Quite possibly the best thing that one can do for a Pakistan cricket side is to completely write them off. In this regard, pretty much every cricket commentary – including that published in these pages – before the Lord’s Test should claim a slice of Pakistan’s truly astounding win against England.
It wasn’t just a quintessential Pakistan back against the walls performance. The triumph was so clinical that one could have been forgiven for mistaking one side for the other.
It was England that was supposed to romp home against an inexperienced Pakistan side still finding its feet in the post-MisYou Test world, which had barely scraped across the finish line against Ireland.
What then happened at Lord’s? Well, classic Pakistan happened.
Haris Sohail celebrating the winning runs
The gaping divide between the two sides was visible at the toss on the first day, when Joe Root decided to bat first, with Sarfraz Ahmed confirming that he was raring for a go at the English batting first-up as well.
The Pakistani bowlers delivered from the get-go, bundling out England for 184 with Mohammad Abbas now Pakistan’s leading pacer in Tests – and Hasan Ali converting his limited-overs performances in Tests – taking four wickets each.
While Hasan Ali got the English batsmen to play false strokes, Abbas bowled impeccable line and length that proved too good for a fragile batting lineup.
But of course, there remained the concerns over the Pakistani batting lineup going the same way as England’s – if not worse.
The Lord's win has brought Pakistan back as a major player in Tests
What followed instead were four half-centuries and two important 30s, as pretty much everyone contributed with the bat to push Pakistan’s score to 363.
While fifties by Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq were critical in that they are the backbones of the batting lineup, it was Babar Azam and Shadab Khan who truly announced themselves – Babar as the future backbone for Pakistani batting in all formats, and Shadab as a budding all-rounder.
While neither Shadab nor Faheem – especially the latter – have really been among the wickets in their short Test careers thus far, their batting in tricky English conditions shows that they have what it takes to eventually get there – especially since bowling, for both, has been touted as their primary suit.
Despite the strong lead, Pakistan did not rest on their laurels and had England 110-6 in the third innings, as the hosts stared down the barrel of an innings defeat. While the Bess-Wood partnership saved them from that, a nine wicket mauling was still in order.
Mohammad Abbas
Abbas, again, led the side with another four wicket haul, making his tally for the match, eight wickets. Mohammed Amir joined him with four wickets as well, as he made another triumphant return to Lord’s. Shadab Khan would be encouraged with the two wickets he got in England’s second innings as England were eventually rolled out for 242.
Pakistan romped home with the loss of just the one wicket, to complete a swashbuckling Test triumph, against the odds, leaving them one Test negotiation away from a series win in England.
With the second Test starting today (Friday) at Leeds, Pakistan would be best advised to approach it the same way as the Lord’s match.
The fact that they are one match away from the first series win in England for two decades is momentous. But it is precisely that thought that could pull them for exhibiting their natural instincts which they masterfully did in the first Test.
The win at Lord’s itself has brought Pakistan back as a major player in Tests. A series win would absolutely throw the cat among the pigeons.
