England claimed a famous victory against Pakistan here today, taking five wickets after tea on the last day to win by 74 runs.
A Test that had threatened to be a bore draw turned into a Rawalpindi thriller thanks to England’s fast-scoring batting and aggressive declaration yesterday.
While Pakistan had gone into the final session as favourites with two set batters at the crease in Azhar Ali and Agha Salman and needing just 86 to win, England turned the game on its head in the space of two overs as both batters departed.
First, Salman was trapped LBW by Ollie Robinson, given not out on the field but immediately reviewed by England, before Ali was caught at leg-slip after another England plan came together perfectly to give the superb Robinson his fourth of the innings.
With those wickets any hopes of a home victory vanished and it was England who spent the final hour desperately pushing for victory.
But with the light beginning to fade and Pakistan’s tailenders beginning to settle, England would have James Anderson to thank as he took two wickets in a single over to leave England needing just one wicket from the last hour of scheduled play. First, he dismissed Zahid Mahmood thanks to a phenomenal Ollie Pope catch, before trapping Haris Rauf LBW. England’s celebrations were raucous.
Pakistan’s final pair held on for 26 tortuous minutes for England, as with the sun setting there was likely only ten more minutes of play possible when they finally claimed the winning wicket through Jack Leach.
Leach, bowling to Naseem Shah, who had held out for 46 balls and more than an hour himself, struck him on the pad to prompt wild celebrations from the England team. The review confirmed that the onfield decision stood and England had won their first Test back in Pakistan for 17 years.
It had been a riveting day that had started with a morning session of two halves, as Pakistan had initially looked to have little interest in chasing 343 for victory as they scored just 13 runs in the opening 13 overs of the day.
That interest had waned even further when Imam-ul-Haq, who had scored three centuries in all three of his previous innings at this ground, was dismissed caught down the legside off the bowling of Anderson.
But a switch was flipped when England turned to spin as Pakistan targeted the likes of Jack Leach and in particular Will Jacks mercilessly.
Pakistan’s tactics were clear. Bowl seam and they’d shut up shop in search of a draw. Bowl spin and they’d whack it, fancying a win themselves.
At lunch, Pakistan required a further 174 runs to win with seven wickets in hand and for the first time in the match could be considered favourites.
But the game turned once more when Anderson took the key wicket of Rizwan. The 40-year-old once again produced a phenomenal spell of bowling as he found just enough assistance from the pitch to take Rizwan’s edge.
Soon after England found themselves on top as Shakeel departed for 76 thanks to a fantastic one-handed diving catch at cover by substitute fielder Keaton Jennings.
That wicket brought to the crease Salman, who with Ali looked to have taken Pakistan to the brink of victory. But between Robinson, Anderson and Leach, England would take the final five wickets after tea for just nine runs. It was an historic Test that matched the history of the occasion itself.
