MULTAN (WS News) – England won the firt Test against Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs after dismissing the home team for 220 on the fifth and final day of the first Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium here on Friday.
Pakistan entered record books by becoming the first cricket team to lose a Test match after scoring more than 500 runs in the first innings. Also, it was a record as Pakistan lost six consecutive Tests. Pakistan have played 11 Test without a win.
England mopped up Pakistan’s tail in the first session of the day.
Pakistan resumed their second innings at 152 for six – needing 115 runs to avoid an innings defeat. Spinner Jack Leach was the wrecker when he claimed three of the four wickets in the morning session. The fourth, Abrar Ahmad, could not bat due to illness.
Leach claimed the scalp of Salman Ali Agha, trapping him in front of the wickets for 63 at the stroke of drinks break. He then removed Shaheen Afridi for 10 and Naseem Shah for six. Amer Jamal remained unbeaten on 55.
According to Reuters, the tourists reduced Pakistan to 220-9 after some early resistance to spark huge celebrations among a small but vocal group of travelling English fans.
England’s pace bowlers peppered the two overnight batsmen with bouncers earlier and Jamal recovered after being hit on the side of the head by a fiery ball from Brydon Carse to bring up his own half-century.
He was then granted a lifeline when stand-in captain Ollie Pope put down a difficult chance at square-leg – England’s fifth dropped catch of the innings – and remained not out on 55.
Leach pulled off a stunning catch off his own bowling to remove Shaheen Afridi before having Naseem Shah stumped to seal the victory.
SHAN ACKNOWLEDGES LAPSES
In his post-match media conversation, skipper Shah Masood acknowledged lapses in the game.
“We were in a good position but lost the match. We have to take 20 wickets to win the match,” he added.
“You cannot win a match unless you take 20 wickets,” Shan continued.
THE FOURTH DAY SAGA
England dominated the fourth day’s play against Pakistan as the hosts were 152 for six in their second innings, trailing by 115 runs to avoid an innings defeat in the first Test match at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan got off to a poor start in their second innings with a deficit of 267 runs, as they lost six wickets for 82 in 24.2 overs. Salman Ali Agha (41 not out, 49b, 5x4s) and Aamir Jamal (27 not out, 48b, 2x4s) returned undefeated as the pair added an unbeaten 70-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
For the tourists, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson bagged two wickets each.
Earlier, resuming their first innings at the overnight score of 492 for three, Joe Root and Harry Brook went on to record the fourth-highest partnership in Tests. The pair knitted a 454-run stand that saw Root amass a 375-ball 262, hitting 17 boundaries. This was Root’s sixth double century and his second double century against Pakistan.
The highlight of the fourth day’s play was right-handed batter Brook’s remarkable triple century, which made him only the sixth England batter to achieve the feat. Brook was eventually dismissed for 317 off 322 balls, smashing 29 fours and three sixes. England finally declared their innings on 823 for seven in 150 overs – the fourth-highest team total in Tests.
For Pakistan, Naseem Shah and Saim Ayub ended up taking two wickets apiece.
ROOT EYES MORE RECORDS
Reuters adds: Joe Root became England’s all-time top run scorer after he surpassed batting great Alastair Cook during the first Test against Pakistan but the former captain put celebrations on the back-burner as they wait to seal a famous victory.
Root’s patient 262 in the first innings, combined with Harry Brook’s blockbuster near-run-a-ball 317 propelled England to a mammoth total of 823-7 before they declared – their highest Test total since the second World War.
Root’s knock has placed him fifth on the all-time list with 12,664 runs and Cook also backed his former teammate to surpass Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 15,921 runs.
But Root’s first priority is the Test match with Pakistan reeling at 152-6. A result, that once looked improbable after nearly 1,400 runs were scored in the first innings on a flat track, now seems possible after Pakistan’s top order collapse.
“They (records) are pretty cool things. It would mean a lot more if we can win this Test match. You look at the situation where they had 556 on the scoreboard and to be ahead in the game is the best thing,” Root told the BBC.
“It doesn’t mean a lot at the moment. I feel like I am going to play a lot more cricket for England. It’s obviously nice and I am sure when I finish my career, I will look back and feel good about it.
“It will be a nice thing to look back on at the right time. I want to contribute for a long while and make big scores like this one and hopefully win more test matches for England.”
The celebrations were muted and the 33-year-old said there was a lack of emotion partly due to the heat.
“Just the amount of energy that is taken out of you playing in these conditions is huge. It’s been quite pleasing to acclimatise and just drawing that mental resilience,” Root added.
“I make sure I do the work and put myself in some really tough situations in training so that I am really ready for these conditions. I know I can bat for long periods of time and when it gets tough, I can get through it.”
His 454 run-partnership with Brook is the fourth-highest in tests and Root said his fellow Yorkshireman was ‘outstanding’ with his triple-ton.
“Everyone who spends time on the wicket has looked good and made the most of a good batting wicket. It was nice for us to get together and keep the partnership going,” he said.
“I think we keep each other going. We have a good laugh out there in the middle. We’ve played a lot of cricket together whether it be for Yorkshire or for England. He’s fun to play with.”
