1st Test, Rawalpindi (Day 4 of five)
England 657 (Brooke 153, Crowley 122, Pope 108, Duckett 107) and 264-7 Dec (Brooke 87)
Pakistan 579 (Babur 136, Imam 121, Shafiq 114, Jacques 161-6) and 80-2 (Imam 43*)
Pakistan need 263 more runs to win.
England’s first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi has come to an end after a brilliant fourth day.
An aggressive declaration at tea set the hosts a target of 343 to win and England hit the new ball with nothing but bouncers.
Abdullah Shafiq was caught playing rash pull and Ben Stokes took the big wicket of Babar Azam, who was caught behind.
Pakistan’s score was 25-3 as Azhar Ali also suffered retirement.
But Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel counter-attacked to take Pakistan to 80-2, needing 263 more runs to win.
Earlier, England dismissed Pakistan for 579 in their first innings, with off-spinner Will Jacks claiming 161-6 on debut.
The tourists then raced to 264-7 in just 35.5 overs, picking up where they left off in their record-breaking first innings. Harry Brook scored 87 off 65 balls and Joe Root scored 73 off 69 balls.
The final day was breathless, barnstorming stuff, with the prospect of more drama to come.
Unrelenting determination for England to win
However this Test is played, England should be commended for their determination to give a result on a flat pitch that could otherwise have been a draw.
It is this intent that has taken him to thrilling day cricket, first through a sensational attack with the bat and then a consistent bouncer attack with the new ball.
Added to the 657 runs scored in 101 overs in the first innings, England’s effort on Sunday gave them a match run rate of 6.73, the fastest in Test history by any team batting twice.
The announcement to leave Pakistan around 100 overs to chase down the target was generous, but the success of England’s shock tactics proved immediate.
Shafiq unnecessarily pulled Oli Robinson towards deep square leg and two balls later Azhar left the field after being hit on the lower hand by the same bowler.
When captain Babar under-edged wicketkeeper Ollie Pope at the opposite number to Stokes, there was silence in Rawalpindi.
But Pakistan did not take a backward step. Imam 43 and Shakeel went on to a partnership of 55 off 24 which left the match hanging in the balance.
