Leach famously wins by bowling England: England beat Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs after being bowled out for 220 in the second time, despite half-centuries from Agha Salman & Aamer Jamal. It was the initial time in Test cricket history that a side with more than five hundred runs in the first innings fell by an innings.
Pakistan’s top order crumbled in the second essay on the final day, after the visitors established a commanding lead. With just four wickets remaining going into the final day, they were still behind by 115 runs.
For about sixty minutes in the morning, Salman and Jamal managed to keep the English bowlers at bay. Salman, who had scored a century in the opening innings, added a half-century and reached the milestone with a boundary in just the morning’s fifth over, flicking a ball down the legside for a boundary. Early in the day, England turned to the short-ball strategy because there was little movement available. A few of them landed just beyond the fielder’s grasp, leaving Jamal uneasy. One even struck his helmet.
Leach famously wins by bowling England:
The pair extended their partnership to 109 runs in the third innings, which was the first century partnership for Pakistan between seven wickets. Together, they had given Pakistan a chance to almost completely erase their first-inning deficit and, if not salvage the Test, at least raise the prospect of extending the match into the fourth innings.
An hour into the day’s play, Salman’s stubbornness was put to an end when Jack Leach trapped him with a ball that raced in and struck him low on his pads. He did take a review, but that was also in vain.
But Jamal held off the English assault, reaching his half-century with a single in the middle of the innings. He was still having his fair share of luck, as he was quickly dropped at square leg by Ollie Pope, who then failed to get a clean hit while trying for a quick single. After batting about for a while, Shaheen Afridi misplayed a drive and offered Leach a diving return catch.
After that, it was just formality. Pakistan’s innings ended with the departure of Naseem Shah, who stepped out against Leach but was undone by his flatter delivery, getting stumped for six. Abrar Ahmad was hospitalized and was unable to bat.
The groundwork for the victory in Multan was laid by Harry Brook and Joe Root, who helped England to a massive 823 for 7 decl. after being on the field for over a day and a half in response to Pakistan’s first innings total of 556, even as Leach claimed all three wickets to fall on the final day.
Pakistan’s home winless run of 11 games was extended with their sixth straight defeat.
Brief Scores: England 823/7 decl. (Harry Brook 317, Joe Root 262; Naseem Shah 2-157) defeated Pakistan 556 & 220 (Agha Salman 63, Aamer Jamal 55*; Jack Leach 4-30) by an innings and 47 runs.
