After a record partnership between Harry Brook and Joe Root turned the match around, England’s bowlers, led by spinner Jack Leach, tore through Pakistan’s lineup and won the first Test in Multan on Friday.
On Day 5, England’s attack destroyed Pakistan’s final four batters, retiring the visitors for 220 to win by an innings and 47 runs and win the three-match series.
After a 3-0 whitewash two years prior, this is England’s fourth consecutive victory in a Test match played in Pakistan. In the preceding 61 years, England had only won two away Test matches against Pakistan.
Additionally, it marked a number of brand-new milestones for England.
“This victory would rank very high. Definitely in the top three,” declared Ollie Pope, captain in place of Ben Stokes due to injury.
In England’s massive 823-7 declared, Brook scored 317 and Root scored a record-setting 262, giving the visitors a 267-run lead and their highest Test scores.
After Pakistan posted an impressive 556 in the first innings, their 454th wicket partnership in Test cricket gave England an unlikely advantage.
Pope lavished praise on the valor of Brook and Root.
He stated, “Credit to them for the skills and tenacity to put the team in a winning position.”
With the hosts teetering at 152-6 at the end of the fourth day of play on a lifeless pitch, England had scored 823-7, the fourth-highest Test innings total, and taken complete command of the match.
En route, Root turned into the most elevated run scorer for Britain in Test history.
The bowlers from England then dealt a devastating blow to the lifeless Multan pitch, taking the first 17 wickets for a staggering 1,379 runs.
Before Salman Agha and Aamer Jamal came together for Pakistan’s only meaningful partnership, Pakistan was reeling at 82-6 toward the end of the fourth day.
The pair added 109 before Leach, who led the attack with 4-30, broke through on day five with a 63 against Salman that dislodged him and opened the floodgates.
After getting Shaheen Shah Afridi for ten with a clever return catch, Leach got Naseem Shah stumped for six to end Pakistan’s second innings.
Abrar Ahmed, the last man, was taken to the hospital with a high fever and was unable to bat.
Pope commented on Pakistan’s predicament in the second inning, “When you come out to bat again and you’re 260 runs behind and the pitch is three days older, it’s never easy.”
Pope also praised England’s tough, inexperienced attack.
He said of Gus Atkinson, who took 2-46, and debutant Brydon Carse, who took 2-66, “Our bowlers got the odd ball to reverse and spin.”
“Can’t be more disappointing”: Pakistan’s loss will exacerbate captain Shan Masood’s already difficult situation.
He has had the worst start of any Pakistan captain with six defeats in a row, including three in Australia and two at home against Bangladesh.
Masood stated, “It can’t be more disappointing than this.” The harsh reality is that England prevailed despite being 556 behind after two days in the sun.
“Then they batted big, and when they came back with the ball, they had a plan and created a window of opportunity in the second innings,” according to the harsh reality of Test cricket. “No matter what the pitch quality team does, they find a way to win.”
The hosts have lost 11 home Tests, their last victory coming against South Africa in February 2021.
The second Test begins on Tuesday at the same location, while the third begins on October 24 in Rawalpindi.
