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England claim ‘greatest win in Test history’ as aggressive tactics pay off against Pakistan

England have claimed what’s being called their greatest win in history – and one dramatic change is being credited for their success.

2 min read
December 6, 2022 - 7:55AM
England take win over Pakistan in CRAZY final session

England has claimed one of their greatest Test victories of all time with their aggressive tactics paying off in spades against Pakistan.

Fast bowlers Ollie Robinson and James Anderson took four wickets apiece as England pulled off an enthralling 74-run win over Pakistan on Monday night (AEDT) in the first Test in Rawalpindi.

Anderson took 4-36 and Robinson 4-50 on a placid Rawalpindi Stadium pitch to dismiss Pakistan for 268, with the stadium floodlights glowing as daylight faded.

Pakistan’s last pair of Naseem Shah (six) and Mohammad Ali (nought) defied England for 35 minutes and 8.5 overs before spinner Jack Leach trapped Naseem leg-before, leaving England players ecstatic.

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“That is one of the greatest Test match victories you will ever see,” commentator Nasser Hussain declared.

Meanwhile, English media figure Piers Morgan branded it the “greatest win in Test history” as the cricket world went wild over the incredible result.

The win -- giving England a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series -- embellished England’s newly adopted “Bazball” cricket, an aggressive style taken from the nickname of head coach Brendon McCullum.

Skipper Ben Stokes was also active throughout the day, keeping unrelenting pressure on the Pakistan batters with close-set fields and intelligent bowling changes.

He hailed the win as “special”, figuring they had less than 10 minutes to seal victory before bad light would have been called.

“I think it’s maybe up there with one of England’s greatest away wins,” said Stokes.

“We’ve done something very special this week.”

Jack Leach snared the final wicket for England. Pic: Getty
Jack Leach snared the final wicket for England. Pic: Getty
England's players celebrate after the dismissal of Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)
England's players celebrate after the dismissal of Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)

The win is England’s seventh in eight Tests under the new management of McCullum and Stokes, installed in May this year.

It was achieved after dangling the carrot-like target of 343 runs for Pakistan to win in a possible 130 overs.

For a while, Pakistan had their chance.

At tea, Pakistan were 257-5 -- needing 86 runs to win in an intriguing last session.

England needed five wickets, and Robinson struck in the fourth over after the break, trapping Agha Salman leg-before for 30.

In his next over he claimed Azhar Ali for 40 to bring England close to victory. At the other end, Anderson removed Zahid Mahmood (one) and Haris Rauf (nought) in the same over as four wickets fell for just seven runs.

Then it was down to nail biting before Leach removed Naseem.

England's Ben Stokes (L) gestures after their victory at the end of the fifth and final day of the first cricket Test match between Pakistan and England at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, in Rawalpindi on December 5, 2022. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)
England's Ben Stokes (L) gestures after their victory at the end of the fifth and final day of the first cricket Test match between Pakistan and England at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, in Rawalpindi on December 5, 2022. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)
James Anderson of England celebrates with Ben Stokes after taking the wicket of Haris Rauf. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
James Anderson of England celebrates with Ben Stokes after taking the wicket of Haris Rauf. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

“We are disappointed as a team,” Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said afterwards.

“At lunch we were confident that we could win, but credit to England on their brilliant effort.”

A total of 1,236 runs were scored by the two teams in their first innings -- England 657 and Pakistan 579 -- before the visitors set the Test alight by declaring their second innings at 264-7 on Sunday.

Pakistan batted with caution in the first session as they progressed from an overnight total of 80-2 to 169-3, losing opener Imam-ul-Haq for 48 to pacer Anderson.

Mohammad Rizwan was one of two wickets to fall in the second session for 46, putting on a fighting 87-run stand for the fourth wicket with Saud Shakeel, who scored 76.

In the fourth over after lunch, Anderson had Rizwan caught behind while Robinson dismissed Shakeel to an excellent catch by substitute Keaton Jennings at short cover.

England are on their first Test tour of Pakistan since 2005, having declined to visit in the interim years on security grounds.

The second Test is in Multan from December 9 to 13, and the third in Karachi from December 17 to 21.

- With AFP

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/england-claim-greatest-win-in-test-history-as-aggressive-tactics-pay-off-against-pakistan/news-story/10674a386ddbd363f32f12e93f587d47