England registers innings victory over Pakistan in first Test

England crushed Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs in the first Test at Headingley on Friday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after a dominant three-day performance.

How did England beat Pakistan in the first Test?

England secured the win after taking a 238-run first-innings lead and then bowling Pakistan out for 135 in their second innings. Their pace attack maintained pressure throughout, with Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue taking three wickets each. Pakistan struggled to build partnerships and lost their final seven wickets in the afternoon session.

Pakistan’s second innings began badly when Archer dismissed Imam-ul-Haq for a duck in the second over. He struck again in his next over to remove Azan Awais for nine, leaving Pakistan at 13/2.

Abdullah Shafique joined Shan Masood and the pair added 38 runs for the third wicket. Robinson ended the partnership in the 14th over by dismissing Shafique for 15.

Why did Pakistan collapse on day three?

Pakistan resumed after lunch at 59/3 but could not withstand England’s pace attack, losing their remaining seven wickets for 76 runs. Mohammad Rizwan provided the main resistance with a 39-ball 41, but the lower order failed to extend the innings.

Masood scored 29 while Saud Shakeel made 14, with only three other Pakistan batters reaching double figures. Robinson, Archer and Tongue shared nine wickets, while Gus Atkinson took the remaining wicket.

The result completed England’s dominant performance inside three days and gave the hosts an early advantage in the three-match Test series.

How many runs did England score in the first innings?

England resumed their first innings at 364/8 on the third morning and added another 45 runs before being bowled out for 409 in 89.5 overs. That gave them a 238-run advantage over Pakistan’s first-innings total of 171.

Jamie Smith and Archer initially frustrated Pakistan with a 28-run partnership that took England past 400. Khurram Shahzad eventually dismissed Smith for 25 off 52 balls, including two boundaries.

Archer continued to add runs before Josh Tongue joined him at the crease. Tongue hit Abbas for a boundary, but Shahzad soon dismissed him for eight off 10 balls.

Who were Pakistan’s best bowlers?

Ali Usman led Pakistan’s bowling effort with 5/95 from 24 overs, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Khurram Shahzad finished with three wickets, while Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali took one each.

Despite Usman’s five-wicket performance, Pakistan could not prevent England from building a sizeable first-innings lead before the hosts’ bowlers finished the job on day three.