Web Desk: England produced a dominant all-round display on Friday, defeating Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs in the first Test of the three-match series at Headingley.
Pakistan, asked to bat again after conceding a 238-run first-innings lead, collapsed for 135 in their second innings as England’s bowlers exposed persistent weaknesses in the visiting batting lineup.
Pakistan never looked capable of recovering from their first-innings total of 171. Their second attempt offered little resistance as the lower order again failed to build a substantial partnership.
Captain Shan Masood made 29, while Abdullah Shafique scored 15 and Saud Shakeel added 14. Azan Owais made nine and Khurram Shahzad eight.
Salman Ali Agha contributed only four runs, while Imam-ul-Haq was dismissed without scoring.
England’s Josh Tongue spearheaded the attack with a destructive spell, repeatedly troubling Pakistan’s batsmen and hastening the collapse. Ollie Robinson and the rest of the bowling unit maintained the pressure as England wrapped up a comprehensive victory.
Earlier, England built a commanding position with a strong batting performance.
Harry Brook led the scoring with 91, while Jordan Cox made 73. Joe Root contributed 66 and Dan Lawrence added 51, giving England the platform to establish a sizeable advantage.
For Pakistan, Ali Usman claimed five wickets, while Khurram Shahzad took three, but their efforts were not enough to prevent England from taking control of the match.
The defeat has also intensified scrutiny of Pakistan’s Test side, with sections of the British media portraying the touring team as one of the weakest Pakistan sides seen in England in decades.
The criticism has focused on Pakistan’s struggles with the bat, ball and in the field. The visitors’ last eight wickets fell for only 74 runs, underlining the lack of resistance that marked their second innings.
Pakistan’s batting was compared unfavourably with the celebrated lineups of previous generations, while concerns were also raised about the decline in the pace and effectiveness of its fast-bowling attack.
Even on a dry Headingley surface, Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to consistently unsettle England’s leading batsmen.
Pakistan’s fielding further compounded its difficulties, with missed opportunities and misfields giving England’s batsmen additional chances to score.
Joe Root, Harry Brook and Dan Lawrence all benefited as Pakistan failed to maintain pressure in the field.
Nevertheless, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and the team’s spin options have offered occasional signs of the attacking approach that once defined Pakistan cricket.
England’s emphatic victory gives the hosts an early advantage in the three-Test series, while Pakistan now face the task of regrouping quickly and addressing shortcomings across all three departments.
Read more: Pak vs Eng Test: England lead by 195 despite Usman’s five-wicket haul
