England’s bowlers, led by spinner Jack Leach, dismantled Pakistan’s batting line-up to claim a victory in the first Test in Multan on Friday, after a record-breaking partnership between Harry Brook and Joe Root turned the match around. England’s attack swiftly dismissed the last four Pakistan batters on Day 5, bowling them out for 220 and securing an innings and 47-run win, giving them an early lead in the three-match series.
This triumph marks England’s fourth consecutive Test win on Pakistani soil, following a 3-0 whitewash two years ago. Prior to that, England had only won two away Tests against Pakistan in 61 years. The match was also filled with notable milestones for England. “This win would be right up there, definitely top three,” said captain Ollie Pope, who was standing in for the injured Ben Stokes.
Harry Brook’s 317 and Joe Root’s record-breaking 262 helped England declare at 823-7, their highest-ever Test innings total. Their 454-run stand, England’s largest partnership for any wicket in Test cricket, overturned Pakistan’s solid 556-run first innings. Pope praised Brook and Root’s determination, crediting them for putting England in a winning position.
By the end of Day 4, Pakistan was struggling at 152-6, and despite a 109-run partnership between Salman Agha and Aamer Jamal, Leach’s 4-30 led the charge on Day 5. Leach removed Salman for 63, breaking Pakistan’s resistance before dismissing Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah to wrap up the match. Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed couldn’t bat due to illness.
England’s bowlers exploited the conditions on a lifeless Multan pitch, with Gus Atkinson taking 2-46 and debutant Brydon Carse claiming 2-66. Pope commended the efforts of the inexperienced attack, saying they made the ball reverse and spin.
For Pakistan, the loss added to captain Shan Masood’s mounting pressure as he suffered his sixth consecutive defeat as captain. Masood expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that England found a way to win despite challenging conditions. The defeat extended Pakistan’s winless streak at home to 11 Tests, with their last victory coming against South Africa in February 2021.
The second Test will be held at the same venue, starting Tuesday, with the third in Rawalpindi from October 24.
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