England and Pakistan have started their 3 Test series with a huge banger of First Test. England Batsmen went after the Pakistan bowlers on a flat pitch, on Day 1 to score more than 500 runs in a day. They scored 506/4 in 75 overs. Pakistan bowled England out in First Test on Day 2 after scoring 657. Batsmen of Pakistan replied with Imam-ul-Haq (121), Abdullah Shafique (114) and Babar Azam (136) scoring centuries to help the team score 579, in reply.
England again showed the intent to score fast and made 264/7 in their second innings on the back of Joe Root (73), Zak Crawley (50) and Harry Brook (87). They shocked Pakistan and world with their decision to declare on a flat pitch with 5 sessions of play still to go. Also, they have set Pakistan a target of 342 runs with 120 overs still to be bowled. Pakistan started the second innings with an intent similar to England and scored 80/2, by the end of the day’s play losing their captain and best player, Babar Azam (4) cheaply and early.
On the 5th day, England’s All-Time Great and one of best Fast bowlers the game ever produced, James Anderson removed Imam-ul-Haq (48) with Pakistan score at 89. Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel came together putting on 87 runs partnership. James Anderson with great consistency in the uncertainty channel of outside off stump, got one ball to nip extra and Mohammad Rizwan (46) fell for it. Ollie Robinson got Saud Shakeel (76) who has been eyeing a popular win for Pakistan. England bowlers reduced Pakistan to 198/5 after Tea.
Injured Azhar Ali joined Agha Salman to put up another partnership to avoid defeat first for Pakistan against rejuvenated England. They managed a 61-run stand resisting England bowlers who have become hostile. Ollie Robinson sent back Agha Salman (30) and England players erupted in happiness. In no time, he sent back Azhar Ali (40) as well. Pakistan at 260/7 started staring at defeat. James Anderson sent off Zahid Mohammad and Haris Rauf in same over to reduce Pakistan to 264/9. Jack Leach got the last wicket to complete a famous win for England with 74 runs margin.
England pacer Ollie Robinson, got Player of the Match for his 37 runs with bat, 1/72 and 4/50 with ball in two innings. He said, “The pitch wasn’t that favourable for the seamers but we managed to get the ball going and toiled way. We left nothing behind. We had to be patient at times, knew if we got fresh batters in against the reversing ball we could go bang-bang.
Ollie Robinson continued to say, “The batters gave us that opportunity, scoring the runs as quickly as they did. Think so, coming here and playing on this wicket, the best Test I’ve been involved in.” England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum pushed for a win on what perceived as a dead batting pitch. Many seniors and popular commentators, senior cricketers praised their positive approach post match.
STR sang for Thalapathy Vijay for the first time. Read here.
