England has taken a commanding 1-0 lead in the series after a comprehensive win over Pakistan in the first Test in Multan.
Report by Adil Mehmood
The visitors secured the victory by an innings and 47 runs on Day 5, showcasing their dominance throughout the match.
Jack Leach led the charge in Pakistan’s second innings, claiming four crucial wickets to help England wrap up the match. Pakistan was bowled out for 220, unable to recover from England’s massive first-innings total of 823/7 declared.
Pakistan’s lower order struggled to withstand England’s bowling attack. Both Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi fell to Leach, with the latter departing after a sharp reflex catch off Leach’s own bowling. Naseem showed a brief spark of resistance, smashing a six before being stumped, marking the end of Pakistan’s innings and sealing England’s emphatic win.
Aamer Jamal provided some resistance for Pakistan, top-scoring with 55 runs, but it wasn’t enough to overcome England’s huge lead. England’s bowlers, particularly Leach and Brydon Carse, kept the pressure on Pakistan’s batsmen, consistently taking wickets at crucial moments.
This dominant performance gives England an early advantage in the series, with the team now leading 1-0 heading into the next Test.
