PAK vs ENG 1st Test: Jack Leach Claims Four as England Win Series Opener by Innings And 47 Runs

sanjeev

khelja|11-10-2024

Jack Leach claimed four after Joe Root and Harry Brook record stand as England defeated Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs in the first Test of the three-match series at the Multan Cricket Ground in Multan on Friday (October 11).
  Needing 3 wickets to seal victory on the final day of the Multan Test, Leach dismissed all three batters to bundle Pakistan for 220 in their second innings to help England claim a 1-0 in the series. Starting with the overnight score of 152/6 on the board and still trailing by 115 runs, Salman Ali Agha (63) and Aamir Jamal (55*) gave the hosts some hope with a century-stand. However, Leach ended the resistance by trapping Salman Ali Agha in front of the stumps. The Pakistan all-rounder sent the decision upstairs, but all three reds meant he marched back into the dressing room. Once Salman Ali Agha fell, pacers Saheeh Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah's stay lasted only as long as six more overs as Pakistan could manage only 220/9 in their response to a record-breaking batting performance from the visitors. With Abrar Ahmed still in the hospital for treatment, the hosts were deemed all out as they became the first team to lose by an innings despite scoring 500 plus in their first innings. Leach, who returned to the England side for the first time since his injury in India earlier this year, finished the innings with figures of 4 for 30, and 7 for 190 in the match. For England, debutant Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson also claimed two wickets, while Chris Woakes picked up the first wicket of the innings. Woakes started it all in the very first delivery, cleaning up Abdullah Shafique with a jaffa. Pakistan skipper Shan Masood fell to a tame effort as he held out to Zak Crawley at short mid-wicket off Atkinson before star batter Babar Azam continued to struggle for runs as he edged one to the wicketkeeper. Earlier, a 454-run partnership that toppled numerous records forced Pakistan's back against the wall. Pakistan's heads dropped, and confidence went down the slump as they waited for England to make its next move. Root (262) and Brook (317) were part of several records as England eventually declared on 823/7, putting Pakistan to bat in the final session of the penultimate day, when most would have felt the match was headed for a draw. But England pulled off a win on a flat surface in Multan.
Latest Newsmore