Pak vs Eng: England beat Pakistan by 74 runs in Rawalpindi Test
Pakistan chasing 343-run target.
English bowling side striving for breakthrough.
England on their first Test tour of Pakistan since 2005.
England won the first Test against Pakistan by 74 runs on Monday, taking the 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Absolutely sensational from England. They’ve forced a result on the most benign of pitches out of sheer desire. They were ready to risk a loss with their declaration in an effort to have enough time for 10 wickets. And that final wicket has come with barely any time left on the clock. What drama in Rawalpindi, what heartbreak for this massive Pakistani crowd that’s turned up, and what delight for England and Stokes who deserves massive credit.
To say England approached this Test with a positive mindset would be an understatement. Right from the first over on the first morning, which yielded 14 runs, the visitors never took a backward step. They amassed 506 runs on the opening day itself to shatter all kinds of records led by the four centurions – Crawley, Duckett, Pope, and Brook. Then their bowlers stuck at the task despite having nothing to work with, eking out a lead of 78. What followed was batting in an even higher gear than the first innings, as England went at close to 8 an over before making a brave, brave declaration. Pakistan were left with a target of 343 that didn’t look very threatening. But how impressive was the bowling today, led by the two seamers who finally found enough reverse-swing to make an impact. Anderson and Robinson ran in all day to take four-fers as they chipped away at Pakistan, before Leach came up with the killer blow.
