Pak vs Eng 1st test: Ben Stokes & co. register historic 74 run victory over hosts in Rawalpindi
The investable has come to pass, as England beat Pakistan on the final day of the 1st test between the two sides in Rawalpindi.
There was a lot of uncertainty regarding who shall prevail in this run fest of a test played on one of the flattest cricket pitch in the whole of Indian subcontinent.
But this new England side has shown that they have what it takes to procure results. Their new “Bazball” approach paid off yet again as they continue their streak of consecutive wins since June 2022.
England defeats Pakistan by the margin of 74 runs to register this historic victory.
And the live hearted captaincy of Ben Stokes, along with the bowling of the likes of Anderson, Robinson, Leach, and Stokes himself is to be bestowed with all the credit for this victory.
Pakistan vs England innings as they happened
First Inning:
The first inning was a run feast where England scored a mammoth total of 504 runs on the very first day. Courtesy to centuries by Crawley, Duckett, Pope, and Brook, England reached the total of 657/10 runs in just 101 overs.
Zahid Mahmud of Pakistan was the only silver lining from that first inning for the hosts. The leg break bowler picked up 4 wickets in his 33 overs, although conceded 235 runs as well.
Pakistan in return had a solid start themselves. Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam scored centuries to help them reach 579 in the first inning. Leaving England with a lead of just 78 runs against their name.
Will Jacks the debutant was the pick of bowlers for England, he ended the inning with a total of 6 wickets to his name. He bowled a total of 40.3 overs and gave away 161 runs as well.
Second innings
England did not give up on their approach in the second inning either. Their mindset was clear, to play one of the most flamboyant style of cricket. And score as many runs possible. In doing so, they lost early wickets, however, Crawley and then Joe Root alongside Brook threaded a partnership. All three of them hit half centuries to ensure a lead of over 300 runs and just over a day to go in the test match.
What other captains would have considered as suicide appeared as an opportunity to Stokes. He decided to declare with just 264 runs on board from 35 overs. The lead was of 342 runs only, and on a flat wicket like this it was very much achievable.
Stokes backed his bowlers though and his faith in them paid off.
England had the best start to the second inning by removing Shafique and Babar cheaply. Robinson and Stokes were the pick of bowlers at the start. But that was until James Anderson got into his groove. The 40-year-old pacer ran riot through the middle order of the Pakistan batting lineup on a dead wicket. He ended his spells on a sweating hot day with 4 wickets to his name from 24 overs. Robinson gave him equal support and picked up 3 more to his name to take his tally to 4 wickets in 22 overs as well.
Pakistan seemed to be doing well enough. After losing 3 for 89, a strong partnership between Rizwan and Shakeel brought them in a position to win the game. But that is when the Anderson and Robinson carnage happened and they found themselves 264 for 9 in a matter of 20 overs.
Last pair of Naseem Shah and Mohammad Ali tried to fend off but they could only delay the inevitable. It was Jack leach who got the final wicket of Ali to win the game for England.
Ollie Robinson was named as the man of the match for his heroics with ball in hand. But everyone knows that it was captain Stokes who showcased some fearless brand of cricket. If it was not for his brave choices on and off the field, England had no chance of winning the game.
