Experience England’s historic triumph as they crush Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs in a record-breaking Test victory. Relive the unforgettable match highlights!
Introduction:
Pakistan had to face the very first innings defeat in Test cricket on their own soil while losing by an innings against England at Multan. It was the very first time in cricketing history that a team had suffered an innings defeat after its side put up a score of more than 500 runs in the first innings. England took full advantage of Pakistan’s collapse and did well in winning the match on the fifth day.
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This loss extended the Pakistan dismal home record, with their last test victory on home soil dating back to February 2021, while a six-game losing streak for Shan Masood’s captaincy continued.
Brilliant Englishmen Batting
England had opened up a massive lead of 279 runs after the first innings.
England had declared their total of 823 for 7 in the first innings, the fourth-highest score Test cricket history, and built their historic win. The innings was marked by a mesmerizing triple century from Harry Brook and 262 runs from Joe Root. The pitch being placid and with little help to the bowlers, Pakistan could do nothing but be dented by the Englishmen’s batters.
Despite this, Pakistan could still manage to score 556 for the loss of their first innings. Agha Salman batted an incredible innings, scoring a century at a furious pace almost at run-a-ball rate. However their good first innings total was played down to second fiddle when England scored a massive one, thereby giving England a 267-run lead.
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True to destiny, Pakistan’s fate was all but sealed when they reached 82 for 6 on the fourth day. The situation that seemed unthinkable earlier now became inevitable as the batsmen, who had batted so confidently in the first innings, started crumbling under pressure.
Day Five: Leach and England Finish Off Victory
Pakistan resumed their innings on day five at 152 for 6, which only held a faint glimmer of hope. Conversely, Salman Agha and Aamer Jamal came back with solid resistance with a heroic 109 runs for the seventh wicket. Salman was on a roll, knocking his half-century along with Jamal, who was brought down after successive short-pitched delivery by Brydon Carse.
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However, they were to fail to do enough to avert defeat. England, ever-patient, waited for an opening. Jack Leach, who was already getting wickets in the innings, pulled off the masterly blow of snuffing out hopes of a Pakistan victory by getting Salman, lbw by a delivery that angled in to hit the leg stump.
Two wickets within the space of little more than an over, had ensured this was the second time England won an innings match in Asia. Leach concluded with four for the innings but his control and probing bowling had pinned down Pakistan’s batting team for much of the second innings, applying constant pressure.
Agha Salman and Aamer Jamal’s Resistance
Even at the end when all seemed futile, Salman Agha and Aamer Jamal offered far better hope with the fighting spirit that they showed. Salman had already shown his class by scoring a ton in the first innings. Once again, he was creative with a second fifty, maintaining fluid stroke play and composure at the crease, given all this pressure on his shoulders. He guided the ball neatly into gaps and kept the scoreboard ticking.
Jamal, however, had to face some hot short-pitched bowling from Brydon Carse. Being hit on the helmet, Jamal had to undergo concussion check, but he continued to bat. He played a few pull shots off Carse’s bouncers and reached his half-century with an aggressive display of courage and determination.
However, that was the last time Salman walked back to the pavilion for Pakistan since Leach dismissed him. Pakistan’s hopes could not survive much longer as the next over saw Shaheen Afridi, never known as a defender, flat-batter his third delivery for a boundary and was out soon. Then in eight overs, with Abrar Ahmed still missing, Pakistan just collapsed faster. Naseem Shah was stumped when he missed a delivery from Leach, which sealed this great victory for England.
England Dominant and Pakistan Just Struggles
A lot of credit to the victory of England goes to their batting firepower, but importantly with their bowling depth. Moreover, Jack Leach’s accuracy and the tenacity of Brydon Carse with his short-ball strategy showed the aggressiveness of a side that could work for them on flat tracks.
Defeat for Pakistan runs deep into their struggles in Test cricket. Shan Masood has come under the scanner as Pakistan extended their winless run at home now almost three years. But though some individual performances were solid, the team was unable to deliver under pressure, and this defeat marked a new low in Test history for them.
Conclusion: England crush Pakistan
This match will be remembered by the record and miraculous statistics. However, for Pakistan, this is the moment of introspection. They need to regroup, reassess, and figure out how to get out of the collapse patterns that haunt them. And for England, with this win, their credentials under the philosophy of Bazball take a full new dimension in the storied cricket history of the country where another extraordinary victory was added.