Alastair Cook-led England were bamboozled by Pakistan, who despite not being the best team on paper, proved what sheer determination can do.
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Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq believes that Mohammad Amir can finally move on with his global career, after his side clinched a remarkable 75-run win over England at Lord’s to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match Test series. “Now it’s over he can really be more effective in the Pakistan team”, insisted Misbah ahead of the second Test at Manchester’s Old Trafford, which starts on Friday.
All the pre-match focus had been on Amir, who is making his return to Test cricket at the scene of his 2010 spot-fixing crime.
England reached 155-6 after losing three wickets in the middle session as they chase 283 for victory. But Bairstow’s three-and-a-half hour innings ended when he was bowled trying to whip a Shah leg-break.
England were seemingly on track to take the game into a fifth day, but Yasir struck twice after tea, and paceman Mohammad Amir took the final wicket required.
The corresponding Test match between England and Pakistan at Lord´s in 2010 saw teenage sensation Amir take a superb six for 84 to secure a coveted place on the dressing room honours board.
Yasir Shah was yet again the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan with a total of 4 wickets in the second innings whereas Rahat Ali picked 3 wickets. In the company of Rahat Ali, who accounted for the top three Englishmen, Shah’s leg spin left England 75 short of their target of 283.
Not for the first time this summer, he departed full of self-reproach – third out, after Alex Hales had thrown the bat at a little width only to edge high and fast to slip, where Mohammad Hafeez took a very good catch. Rahat had taken 2 for 8 in 13 balls and England was 32 for 2. Joe Root, England’s new number three, got off the mark with a back-foot cover drive for four off Rahat and also drove him through the same region, off the front foot, for another boundary.
Root was out for 9 and England were 47-3.
Rahat very almost had four before lunch, James Vince having survived on nine when he squeezed an edged drive low to Younus Khan’s right at second slip.
Vince was handed two reprieves from one loose shot, Younis Khan unable to hold at second slip.
Yasir Shah returned the match haul of 10 for 141.
Moeen Ali (two) then charged down the pitch in an attempt to drive Shah, only to be clean bowled. Jonny Bairstow was fighting a grim battle, unbeaten on 28 and Chris Woakes was not out on 5 at the interval.
Riaz was unlucky to wicketless during an excellent spell of reverse-swing bowling against Bairstow and Waokes.
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Yasir Shah finished with 10 wickets in the match as Pakistan wrapped up a 75-run victory over England in a thrilling Test match in Lord’s, taking a 1-0 lead.
