London, Aug. 18: Matt Prior and Stuart Broad shared an unbroken stand of 81 as England recovered to 175/7 against Pakistan at tea on the first day of the third Test at The Oval here on Wednesday. England, who had won the toss, were in a dire position at 94/7 early in the second session.
But wicketkeeper Prior, driving strongly against both the seamers and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, was 42 not out as blue skies eased batting conditions.
And Broad, who like his father Chris, the former England opener, bats left-handed but is best known as a right-arm fast bowler, was 40 not out off just 55 balls with six boundaries.
It was Broad’s sweep for four off Ajmal that saw England past their record low score of 130 against Pakistan made at The Oval back in 1954. Pakistan debutant Wahab Riaz, who’d taken three wickets before lunch, removed Eoin Morgan soon afterwards and at tea the left-arm quick, in for the injured Umar Gul, had figures of 4/34 in 12 overs.
Scores (at tea): England 175/7 (Prior 42 n.o., Broad 40 n.o.; Riyaz 4/34, Asif 2/51) vs Pakistan