Yasir Shah followed his six-wicket spell in the first innings with four more in the second to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series over England at Lord’s. In the company of Rahat Ali, who accounted for the top three Englishmen, Shah’s leg spin left England 75 short of their target of 283.
The day started with Pakistan resuming their second innings at 214-8. They could add just a solitary run to their overnight score, with Yasir Shah and Mohammad Amir departing in quick succession. Later on, Shah a played major role with the ball to hand Pakistan a sensational victory with a day to spare.
England’s response to the target of 283 depended on the duo of Alastair Cook and Alex Hales to build a platform at the top of the order. The partnership was nipped in the bud by the left arm pace of Rahat Ali, who maintained a tight channel outside off to disconcert the batsmen. A back of a length delivery gathered a feather edge off Alastair Cook’s bat on the way to the keeper and Alex Hales flirted with a delivery outside off, slashing it straight to the throat of first slip.
Joe Root, who scored 93 at Cardiff against Sri Lanka earlier this month, sent a half-hearted pull to Yasir Shah in the deep to throw away his wicket for the second time in the match. James Vince hung in along with Gary Ballance to give England a chance to take the match to the final day. However, the leg spin of Yasir Shah swept away any chance of a rearguard action, and Mohammad Amir knocked off the last two batsmen to end England’s second innings on 207.
Winning the toss and batting first, Pakistan reached 339 courtesy a 199-ball 114 by the 42-year old Misbah-ul-Haq, who became the oldest captain to score a Test century in the history of the game. Asad Shafiq played the ideal foil to the captain, scoring an assured 73 to take the score past 300.
Chris Woakes was one of the bright spots in an otherwise lacklustre display by the Englishmen, picking up six wickets in the first innings, and following it up with five more in the second. The Birmingham-born 27-year-old remained unbeaten on 35 as his side managed 272 in their first innings. Cook looked solid at the top with 81, but the rest of the batsmen could manage only starts, handing Pakistan a first-innings lead. Yasir Shah was the wrecker-in-chief, picking up six wickets with his wrist spin.
Pakistan couldn’t manage more than 215 in their second innings, but a target of 283 suddenly looked a tall task with Rahat Ali providing a series of quick wickets early in the chase and accounting for Cook, Hales and Root in quick succession. Yasir Shah, playing his first Test in England, added four more wickets to his first innings’ tally of six, ending with match-figures of 10-141. He was awarded the Man of the Match award.
This is the first Test win for Pakistan against England at Lord’s in 20 years.
Pakistan 339 (Misbah-ul-Haq 114, Chris Woakes 6-70) & 215 (Asad Shafiq 49, Chris Woakes 5-32),
England 272 (Alastair Cook 81, Yasir Shah 6-72) & 207 (Jonny Bairstow 48, Yasir Shah 4-69)
Pakistan won by 75 runs.
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