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08/21/26 10:24:00
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08/21 10:23 CDT England thrashes Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs in first
test
England thrashes Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs in first test
LEEDS, England (AP) --- England wrapped up an innings win over Pakistan inside
three days in the first test on Friday, delivering a strong start to the
post-Bazball era under returning captain Joe Root.
Dismissed for 409 around 40 minutes into day three, England took a 238-run
advantage into the second innings and skittled Pakistan for 135 in 37.3 overs
before tea.
England won by an innings and 103 runs and has a 1-0 lead in the three-match
series. The second test starts on Thursday at Lord's.
England's battery of four seamers pestered consistently at a fuller length
that's required at Headingley and Pakistan couldn't endure it.
Jofra Archer removed the openers with the new ball, Ollie Robinson got three
more wickets, Josh Tongue was introduced after lunch and took three wickets
averaging 143 kph (89 mph), and Gus Atkinson bowled superbly for the late
reward of Pakistan top scorer Mohammad Rizwan.
Robinson and Tongue each took eight wickets in the match. They took five each
in the first innings and literally split the match ball in half. Robinson was
named the player of the match for his 8-80 compared to Tongue's 8-89. Robinson
is heading back to Lord's, where he took 7-77 against New Zealand in June.
England is in a new era following the retirement of captain Ben Stokes and the
firing of Brendon McCullum as test coach after the 2-1 series loss to New
Zealand in June.
Pakistan arrived with a semblance of confidence after drawing the series in the
West Indies this month and playing a warmup match last week. But Pakistan
looked rusty and the bowling and fielding was less than ordinary. The question,
after finishing England's first innings in the morning, was whether the visitor
could force play into a fourth day.
England, 366-8 overnight, added 43 runs. Archer pulled the only six of the
match. Khurram Shahzad took both wickets and showed the pitch was still
offering plenty for the bowlers.
Pakistan started 0-1 for the second time in the match.
Imam-ul-Haq bent backwards to an Archer bouncer and the ball brushed a glove.
Azan Awais, who fell to the first ball of the series, then nicked to Root at
leg slip and Archer had dismissed both openers.
The pressure was on veterans Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique to endure, but
Robinson broke their partnership in the 14th over. Robinson busted through
Shafique's determined defense with a nick to second slip.
Pakistan went to lunch at 59-3 with Masood set at the ground where he spent two
seasons playing for Yorkshire.
But straight after the interval Tongue was given the ball and Root's field
placement paid off. Dan Lawrence had just been sent to backward square when
Saud Shakeel whipped Tongue straight to him.
Masood then tried pushing at Tongue and edged to England's new first slip, Ben
Duckett. Tongue had two wickets in two balls as he did in the first innings and
couldn't nail the hat trick.
But Tongue soon had 3-7 in 11 balls when he pinned stand-in skipper Salman Agha
on 8 and a sinking Pakistan was 76-6.
Rizwan, Pakistan's last recognized batter at No. 7, top-scored with 41 but, for
someone playing his 46th test, surprisingly failed to shepherd the tail.
Rizwan was the ninth man out.
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See AP's full cricket coverage here
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