Leeds (GNP): England secured a dominant innings-and-103-run victory over Pakistan on day three of the opening Test at Headingley, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match ICC World Test Championship series.
The second Test gets underway Thursday, August 27, at Lord’s.
Chasing to avoid an innings defeat, Pakistan were bowled out for just 135 in 37.3 overs, unable to close the 238-run gap left by England’s first-innings total. England had resumed their own first innings at an overnight score of 366-8 and were eventually dismissed for 409 in 89.5 overs, with Jofra Archer finishing unbeaten on 23 off 25 balls, including two fours and a six.
Pakistan‘s Khurram Shahzad wrapped up the innings by removing Jamie Smith (25 off 52 balls, two fours) and Josh Tongue, finishing with figures of 3 wickets in 21.5 overs. Usman Ali was the standout bowler for Pakistan with 5-95 off 24 overs.
England’s bowlers then dominated Pakistan’s chase: Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, and Jofra Archer each claimed three wickets, while Gus Atkinson picked up one.
Mohammad Rizwan top-scored for Pakistan with 41 off 39 balls, including five boundaries, arriving at the crease with the score already at 73-5 in the 22nd over.
Earlier in the innings, Archer had removed openers Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais, while Man of the Match Ollie Robinson dismissed Abdullah Shafique (15 off 29 balls, two fours).
Notably, Azan Awais’s dismissal — caught by Joe Root at leg slip — made Root the most prolific fielder in Test cricket history, surpassing Australia’s Steve Smith’s mark of 218 catches.
Tongue then triggered a collapse with three quick wickets, dismissing Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood (29 off 56 balls, five fours), and stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha.
From 76-6 in the 23rd over, Pakistan’s last four wickets held out for another 14.4 overs before England finished the match by removing Mohammad Abbas.
1st Test — England won by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley, Leeds
Pakistan 171 all out, 48.1 overs (Abdullah Shafique 61, Imam-ul-Haq 42, Salman Ali Agha 21; Josh Tongue 5-46, Ollie Robinson 5-51) and 135 all out, 37.3 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 41, Shan Masood 29; Ollie Robinson 3-29, Josh Tongue 3-43, Jofra Archer 3-50)
England 409 all out, 89.5 overs (Harry Brook 91, Jordan Cox 72, Joe Root 66, Dan Lawrence 51, Emilio Gay 33, Jamie Smith 25, Jofra Archer 23 not out; Usman Ali 5-92, Khurram Shahzad 3-133)
Player of the Match: Ollie Robinson (England)
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Series Schedule (play begins 3pm PKT)
- Aug 19–23: First Test, Leeds — England won by an innings and 103 runs
- Aug 27–31: Second Test, Lord’s
- Sep 9–13: Third Test, Birmingham
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
