Leach Leads England to Dominant Victory Over Pakistan in First Test in Multan
England’s bowlers, spearheaded by spinner Jack Leach, dismantled Pakistan’s batting order to secure a commanding win in the first Test in Multan on Friday. This victory came after a record-breaking partnership between Harry Brook and Joe Root shifted the momentum in England’s favor.
On Day 5, England swiftly dismissed Pakistan’s last four batters, bowling them out for 220 and clinching an innings-and-47-run victory. The triumph gave England a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
This win marks England’s fourth consecutive Test victory on Pakistani soil, following a 3-0 sweep two years ago. Prior to this, England had only won two away Tests against Pakistan in the previous 61 years.
The match was filled with several new milestones for England.
“This win ranks among our top performances, definitely in the top three,” said stand-in captain Ollie Pope, who stepped in for the injured Ben Stokes.
Harry Brook smashed 317 runs and Joe Root set a new record with 262, as England declared at 823-7, giving them a substantial 267-run lead. Both Brook and Root achieved their highest-ever Test scores in this match. Their 454-run partnership became England’s highest-ever for any wicket in Test cricket, overturning Pakistan’s first-innings total of 556.
Pope praised Brook and Root for their exceptional performance. “Credit to them for their skill and determination to put the team in a winning position,” he said.
By the end of Day 4, England had posted the fourth-highest innings total in Test history, 823-7, and took full control of the game as Pakistan stumbled to 152-6.
During the match, Root became England’s all-time highest run-scorer in Test cricket.
England’s bowlers then sealed the victory on a Multan pitch that had initially seemed lifeless, where the first 17 wickets fell after an enormous 1,379 runs had been scored.
Pakistan’s second innings began with a collapse, leaving them at 82-6, but Salman Agha and Aamer Jamal provided some resistance, adding 109 runs for the seventh wicket. Leach, who took 4-30, broke the partnership by dismissing Salman for a gritty 63, opening the floodgates for Pakistan’s demise.
Leach followed up with a sharp return catch to dismiss Shaheen Shah Afridi for 10 and had Naseem Shah stumped for six, wrapping up Pakistan’s innings. Last man Abrar Ahmed was unable to bat due to a high fever.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s second innings, Pope said, “When you’re 260 runs behind on a pitch that’s three days older, it’s never easy.”
Pope also praised England’s inexperienced bowling attack. “Our bowlers managed to get some reverse swing and spin,” he said, highlighting Gus Atkinson’s 2-46 and debutant Brydon Carse’s 2-66.
Pakistan’s Struggles Continue
The defeat continues a difficult run for Pakistan and increases the pressure on captain Shan Masood, whose tenure has now seen six consecutive Test losses, including three against Australia and two at home to Bangladesh.
“It’s incredibly disappointing,” Masood admitted. “England found a way to win after two days in the sun, despite being 556 runs behind. They batted big, and when they bowled, they executed their plans perfectly in the second innings.”
Pakistan has now gone 11 home Tests without a win, their last victory coming in February 2021 against South Africa.
The second Test will be played at the same venue starting Tuesday, with the third scheduled for Rawalpindi from October 24.
