Pakistan became the first team in Test cricket history to score more than 500 runs in the first innings and lose by an inning. Pakistan, who scored 556 in their first innings before England declared their huge 823-7. They started the final day on 152-6, behind England by 115 runs. Salman Ali Agha (63) and Aamer Jamal (55) shared a 109-run partnership to disappoint the opponents.
Pakistan had yet another second-innings batting collapse on Thursday. In the first Test, Pakistan lost six wickets for 86 runs, almost presenting England an amazing victory. Both openers scored half-centuries during their tough seventh-wicket stand that vexed England in the early hours of day five. In addition, five bowlers enable more than 100 runs in a Test innings for the first time in Pakistani cricket history.
England Crush Host by 47 Runs
England’s bowlers try to prevent Pakistani batsmen from reaching the fifty mark. But England’s Jack Leach (4-30) struck to remove Salman, trapping him leg-before after the pair’s century stand had reduced the deficit to less than 100. Pakistan batted with one man short after spinner Abrar Ahmed was sent to the hospital with a fever after missing day four. Leach then took a superb catch off his bowling to eliminate Shaheen Shah Afridi (10).
Jamie Smith stumped Naseem Shah (6) to give the left-arm spinner the final three wickets despite some aggressive bowling from Brydon Carse at the other end. However, the blunder cost England very little during the game. For the first six innings, Naseem punished Leach at long off, causing the home audience to raise their hands. Smith took off his bails to secure the victory after coming down the wicket and missing his swipe off the next delivery.
Pakistan’s Poor Performance
One of Pakistan’s finest batters and former Test captain Babar Azam has also been trying, making just five runs in the first Test when behind. The 29-year-old has gone nine Test matches without making a half-century on flat pitches with ideal batting conditions. Pakistan’s on-field results have been inconsistent, and its management has experienced multiple changes.
Since 2022, the Pakistan Cricket Board has had three chairmen, two test captains, and six permanent or interim head coaches. It features the most recent addition, Jason Gillespie, a former Australian fast bowler. And it’s not just the red-ball team that has suffered. In the group round, Pakistan was eliminated from the 50-over World Cup last year.
They were eliminated from the semi-finals for the fifth time in six seasons. They qualified for the 2024 T20 World Cup as runner-up in the previous tournament but were beaten in Texas by co-hosts the United States. In only four days, the second Test will occur in Multan again. The team led by Shan Masood is hoping to even the series before Rawalpindi’s third and final game.
Last Words
England has defeated Pakistan in four straight Test matches, including a 3-0 series win in 2022. In the previous eighteen games, Green Shirts has only won three matches. Also, they have not won a Test clash at home since 2022. Even their two key bowlers, Naseem (2-157) and Shaheen (1-120), have failed to live up to expectations and have had subpar.
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