Alastair Cook's decision to not enforce the follow-on was well and truly vindicated, after his side wrapped-up the second Test with more than a day to spare. 

The England skipper took criticism for his decision to bat again despite having a 391-run lead on first innings, but quick batting in their second innings allowed the hosts to bowl Pakistan out on day four and confirm a 330-run win. 

The victory came at a cost for England, with Ben Stokes injuring a calf whilst bowling, yet they have levelled the series and move on to Edgbaston with plenty of momentum having outplayed the tourists for the entirety of the Old Trafford fixture. 

Root and Cook make hay to set mammoth target before Anderson makes early inroads with the ball

Joe Root and Cook picked-up where they left off on Sunday evening, adding quick runs to set up a would-be world record chase for Pakistan. 

Returning on 98/1, the pair added 75 runs in nine overs to set a ludicrous target of 565, while giving their bowlers more than 160 overs to pick up the ten wickets needed for victory. 

Root is congratulated by Mohammad Hafeez at the end of the match (image source: getty via cricinfo)

Cook was unbeaten on 76 to back-up his first innings ton, while Root took his match total to 325 runs, with 71 not out from 48 deliveries, and was later named man-of-the-match. 

With the bowlers refreshed having had their feet up while Cook batted, England's leader of the attack Jimmy Anderson backed-up his skipper's decision by knocking over two wickets early in Pakistan's second innings. 

After removing his bunny Shan Masood for the sixth time in three Test matches for just one, the Lancashire seamer then trapped Azhar Ali LBW just before the lunch break, to leave the visitors in a perilous position at 47/2. 

Woakes and Moeen take three apiece as England level series

The afternoon session saw England continue to go in search of wickets, and it was the underappreciated Moeen Ali who came up with two important breakthroughs. 

Moeen Ali celebrates one of his three wickets (image source: AFP via Getty)

After having opener Mohammad Hafeez caught by Gary Ballance for 42, the Worcestershire all-rounder then claimed the wicket of Younis Khan for 28, saving Cook some embarrassment after he had shelled a chance when Younis was in the early stages of his knock. 

The third and most important wicket to fall before tea, saw Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq removed for 35 by England's man-of-the-moment Chris Woakes. Playing at a delivery he could have left alone, Misbah diverted the ball onto his own stumps, giving Woakes the prized wicket his efforts had deserved. 

After the tea interval, it took England just 21 overs to claim the final five wickets needed for victory. Sarfraz Ahmed's poor series continued as he fell for seven to Woakes, before the win was all-but confirmed when the last recognised batsman Asad Shafiq was given out LBW off Anderson for 39. 

Chris Woakes celebrates the wicket of Sarfraz Ahmed (image source: AFP via Getty)

Yasir Shah was LBW to Ali for 10, before Joe Root's second delivery of the match bought England their ninth wicket after he had Wahab Riaz caught by Cook for 19.

It was then left to Woakes to claim the final wicket, with the 26-run partnership finally broken when Mohammad Amir slapped the ball straight to Stuart Broad as England levelled the series at 1-1 with two to play.

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