth analysis and commentary, while the Sky Sports app provides real‑time scorecards and updates for all matches. Overall, the warm‑up highlighted both promising performances and areas of concern.
Gay’s pair underscores the challenges faced by opening batsmen adjusting to conditions, while Babar’s injury scare, though minor, serves as a reminder of the physical demands of Test cricket. Both teams will use the insights gained from this match to fine‑tune their strategies ahead of the high‑stakes series that follows.