Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo
Venue- Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi [December, 2022].
In the winters of 2022, English Cricket team toured Pakistan to play three test matches. The first test of the series took place in Rawalpindi. On a batting friendly wicket, England Captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first. And Boy. What a decision it turned out to be. The English Batsmen just blew away the Pakistani bowling line up as they amassed more than 500 runs in just 75 overs of play. Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook all managed to score 100s as the visitors ended up scoring 657 in their first innings.
In response the hosts scored 579 in their first innings as Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq and Skipper Babar Azam managed to score 100s for their side. Will Jacks was the leading wicket taker for the visitors as he picked up 6 wickets in the first innings.
It appeared that the match will end in a dull draw. However the English batsmen went on an attacking mode from ball one itself and ended up scoring 264 in just 36 overs. After batting for 36 overs the visitors declared and now it were the hosts who needed 343 runs to win the test. The match which everyone expected to be a draw could now have a result.
During the run-chase the Pakistanis were always on the backfoot and the England veteran James Anderson ensured that he wins the game for his side. On a flat deck he picked up 4 wickets and made a mess of the Pakistani batting line-up. Anderson bowled with so much of precision that it became difficult for the hosts to score runs. The Pakistanis were ultimately bowled out for 268 runs in their second innings as the visitors won the game by 74 runs.
On a pitch wherein the batsmen stole most of the show, it was 40 years old Jimmy Anderson who eventually turned to be the match-winner.
To watch James Anderson's spell, Click Here.
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