Pakistan complete demolition of sorry England at Lord’s
Pakistan cruised to a nine-wicket win over England in the first Test on Sunday, needing just one session on Day 4 to take four wickets and then chase down a target of 64 at Lord’s.
Pakistan cruised to a nine-wicket victory over England inside four days in the first Test at Lord’s. (SCORES)
Having been bowled out for 184 in their first innings, Joe Root’s side fared only marginally better in their second attempt, England slumping from 235-6 overnight to 242 all out after just 27 minutes and 25 deliveries of the morning session on Sunday.
Set a target of 64 to win, Pakistan lost Azhar Ali in the third over, James Anderson clean bowling the opener for four with a delivery angled in at off stump that straightened up and beat the outside edge.
READ | Three Test matches featuring Indian cricket team were fixed, claims Al Jazeera sting
But that proved no more than a token gesture of resistance, as opener Imam-ul-Haq (18 not out) and Haris Sohail - who finished up unbeaten 39 - eased their team to victory, the latter casually slogging full tosses from debutant spinner Dom Bess for six and then four to end proceedings.
Urgent improvement will be sought by Root and England coach Trevor Bayliss ahead of the second and final Test, which starts at Headingley on Friday, while another tough challenge awaits in the form of a five-match series on home soil against India in August and September.
READ | Sachin Tendulkar leads birthday wishes for Indian cricket team coach Ravi Shastri
England’s slim hopes of rescuing the game had rested with the recalled Jos Buttler and newcomer Bess, who resumed on 66 and 55 respectively.
Buttler, though, was out in the second over of the day, having added just one run to his overnight score. Hit on the pad after missing an attempt drive, he lost a review to depart lbw to Mohammad Abbas (4-41).
READ | Smartwatch controversy needless, says former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja
The tourists took the new ball as soon as it became available and Mohammad Amir (4-36) used it to good effect, a length ball drawing a thin edge from Mark Wood, who was taken by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to depart for just four runs.
Abbas followed the example of Amir to dismiss Stuart Broad for a duck in similar fashion, Sarfraz gathering another edge after an unconvincing prod.
And Amir put England out of their misery in emphatic fashion by crashing a full delivery into the off stump of Bess (57), before Imam and Sohail briskly took care of business prior to lunch.
