Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

It was not entirely intentional from Tom Banton. It was full from Naseem Shah and then it skews up in the air but Banton gets the height on it to get it away for four.

Fresh from bowling his first over, Shaheen Afridi is waving his arms in a frustrated way, like a slightly irate member of airport runway ground crew, directing his players into exactly the right fielding position.

Naseem Shah starts with few dots before being driven on the up by Tom Banton for four.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Pakistan are aware they need to make the use of this new ball. They might over-pitch looking to swing the ball and that's when England will be able to score, as long as they remain disciplined.

Another beauty from Shaheen Afridi who squares up Tom Banton with a delivery which nips off the seam back of a length.

There's a buzz and electricity among the crowd at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. They will explode if Pakistan take an early wicket here.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

England can't afford to be circumspect in those first overs, they'll need to come out with intent.

Tasty!

Pakistan skipper Shaheen Afridi will want to lead from the front here.

The left-arm quick fizzes a peach slanted across Tom Banton.

Next ball, Banton nudges a couple off his toes into the leg side. England are up and running.

Thanks, Ffion.

Shaheen Afridi is limbering up with purpose at the top of his mark.

Right then, Tom Banton and Ben Duckett are poised at the edge of the boundary to begin England's pursuit of 303.

Hopefully, we're in for an intriguing chase. To take you through the first half of it, here's Timothy Abraham.

Image source, Cricviz

Image source, Getty Images

There will be no first Test century for Marco Jansen today, but South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has reached three figures in his gritty knock, coming from 226 balls.

Shortly after being hit by Scott Boland, Jansen flicked the Australia seamer straight to mid-wicket for 85.

Still, the lanky all-rounder played a fine hand to get South Africa back into the second Test. Bavuma now has Simon Harmer for company as they approach 300.

Scorecard

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Will Jacks and Jamie Overton were the two picks for me [with the ball]. They both displayed great control to keep the strangle on the early parts of the innings, especially with Jacks being introduced in the first powerplay.

They bowled really well in partnership.

Nawaz fell for a brilliant 79 with 10 overs to go, leaving the innings in the balance, but Arafat took on the responsibility and added 72 off just 49 balls with Faheem Ashraf.

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf added a flurry of boundaries in the final couple of overs which took Pakistan past 300, and it should be a competitive chase.

Sonny Baker finished with 3-65 while Jamie Overton was exceptional with his spell of 1-38.

It was a brilliant recovery from Pakistan, considering they lost Fakhar Zaman from the first ball of the innings and then slipped to 81-4.

But Hasan Nawaz added partnerships of 52 and 78 with Saad Baig and Arafat Minhas to lead the recovery through the middle overs.

This is what I like to see in an ODI or T20. 50/50% or so on WinViz rather than 80/20% and a predictable win for the side on top. England set for a difficult but gettable run chase.

Baltos, St Leonards-on-Sea

To place some sort of context around Pakistan's 302-9 here.

There's only been one successful chase in Rawalpindi in ODIs higher than this total, although it was a fairly recent one.

It came in April 2023 when Pakistan chased down New Zealand's 336-5 to win by seven wickets.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

I feel as though both teams will feel they're in the game here.

Pakistan defended 305 a couple of days ago against Sri Lanka and the reason they were able to do that was because they took four early wickets and they will need to do the same here to get the better of England.

Shot!

They take a single, but from the final ball Haris Rauf picks the gap on the leg side for four to take Pakistan beyond 300.

It's been a fantastic recovery from 211-6, when the innings was in danger of falling away. England need 303 to win.

Crucially, Haris Rauf sprints through for a bye to get Shaheen Shah Afridi back on strike.

And England have to bring in an extra fielder because of their slow run rate. Can Pakistan capitalise?

Pakistan are favourites now!

Image source, Cricviz