PAK vs ENG Day 5: At Rawalpindi Cricket Ground, England upset Pakistan by 74 runs in the opening Test of the three-match series. Ben Stokes, the visiting captain, chose to bat initially after winning the toss. A global milestone of 500 or even more scores in a Test match’s opening day was set by England, who struck 657 runs in their first innings. Pakistan, meanwhile, responded with a respectable score of 579. Following a declaration by England at 264 for 7, Pakistan was given a mark of 343 runs to reach prior to actually being bowled out for 268.
In their jubilation after a historic 74-run victory versus Pakistan on the last inning of a spectacular Test match in Rawalpindi, England might rightfully be going all out.
PAK vs ENG Day 5: Robinson and Anderson Strike 4 Wickets Each
PAK vs ENG Day 5: The tourists made a daring declaration at lunch on the last session, giving them four sessions in the opportunity to grab 10 wickets with the Pakistani side requiring 343 to triumph on a surface that produced 1768 runs for the match, the third-highest total in ever.
With 5 wickets still remaining after Monday’s tea and the sunlight quickly setting beyond the sky, the game came literally to the brink.
PAK vs ENG Day 5: But England’s skipper and his team rose to the occasion. As James Anderson and Player of the Match Ollie Robinson each took 2 wickets in as many deliveries to give them the crucial edge.
In Pakistan’s 2nd session, Robinson and Anderson both claimed 4 breakthroughs. Even though it was spinner Jack Leach who claimed the decisive one. That of Naseem Shah, with maybe only moments left to play. This was England’s first Test match in Pakistan in seventeen years.
PAK vs ENG Day 5: Salman and Azhar Ali’s fighting 50-run Partnership
PAK vs ENG Day 5: But the penultimate session the last 90 minutes of it—were when it all comes right down.
After lunchtime, England was successful in getting an aged ball to reverse, proving that they remained right to pass on the fresh ball that emerged accessible 3 overs later.
Agha Salman and Azhar Ali had established themselves in a fifty-run partnership for the 5th wicket. And Pakistan still needed 86 runs to win in the closing stages.
With an inswinger that forced Salman back in his crease, Robinson snagged him without contributing to his tea-time tally of 30, and England reversed the first not-out ruling after ball-tracking verified he was on mark.
PAK vs ENG Day 5: Seamers did the job for the English side
PAK vs ENG Day 5: The stumps remained in place as Robinson’s inswinger on the following ball scraped the bottom of Naseem Shah’s off stumps approximately three-quarters of the distance upwards. However, it didn’t take long for Joe Root to catch Azhar at a leg slip. As he attempted to swipe a further inswinger off his thigh.
In assistance of his two primary seamers, Stokes provided a characteristically valiant haul with the delivery. While Anderson profited by taking two fast wickets later in the day.
While coming in as wicketkeeper for Ben Foakes, who was unable to recuperate from the gastro sickness. That struck the English camp on the night of the game. He despatched Zahid Mahmood to a superb acrobatic grab down the opposite side by Pope.
Stokes New Ball Strategy
PAK vs ENG Day 5: As he and Mohammad Ali put up a crucial struggle for a half-hour with their final-wicket partnership. Naseem played his fortune, clipping Stokes beyond Pope and Root at short slip.
With the light dwindling quickly, Stokes eventually took the 2nd new ball. Although it was Leach who delivered the winning stroke when he trapped Naseem on the front cushion. The batter’s vain attempt to appeal the catch only served to postpone the visitors’ joy for a few moments.
Imam-ul-Haq, who’d already brought his team back from 25 for 2 on the 4th day but had only contributed five to his innings score of 43. Was the sole wicket the English side took in the early innings. Anderson smothered him down the leg sides.
Anderson’s Crucial Wickets helped England Cruise
PAK vs ENG Day 5: After collecting only 13 runs within the first minute. Pakistan contributed 89 runs to their previous total of 80 for 2 even during the morning sessions by turning the tables on England’s spinners. Stokes joined the battle in the initial over the following lunch. And was successful in finding considerable reverse swing, which Anderson then utilized to terrible impacts.
An 87-run stand was broken by Anderson’s removal of the troublesome Rizwan on 46. With a pitch that just sufficiently deflected and struck an edging and soared through to Pope.
Azhar, who had injured himself the prior after taking a brutal hit to the thumb from Robinson. Was reinstated as a result of the expulsion. When Shakeel dropped after a magnificent 50 on debuting, Robinson was the one who blasted once more. Robinson caught Shakeel with a longer delivery beyond off that hopped to short cover. When Keaton Jennings, filling in for the ailing Liam Livingstone, took a mid-air spectacular jumping to his right. England had set offensive grounds the entire time.
READ ALSO: PAK vs ENG Day 4
