MULTAN: England’s bowlers, led by spinner Jack Leach, tore through the Pakistan line-up to secure victory in the first Test in Multan on Friday after a record partnership between Harry Brook and Joe Root turned the match on its head.
England’s attack made short work of the last four Pakistan batters on Day 5, dismissing the hosts for 200 to win by an innings and 47 runs and draw first blood in the three-match series.
The win is England’s fourth consecutive Test triumph on Pakistan soil, after a 3-0 whitewash two years ago. England had only won two away Tests against Pakistan in the previous 61 years.
Leach marshalled England’s attack with 4-30, and provided the first breakthrough on the fifth day when he dislodged Salman Agha for a fighting 63.
It ended Pakistan’s only meaningful partnership.
Pakistan were in danger of losing the match a day early when Salman and Aamer Jamal came together with the score on 82-6.
But the duo saw out the remainder of play and made England wait another 12 overs on the final day — adding 109 — before Leach struck to open the floodgates.
Leach then took a smart return catch to get Shaheen Shah Afridi for ten and then had Naseem Shah stumped for six, wrapping up Pakistan’s second innings.
Last man Abrar Ahmed was unable to bat after being taken to hospital with a high fever.
Ollie Pope, standing in for injured skipper Ben Stokes, was full of praise for Brook and Root’s heroics.
“Credit to them for the skills and determination to put the team in a winning position,” he said.
Brook smashed 317 and Root a record-setting 262 in England’s mammoth 823-7 declared, giving the visitors a 267-run lead.
Their 454, England’s highest-ever partnership for any wicket in Test cricket, gave the visitors an improbable advantage after Pakistan’s impressive 556 first-innings total.
But by close of play on the fourth day on a lifeless pitch, England had posted the fourth-highest Test innings total of 823-7 and taken total control of the match with the hosts teetering at 152-6.
Along the way, Root became the highest run scorer for England in Test history.
Pope was also pleased by the grit shown by England’s inexperienced attack.
“Our bowlers got the odd ball to reverse and spin,” he said of Gus Atkinson who took 2-46 and debutant Brydon Carse who finished with 2-66.
The loss continues a painful losing stretch for Pakistan and will compound the pressure on captain Shan Masood.
His tenure has begun with six consecutive defeats, including three in Australia and two at home at the hands of Bangladesh.
“It can’t be more disappointing than this,” said Masood. “Harsh reality is that England found a way to win after two days under the sun and 556 behind.
“Then they batted big and when they came back with the ball they had a plan and created a window of opportunity in the second innings so the harsh reality in Test cricket is no matter what the pitch quality side finds a way to win.”
Pakistan’s collapse marked a quick turnaround to the match after a flat Multan stadium pitch saw 1,379 runs scored for the loss of just 17 wickets.
The hosts have gone 11 Tests without a win on home grounds, their last win against South Africa came in February 2021.
The second Test starts at the same venue from Tuesday while the third is in Rawalpindi from October 24.

ABU DHABI: Round four of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Gi Championship at the Zayed Sports Complex in Fujairah will have 2,200 male and female athletes participating, the organizers have confirmed.

The event, which started today and ends on Oct. 13, will have clubs and academies from across the UAE seeking to earn points as they vie for the title ahead of December’s final round in Abu Dhabi.

Mohamed Hussain Al-Marzooqi, director of marketing and corporate communications at the UAE Jiu Jitsu Federation, said the event has become a major competition to find new talent in a “top-level environment.”

He thanked the country’s leadership for supporting the sport. “What makes this championship special is that it takes place in various parts of the country, providing audiences with a unique experience, allowing families to attend and support their children, (and) celebrating their accomplishments together.”

Zayed Al-Kaabi, the coach of Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club, echoed these sentiments. “The year-round events provide us with opportunities to win more medals and titles, strengthening the club’s standing, and we’re aiming to secure the championship title as the final round approaches.

“This championship also helps ensure our athletes are prepared for regional and international competitions, while keeping them fit and continuously developing.

“It’s especially important because it occurs just weeks before the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, the biggest event in the sport worldwide.”

Zayed Alrefaei of Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club, who is competing in the youth 46 kg category, said: “I’m excited for the championship to begin. I’ve performed well in the previous rounds and feel fully prepared to (ensure) a stellar performance this time around too.

“I’ve trained hard, focusing on improving my skills and adding new tactics to my approach. My goal is to finish my matches quickly with submissions to save energy for the later rounds.”