England duo Joe Root and Alastair Cook combine to leave second Pakistan Test finely poised

The second Test between Pakistan and England is nicely poised after the tourists enjoyed a profitable Day Two at the International Stadium in Dubai. Following a stellar effort from the bowling attack that saw Alastair Cook's side take six wickets for just 96 runs, the visiting captain built a strong partnership with deputy Joe Root that led to a respectable score of 182-3 at stumps.

With the first meeting having been drawn following a thrilling final session, the hosts recovered from a slow start on the opening day as Misbah-ul-Haq struck his ninth century to thwart their opponents rising momentum. Resuming on 282-4 on 23 October, Stuart Broad secured another early breakthrough as he finally removed elder statesmen Misbah after trapping him lbw in just the fourth over of the morning's play.

Jimmy Anderson risked a potential expulsion from England's attack after being warned for running into the danger zone for the second time, but he successfully toed the line thereafter and Pakistan's tail-end was soon exposed when the 33-year-old caught Sarfraz Ahmed at mid-on off the bowling of Moeen Ali.

The same duo combined once again in the very next over as Moeen collected his 50th Test victim when Wahab Riaz tried to launch a delivery but produced a top-edge and saw the ball safely held by Anderson. Adil Rashid claimed the wicket of Yasir Shah when his fellow leg-spinner edged to Ben Stokes at slip for 16, while Zulfiqar Babar fell shortly afterwards in farcical scenes as he ducked an anticipated bouncer from Mark Wood but ended up getting caught plum lbw by a subsequent yorker. The most futile of reviews proved unsuccessful.

Pakistan were finally bowled out for 378 as Wood, the pick of England's bowlers with figures of three for 39, had the brave Asad Shafiq caught by Root at short mid-wicket. The right-hander had reached 83 but did not last much longer after sustaining a nasty blow when a full delivery from Wood struck him squarely in the knee.

England began their innings after lunch but were a wicket down within two overs as Shan Masood took an excellent catch at short-leg off the bowling of Wahab to dismiss Moeen for one. Ian Bell's struggles then continued as Imran Khan, who has yet to score a single run with the bat in seven matches, coaxed an edge that carried behind to the waiting Sarfraz.

With England wobbling dangerously at 14-2, Cook and Root remained calm to reach tea with 91 more runs and no further loss. The skipper survived one massive scare when he attempted to sweep Babar and watched on in horror as the ball collided with the stumps but somehow did not not dislodge the bails.

There was to be no reprieve in the late session, however, as Cook failed to match his first Test heroics and was taken by Ahmad Shahzad at leg-slip for 65. With the in-form Root steering the ship in typically composed fashion on his way to 76 not out, the oft-maligned Jonny Bairstow contributed 27 before play was brought to a premature end due to bad light to leave England trailing by 196 on a pitch that should promise further runs.