Cricket: England complete historic victory over Pakistan

England have defeated Pakistan in the first Test in Multan, prevailing by an innings and 47 runs on Friday.

It was a match that looked destined for a draw – or a Pakistan victory – after two days, with the hosts piling on 556 across the first five sessions.

Cricket betting sites put England at long odds to win earlier in the week, but they did exactly that, racking up a record-breaking 823/7d before rolling Pakistan for 220 in the third innings.

While Joe Root (262) and Harry Brook (317) were the stars of England’s batting heroics, it was Jack Leach who stole the show with the ball on Friday and sealed the victory for his side, claiming four wickets from just 6.5 overs on the fifth day.

Both Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse chipped in with a brace of wickets as well, as only Salman Agha (63) and Aamer Jamal (55 not out) offered any real resistance in the home team’s second innings.

“The fitness the bowlers showed, and Brook and Root, credit to them for the skills and determination to put the team in a winning position,” said stand-in England captain Ollie Pope after the match.

“When you come out to bat again and you’re 260 runs behind and the pitch is three days older, it’s never easy.

“Even if they’d made 400, we’ve have backed ourselves for a small chase.

“Brydon on debut was awesome, charged in with a lot of heart, and the way Jack Leach bowled, coming back into the side, fits right in and taken crucial wickets.

“I smoked a pull shot straight to midwicket but it’s a team game, and we’re on the right side of the performance!”

Pakistan captain Shan Masood is already looking ahead to the next Test between England and Pakistan, which gets under way on October 15.

“We should learn from England, they found ways to take 20 wickets,” he said.

“We’ve spoken about the third innings, but it’s a team game.

“When you put 550 on the board it’s important to back it up with 10 wickets, and that’s what we didn’t do.

“That’s the key, how can the batting and bowling in first innings contribute to a lead.

“The onus is to set the game up well and finish it off.

“That’s the challenge the side has going forward”

The second test of the series will also be played at Multan, beginning on October 15, where Pakistan will be looking to bounce back and even up the series ahead of the third and final test in Rawalpindi beginning on October 24.

“We’re in the middle of the series, we’ve talked about a squad mentality,” Masood said.

“Test cricket is the ultimate format, the best teams find a way.

“Scoring runs and taking wickets are the non-negotiables.”

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