Cricket

Pakistan thrash England by nine wickets in first Test

Optimism provided by Jos Buttler and Dom Bess on the third evening was dashed by the eighth delivery of the day when Buttler was trapped lbw by Mohammad Abbas for 67.
England succumbed to a miserable nine-wicket defeat by brilliant Pakistan on the fourth day of the first Test at Lord’s. That began a collapse of four wickets for six runs, leaving England 242 all out and Pakistan chasing only 64 to win.
Pakistan

Although James Anderson bowled Azhar Ali in the third over, Haris Sohail and Imam-ul-Haq shared an unbroken stand of 54 that sealed victory 90 minutes into the day.

Following a winter when they did not win in seven Tests in Australia and New Zealand, this is an awful result for England, who spoke before this match of returning to winning ways and developing skills that will make them more competitive in foreign conditions.

Instead, have lost the first Test of a home summer for the first time in 23 years. For Pakistan, this is a wonderful result, their thorough preparation leading to a superiority over the hosts in all aspects of the game.

They will have the opportunity to seal their first series win in England since 1996 when the second and final Test begins at Headingley on Friday.

England’s new era the same as the last

England had hoped to move on from a wretched winter with a slightly new look. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow were promoted in the batting order, Buttler was recalled and off-spinner Bess handed a debut in place of the injured Jack Leach.

However, for the all of the optimism, acceptance of past failings and talk of improvement, England were behind in this game on the first day, when they were bowled out for 184 after opting to bat in helpful bowling conditions.

It says much about how poor England was that the inclusions of Buttler and Bess can be seen as a partial success because they at least prevented a defeat by an innings inside three days.

On both occasions when they batted, England gifted wickets or lacked the defensive capability to deal with a potent Pakistan attack.

The home bowling was adequate but lacking the penetration of the visitors, while most unforgivable was the dropping of five catches in Pakistan’s first innings.

The outcome was an eighth successive match without a win and the need for a vast improvement in the short time before the second Test.

Source: BBC News