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In a dramatic finish to an incredible Test, England defeated Pakistan at Pindi Cricket Stadium to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. The visitors clinched the first Test, in the final session of Day 5, by 74 runs. The pace duo of Ollie Robinson and James Anderson bagged four wickets apiece on a slow track to bundle out Pakistan for 268 runs in the second innings.
The last-wicket pair of Naseem Shah and Mohammad Ali did their best and attempted to draw the game from what seemed like a lost position for Pakistan. However, they fell short in the face of England’s persistence. The duo kept the English bowlers at bay for 52 balls before Jack Leach eventually managed to trap Naseem in front.
Earlier, Saud Shakeel hit his maiden half-century to keep Pakistan in the hunt before departing for 76. Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan scored 48 and 46, respectively. England posted a record 657 in their first innings before packing the hosts for 579 and then declaring their second innings at 264/7.
England’s Test wins in Pakistan:
- By 5 wickets, Lahore 1961
- By 6 wickets, Karachi 2000
- By 74 runs, Rawalpindi 2022
Brief scores: England 657 & 264/7 decl. (Harry Brook 87, Joe Root 73; Mohammad Ali 2/64) beat Pakistan 579 & 268 (Saud Shakeel 76, Imam-ul-Haq 48; James Anderson 2/36, Ollie Robinson 4/50) by 74 runs.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Only the third Test victory for England in Pakistan 👏#WTC23 | #PAKvENG | https://t.co/PRCGXi3dZS pic.twitter.com/0K9EB0oSE4
— ICC (@ICC) December 5, 2022
Only the third Test victory for England in Pakistan 👏#WTC23 | #PAKvENG | https://t.co/PRCGXi3dZS pic.twitter.com/0K9EB0oSE4
— ICC (@ICC) December 5, 2022
That’s such a cool win. #PakvsEng2022
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) December 5, 2022
England win 👏
Test Match Cricket 🎯👍 pic.twitter.com/pYoT1YTrRS— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) December 5, 2022
Incredible test match. A win for @englandcricket but also a win for cricket. 👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/AuyJR8rV8y
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 5, 2022
WHAT A WIN.
— Saqib Mahmood (@SaqMahmood25) December 5, 2022
What a test match!!!! 🙏🏼👏🏼
— Sam Billings (@sambillings) December 5, 2022
What a remarkable five days of cricket in Rawalpindi 🙌
From Ollie Pope’s first innings century to Will Jacks’ 6fer on debut and the drama of the final evening session – it was a thrilling Test match.
Great to see the Surrey boys in the thick of the action 🤎#SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/U3OpmmDyuo
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) December 5, 2022
1768 runs in the match. The highest ever match aggregate for a non-timeless Test. #PakvEng
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 5, 2022
When it comes to showing our entire cricketing world how to play your positive best across all formats, these 🏴 teams are marching way ahead.
A super way to take the pitches out of the equation.
A wonderful win by @englandcricket.❤️
📹 : @AlexHartley93pic.twitter.com/Pk6mRwpGc2
— North Stand Gang – Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) December 5, 2022
Genuinely extraordinary win. Jimmy and Leach at the death too. Test cricket. Nothing comes close. #tailendersoftheworlduniteandtakeover
— Felix White (@felixwhite) December 5, 2022
https://twitter.com/ScottTaylorUK/status/1599730677930692608
Historic moment in England Test cricket. pic.twitter.com/xGlCudPSPX
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 5, 2022
There’s stiff competition, but of the 7 victories of the McCullum-Stokes era – v🇳🇿🇮🇳🇿🇦🇵🇰- this was the most impressive, incredible & mind-bending.
Very few, if any, other teams would have won in these conditions, vs this opponent.
🏴 willed an impossible victory into existence
— Michael Appleton (@michelappleton) December 5, 2022
Let's stop with "BazBall will not work in a particular condition against a particular opposition". They have already done enough. Even if they don't won a single Test match with this approach, they will already go down in history as one of the most enterprising teams of all time
— cricBC (@cricBC) December 5, 2022
Joy of watching England cricket doing things comes with the pain of dealing with English Cricket fraternity. This will be treated as some greatest win of 500 years.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 5, 2022